California Kickball

Name and Purpose

• California Kickball adds a six-base layout to the classic game, giving runners more strategic choices and keeping the field more active.
• Everyone kicks each inning, so no one sits for long.

a.k.a.

• Six-Base Kickball, Hex Kickball

Age / Group / Time / Space

• Ages 8-16 | 10-40 players (split into 2 equal teams) | 30-45 minutes | Large outdoor grass or turf field. The hexagonal base layout requires more width than standard kickball.

Materials

• 6 bases or flat rubber markers
• 1 playground ball or kickball (standard rubber)
• Optional: boundary cones to define the outfield or foul lines

Quick-Run Card

1. Set 6 bases in a hexagon pattern: 3 across the top row, 1 on each side, and home plate at the bottom centre.
2. Kicker boots the ball into the field from home plate, then runs the bases.
3. Runner must tag all 6 bases in order to score. Up to 3 runners may share any base at the same time.
4. Runners are not forced to advance.
5. Outs: kicked ball caught in the air; or ball thrown at (and hitting) a runner while they are between bases. Throws must be chest-level or below, never overhand-hard.

Setup and Boundaries

• Base layout: 3 bases across the back row (evenly spaced), 1 base on the left side, 1 on the right side, 1 home plate at centre-front.
• No force outs. Runners choose when to run.
• Define a pitcher’s zone: the pitcher must roll the ball along the ground to the kicker at home plate.
• Signal: 1 whistle = pause (injury or confusion); 2 whistles = inning over.
• Check the field for holes, divots, and wet patches before play.

How to Play

1. Teams are split equally. One team kicks first; the other fields.
2. Every player on the kicking team kicks once per inning, in rotation.
3. The kicker boots the ball from home plate. Fair ball = anywhere past the pitcher’s zone.
4. After kicking, the runner tags all 6 bases in order to score one point. Runners may pause at any base and wait for the next kick. Up to 3 runners may share one base at a time.
5. Fielding team catches or retrieves the ball and may throw it at a runner who is between bases to record an out. Throws must be aimed at the body, chest-level or below. No overarm power throws.
6. A caught fly ball (before the ball bounces) = out.
7. There are no force outs. Runners only advance when they choose to.
8. After all kickers on the offensive team have kicked, teams switch. The fielding team now kicks.
9. Play 3-5 innings. Team with the most points wins.

I-OPt Options

Start:

• A (Active): Jump into the kicking lineup right away.
• S (Support): Volunteer to keep score or manage the kicking order.
• Q (Quiet): Take a mid-order spot in the kicking lineup and settle in.
• O (Observer): Watch the first inning from the sideline and join the kicking lineup for inning two.

Mid:

• A (Active): Sprint the bases aggressively when the opportunity arises.
• S (Support): Direct runners at bases (“Stay!” or “Run!”).
• Q (Quiet): Hold a base and wait for safe conditions to advance.
• O (Observer): Take a rest between innings and rejoin when ready.

Late:

• A (Active): Push hard on the final inning for a comeback.
• S (Support): Keep track of score and celebrate each point.
• Q (Quiet): Hold your base patiently in the final innings.
• O (Observer): Cheer from the sideline.

End:

• A (Active): Join the debrief circle and share a highlight.
• S (Support): Help collect bases and the ball.
• Q (Quiet): Offer one thought during the debrief.
• O (Observer): Listen in and join the debrief when comfortable.

Inclusion Adaptations

• Players who prefer not to sprint the full base path can stop at any base and advance over multiple kicks.
• Kicking power: there is no rule about how hard you must kick. A gentle roll into the field is a fair ball.
• Players with limited mobility may kick from a seated position or use a kick-assist (another player holds the ball in place). Their kick counts the same as any other.

Stewardship Moment

• Check the field for any equipment (balls, bases, cones) before leaving. Nothing left behind.
• Brief players: “This field belongs to the next group too. Leave it better than you found it.”

Consent

• Pre-brief: “This game involves kicking, running bases, and sometimes having a ball thrown at you while you are running. Throws must always be aimed at the body, chest-level or below, and never thrown hard. For those not comfortable with being targeted by throws, playing as a base coach or scorekeeper is another option.”
• Mid-game check: at the end of the first inning, pause. “Is the pace okay? Any rules we need to clarify?”
• Opt-out/re-entry: any player may skip their turn at kicking without explanation. They re-enter in the next inning’s lineup.

Risks and Mitigation

• Collision between runners at bases: up to 3 runners allowed per base. Brief runners to call out “Base!” when arriving so others know.
• Ball thrown at face or head: brief this rule explicitly before play. Staff can pause the game immediately if unsafe throws occur.
• Tripping on bases or divots: check the field surface before play. Flat rubber bases are less of a trip hazard than raised ones.
• Overheating in long outdoor play: schedule a water break between innings 2 and 3. Keep water bottles accessible on the sideline.

Warm-Up Suggestions

• “Base Walk”: walk around all 6 bases together as a group before play starts. Everyone learns the layout.
• “Kick and Catch”: pairs kick and catch the ball to each other for 2 minutes. Warms up kicking and fielding.

Debrief Questions

• What? “What was different about having 6 bases compared to regular kickball?”
• So What? “How did you decide when to run and when to stay? What made you feel safe to go?”
• Now What? “Where else do you choose between playing it safe and taking a risk to move forward?”

Cleanup and Reset

• Collect all 6 bases, the ball, and any cones.
• Check the field surface for divots or damage.