Props: A
bat; a soft ball
Step 1
Mark off
what represents a batting box and the bases as you would if playing a game of baseball or softball somewhere other than on a
baseball diamond.
Step 2
Divide the
players into two equal teams with creative names. Toss a coin to see who bats first. Each team appoints a scorer to keep track of
their score.
Step 3
The object of the game is to score points by making
rounders, or runs, in which a player rounds all the bases and makes it safely to the
last base. A team receives one point every time one of its players makes it to the last
base and is “home.” If a player runs around all the bases in one turn, then the
team is rewarded three
points for their rounder.
How to Play
The batting team lines up to the side of the “box.” The
first batter enters the box with the bat.
The pitching team places a person at each base, behind the
batter, and anywhere else it may choose. The pitcher then takes the ball and
faces the batter.The pitcher pitches the ball underarm to the batter so that
it is not higher than his shoulder and not lower than his knee. If the
pitcher does this, it is a “fair ball” and counts; if not, it is a “bad ball” (i.e., a “strike”)
and must be repeated.
Rules
Each batter will be • pitched up to three “good balls.”
• He may hit a “good” or a “bad” ball.
• The batter must run if he hits a “good” ball.
• The batter drops the bat when he runs.
• If there are four bad balls, the batter goes to first
base.
• When players run, they must touch each base as they go or
else run around the outside of it. If they wish to stop at a base,
they must touch it to be considered on base.
If a player with a ball in her hand to • uches a base before
a running batter gets there, then the batter is out.
• When a player has left a base, they may not return.
• There can never be more than one player on a base.
• If there is more, then the last player to arrive is out.
• Batters must hit the ball forward, or they are out.
• When a player is out, she goes behind the baseline.
• Players at bases wait for their batter to hit and begin
running. Then, they also run themselves.
• When a player makes it to home base, they rejoin the
batting lineup.
• If a batter’s ball is caught, he is out.
• If a running player is tagged with the ball, she is out.
Play for an agreed time or number of innings. The team with
the highest score wins.
Variation: An alternate rule is that if a player is out, the
whole team is out.
Note: This classic beach game is very similar to baseball. There
are, however, several important differences from baseball, including: a
batter isn’t out if another player catches the ball before it hits the ground, there is
no set number of bases or outs, and a fair ball just has to go forward
(within the 180 degree space
in front of the batter) rather than forward between the
baselines.
