Intermediate PE

Let's Learn About Kickball!

Directions: Read the following information about the game of Kickball. Answer the questions at the bottom of the web page. Be sure to write your answers in your P.E./Health journal! Happy Learning.

At left, A division of the World Adult Kickball Association plays its games in the shadow of the Washington Monument. (World Adult Kickball Association Inc.)

As almost any elementary school graduate knows, kickball is similar to baseball or softball, except instead of hitting a little, white, hard ball, players kick a fat, soft, red rubber ball — generally making the game easier. Unlike baseball, players can be put out by being hit in the torso with a thrown ball.

For decades, kids have spontaneously run pickup kickball games during school recess, educators say.

However, even as kickball becomes more popular with adult players, it is falling out of favor among physical education teachers. It involves too much standing around and too few physical demands, says Judith Young, executive director of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education.

"We need to modify it in physical education classes," perhaps by using fewer players or more confined spaces to heighten the action, she says. That way, "the kids can get the good things out it — which is learning to kick, learning to throw, learning the strategy of a bases-type game."

For adults, Young applauds the kickball leagues.

"That's great," she says. "It gets people active and they have fun. And if it gets them back to positive memories at school, a time when they were young, that's great, too."

What's The Field Look Like?

Positions on the Field

Baseball Diamond

1. Pitcher 4. 2nd Baseman 7. Left fielder

2. Catcher 5. 3rd Baseman 8. Center fielder

3. 1st Baseman 6. Short stop 9. Right fielder

Description of Positions

The Positions
As mentioned earlier, 9 players take the field on defense. The numbers equate with their scoring-keeping positions. The positions are:

1	Pitcher. Charged with delivering the ball to the plate in a manner difficult for a batter to hit. Good throwing speed is good indication of a pitcher, but accuracy is more important. They should be tough, smart, and retain their composure when faced with a challenging situation. Will be required to ‘cover’ home plate on a short pop fly or foul when there are runners on third.
2	Catcher. Generally the team leader while on the field since they are the only player facing all the other players. The catcher will: track the count on the batter; track the number of outs; remind fielders of their position on the field; back up 1^st base on every infield play; and generally spend most of the time getting up and down from the squat position. Makes my calves hurt just thinking about it! This player should be your most rugged and quickest thinking individual.
Infield players must be able to react quickly toward a hit ball, and have good hand-eye coordination skills. For shortstop and third, a good throwing arm is also needed. These positions will be easiest for right-handed players, since they do not have to turn as far to throw the ball to first.
3	First base. The perfect place for a ‘lefty’ who can catch the ball well. Balls will be bouncing in, flying in, on target and off target, so their primary responsibility will be to catch and/or stop the ball. Strength and size are also strong determining factors. Strong concentration skills will also be a necessity, as they will potentially be involved in every play.
4	Second base. Size and stature are of little importance. Speed, quickness and good fielding will be the determining factors. Must be able to ‘think-ahead’ when there are base runners, I.e. "If the ball is hit to me, I will touch second base, or tag the runner, and then throw to first".
5	Third Base. This player should have excellent forward and lateral speed, as most balls hit at them will be short, and/or to the players' left. They should be able to throw the ball on a dead-run and be able to field the ball barehanded. They are the furthest from first, so a strong throwing arm is required.
6	Shortstop. This player has more ground to cover than any other player does and must be fast, quick, agile and have a strong throwing arm. The shortstop will potentially field more ground balls, in more off-balance positions, than any other player. Being able to ‘think-ahead’ is required for this position as well. This position will backup the second baseman on any throws to second.

Outfielders must cover large distances, so speed and quickness to react (‘gut instincts’) to the ball is key. They must be able to catch fly balls above their head and on the run. They must be able to throw the ball a long distance and accurately to be effective. Younger players’ may find it difficult to concentrate on the game, since they are so far from the action. Emphasizing the ‘ready’ position will give outfield players something to concentrate on at each pitch.
7	Left Fielder. Of all outfield positions, this player should have the weakest arm, as they do not generally throw the ball as far. They still require good fielding and catching skills and backup third on pick-off attempts from the catcher or pitcher.
8	Center Fielder. This will be the player that has the best combination of speed and throwing distance. Like shortstop, they cover more ‘grass’ than any other player and, most likely, will catch the most fly balls. They must backup second on all bunts and throws from the catcher.
9	Right Fielder. As well as the requirements above should be a good ‘think-ahead’ player. This player backs up first base on all throws from the catcher and all bunted balls, since the catcher must be available for fielding the ball. They backup second on any ball thrown from the left of the diamond. I.e. shortstop, third base or foul territory.

General Rules of the Game

1. Teams must field at least eight (8) players and no more than eleven (11). Teams must field a minimum of four

PITCHING / CATCHING

1. No bouncies. A pitch that is higher than one foot at the plate, and called as such, results in a ball.

2. The pitcher must stay behind the pitching strip until the ball is kicked. Failure to abide by this rule results in a

ball.

