Designed for children 5 and younger, blastball serves as a precursor to tee ball and introduces kids to the game of baseball. Because of the age of the players involved, blastball features simplified rules, enhanced safety precautions and fewer necessary playing skills.
Equipment
Blastball players use a foam bat and a 10-inch foam ball to ensure optimum safety. Since the ball is so soft, players don’t need fielding gloves or batting helmets. Blastball also requires a foam-padded batting tee for hitting. Aside from the batting tee, which serves as home plate, blastball uses only one other base. For an added element of fun, the single base may also feature a horn that honks when players step on it.
Field
Blastball’s lone base should be positioned along the normal first-base line at a distance 25 feet from home plate. A plastic cone or some other marker should be placed 25 feet down the normal third-base line to designate the foul line. Measure 15 feet from the batting tee and use bean bags or plastic cones to mark a line between the base and the opposite foul cone. This line, called the fair line, designates fair territory within the field of play.
Players
A typical blastball game features two teams of five players each. With no pitcher required, the fielders take position anywhere in the field, provided they stand behind the 15-foot fair line. Coaches may want to position fielders farther back if there’s a chance they could get hit with batted balls.
Game Play
Blastball begins with a batter hitting the ball from the tee. Players may take as many swings as needed to hit the ball. Batted balls must cross the fair line to be in play. Any balls that don’t land or roll past the fair line are considered foul. Once the ball is hit, batters attempt to run to first base. Fielders record outs by catching the ball or grabbing it off the ground and yelling “Blast!” before the runner reaches first base.
Scoring
While one point may be awarded for reaching first base, blastball leagues for younger children typically don’t keep score and allow every hitter to bat each inning before changing sides. The entire goal is having fun. Blastball games also don’t play toward a set number of innings, instead adhering to a suggested time limit of 45 minutes.
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