Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Last Revised January 2020
Section 1 – Kickball Basics
Q: What Is Kickball?
A: At its simplest, kickball is a game played similar to baseball or softball. Of course, instead of a bat, players swing at the ball (similar in dimensions to a size 5 soccer ball) and kick it with their feet. Players must travel the bases in sequential order to score runs. There are three outs per half inning and the ball-strike counts are the same as in baseball or softball.
However, there are significant differences where our brand of kickball, Little Miss Kickball, deviates from baseball, softball, and other versions of kickball.
Q: What Is Little Miss Kickball (LMK)?
A: Little Miss Kickball International Incorporated (or simply for our purposes, “LMK”) is the governing body under which our league is organized and regulated. LMK incorporated in 1971. LMK continues to thrive through 16 member leagues.
As the name might suggest, Little Miss Kickball is a girls-only league, proudly serving girls 4 to 18 years of age, through five age divisions.
Q: What Is the Basic Structure of a Kickball Game, under LMK Rules?
A: Similar to baseball or softball, an LMK kickball game consists of innings, with each team taking their turn at-kick in each half inning. The visiting team kicks in the top half of the inning, followed by the home team in the bottom half.
In the top of the fourth inning, both teams must make substitutions, if there are more than ten players are on the lineup. Games go at least six innings, unless tied after six complete innings. In that circumstance, game play continues until a winner is determined or the time limit expires, which is an hour and fifteen minutes (1:15).
In tournament play, the time limit is suspended and play continues until a winner is declared.
Q: What Equipment Does My Girl Need to Play?
A: At most, your girl will need durable shoes with good traction in dirt. While not necessary, we recommend that girls wear cleats, with plastic or rubber spikes (no metal spikes allowed) for the best footing possible.
Section 2 – Getting Your Girl Registered for Season Play
Q: How Do I Get My Girl Registered to Play at UHO?
A: Registration is a simple process. Just download a registration form, fill out BOTH SIDES, initial and sign where requested, and do one of the following:
- Scan it and email it to info[at]uhokickball[dot]org, OR
- Bring it in-person to the UHO Clubhouse.
Either way you choose, once we have reviewed and approved the application, you have several payment options.
Q: What Payment Options Do You Offer for Registration?
A: We DO NOT accept personal checks. However, we do accept cash, money orders, and cashier’s checks. We also accept major credit card payments (Visa, AMEX, Master Card, and Discover) via PayPal. For your convenience, we can send you an invoice, via PayPal, which you can pay online WITHOUT needing a PayPal account!
Q: Do You Offer True Online Registration? Where Can I Register and Pay Online?
A: We are working on a solution to meet our specific information requirements. We are working on it!
Q: In What Age Group / Division Can I Register My Girl?
A: Your girl can play in one of the following divisions, based on her age:
- Pee-Wees (4 to 5-year-olds)
- Rookies (6 to 8-year-olds)
- Juniors (9 to 11-year-olds)
- Seniors (12 to 14-year-olds)
- Teenage (15 to 18-year-olds)
Important note: LMK allows girls to be placed in divisions, based on their age by or before August 31st, in the year of the playing season.
For example, if you have a 3-year-old whose birthday is August 24th, LMK considers her a 4-year-old for the playing season. Thus, she could play in the Pee-Wees division.
In another instance, you have a 14-year-old whose birthday is September 9th. LMK considers her as eligible for the Seniors division in the same season, though she turns 15 later.
Q: Can I Register My Girl to Play on a Specific Team?
A: In certain age divisions, Pee-Wees and Rookies, this is totally possible and encouraged! We welcome girls in these divisions to join up on teams with their friends.
In the upper age divisions (i.e., Juniors, Seniors, and Teenage), we usually place girls in a draft system, where, through a predetermined sequence, coaches select girls onto their particular teams. While it is possible that girls, with their friends, will end up on the same team, there is no guarantee that such placement will happen.
As the upper age divisions are much more competitive, UHO coaches and board members do their best to ensure that all teams have a mostly equal talent distribution within such divisions, to foster a more competitive season experience.
Q: Will My Girl Play in Every Game?
A: Unless disciplinary measures are in effect, every girl who arrives in a timely fashion for her team’s games must be allowed to play at least half of the game.
Section 3 – Tell Me About the Kickball Season!
Q: When Does the Regular Season Start and How Long Does It Last?
A: The regular season typically starts in late March and runs through the last week in May, with practices beginning the last week in February or the first week in March. Due to weather and other postponements, the season may stretch into the first week of June, to facilitate playing make-up games as needed.
LMK sets the days on which 1) practices can start, 2) official game play can begin, and 3) official game play must end.
Prior to the formation of teams, we conduct skills assessments.
Q: What Are Skills Assessments?
A: Our season starts with skills assessments done typically in the second and third weeks of February. Skills assessments are done only for the upper divisions (i.e., Juniors, Seniors, and Teenage). Skills assessments measure basic kickball skill in current and new players. We use these assessments to rank players for purposes of the draft, to aid in distributing talent as evenly across teams as possible within each division.
Skills assessments are not terribly difficult, requiring any complex preparation beforehand. However, within them, we subject players to typical kickball situations to assess general attitude, mental understanding, physical ability, and areas for development / improvement during the regular season.
Q: When and Where Are Team Practices?
A: Coaches determine the times and places for team practices, usually based on consensus of input from team parents. While most team practices are at the Reznicek Fields at Highland Neighborhood Park, depending on the scheduling, the fields may not be available for coaches seeking practice on particular days and times. Thus, coaches may choose other locations, which they will communicate to the team parents.
Q: When Are UHO Kickball Games Typically Played?
A: UHO Kickball Teams usually play their games Monday through Thursday, with games normally beginning in the evening at 6:30 PM. The Pee-Wees, Rookies, and Juniors typically play games in 6:30 PM timeslot, while Seniors and Teenage play in the subsequent 8:00 PM timeslot.
Occasionally, UHO Kickball may schedule games, with other leagues, which occur on Saturdays. Additionally, UHO Kickball may host special season events (e.g., opening ceremonies, mid-season tournament, Pee-Wee / Rookie Spirit Day), where games may be played on Friday and/or Saturday.
Q: Where Are UHO Kickball Games Played?
A: All UHO Kickball home games are played at the Reznicek Fields at Highland Neighborhood Park, 401 W. St Johns Ave. As fits the needs of the season, UHO Kickball does participate in interleague play with other neighboring leagues. In such cases, games away from UHO may be played at the following locations:
Northwestern Austin Kickball (NWA Kickball), 3701 North Hills Drive, Austin, TX 78731
Central Austin Kickball (CAK), 2300 Rosewood Ave, Austin, TX 78702
Balcones Youth Sports, 3106 Adelphi Ln, Austin, TX 78727