3. No player may field in front of the pitcher other than the catcher.

4. No player may run to any base until the ball is kicked. Failure to abide by this rule results in a ball.

5. The catcher must field directly behind the kicker and may not cross home plate nor be positioned forward of

the kicker before the ball is kicked. Failure to abide by this rule results in a ball.

6. The strike zone extends to 1 foot on either side of home plate, and 1 foot high. A pitch outside the strike

zone is a ball.

7. Balls must be pitched by hand.

KICKING

1. All kicks must be made by foot or leg, below the knee (see Rule 13.02f).

2. All kicks must occur at or behind home plate. The kicker may step on home plate to kick.

3. Bunting is allowed.

RUNNING

1. Runners must stay within the base line.

2. Fielders must stay out of the base line. Fielders trying to make an out on base may have their foot on base,

but must lean out of the base line. Runners hindered by any fielder within the base line, not making an active play

for the ball, shall be safe at the base to which they were running.

3. Neither leading off base, nor stealing a base is allowed. A runner may advance once the ball is kicked. A

runner off of his/her base when the ball is kicked, is out.

4. Hitting a runner’s neck or head with the ball is not allowed, except when the runner is sliding. Any runner

hit in the neck or head while running is safe and advances to the base they were running toward when the ball hit

the runner. If the runner intentionally uses the head or neck to block the ball, and is so called by the Referee, the

runner is out.

5. Tag-Ups. After a kicked ball is touched or caught, runners must tag their originating base before running to

the next base. If the runner has not moved off of base before the ball is touched or caught, the runner may run

forward without a tag up.

6. All ties will go to the runner. Runners may overrun first base.

7. One base on an overthrow into foul territory. A runner may not run beyond the next base to the one

originally running toward when the ball was thrown. This ‘one base on an overthrow’ rule is a restriction on the

runner – not an automatic right for the runner to advance.

8. Running past another runner is not allowed. Any runner passed by another runner is out.

STRIKES

1. A count of three (3) strikes is an out.

2. A strike is:

a. a pitch within the strike zone (see Rule 8.05) that is not kicked;

b. an attempted kick missed by the kicker inside or outside of the strike zone (see Rule 8.05).

BALLS

1. A count of four (4) balls advances the kicker to first base.

2. A ball is:

a. a pitch outside of the strike zone as judged by the Referee where a kick is not attempted (see Rule 8.05);

b. an illegal bouncy (see Rule 8.01);

c. any fielder or pitcher advancing on home plate before the ball is kicked (see Rule 8.03);

d. any catcher crossing home plate before the kicker or failing to field behind the kicker (see Rule 8.04).

FOULS

1. A count of four (4) fouls is an out.

2. A foul is:

a. a kick landing out of bounds;

b. a kick landing in bounds, but traveling out of bounds on its own at any time before reaching first or third base.

(Any ball touched by an in-bounds player is automatically in play);

c. a kick in front of home plate (see Rule 9.02);

d. a kickball kicked or touched more than once in foul territory or stopped by the kicker in foul territory;

e. a kicked ball in flight touched by a fielder in foul territory and not caught;

f. a kick made above the knee.

OUTS

1. A count of three (3) outs by a team completes the team's half of the inning.

2. An out is:

a. a count of three (3) strikes or four (4) fouls;

b. a runner touched by the ball or who touches the ball at ANY time while not on base while the ball is in play;

c. any kicked ball (fair or foul) that is caught;

d. a ball tag on a base to which a runner is forced to run;

e. a runner off of his/her base when the ball is kicked;

f. a runner physically assisted by a base coach during play (see Rule 6.02).

BALL IN PLAY

1. Once the pitcher has the ball in control and on the mound, the play ends.

2. If a runner intentionally touches or stops the ball, the play ends and the runner is out. (see Rule 14.02b).

3. During a play where a ball is popped or deflates significantly, the play should be replayed with a new ball.

4. Interference is when any non fielder, runner, or non permanent object touches the ball. Any time there is

interference, play automatically ends and runners proceed to the base to which they were headed.

16. GHOST MEN

1. Ghost men are not allowed.

17. RE-ENTRY AND SUBSTITUTIONS

1. In cases of injury or illness, a time-out may be requested for participant removal and replacement with a

substitute of the same sex. If the participant later returns to play, the participant must be inserted in the same

fielding and kicking order position previously held.

2. If a player is ejected, injured, or becomes ill and cannot continue, the lineup will continue in the same

formation, less the removed player.

3. The pitcher may only be replaced on the mound once per inning unless injury forces a substitution.

4. Runners may only be substituted by a runner of the same sex once the initial runner successfully makes it

to or beyond first base.

Class Task

After reading all rules, think about how you play kickball during recess or free play at home. Write each answer in your P.E./Health journal.

1. Do you follow any of the rules you just read about?

2. What will you change the next time you play kickball?

3. Now that you know how to play, do you still like the game? Why or why not?

4. Draw a picture showing how a kickball field should be set up. Remember to add the bases, pitcher's mound, field positions, and where the team who is "up at bat" should stand.

5. Be ready to discuss information during our next class!