Kickball is an active and accessible sport that can be played even before a child has the hand-eye coordination to hit a baseball pitch with a bat. The game can also be enjoyed by all ages well into adulthood, and provides the aerobic activity needed to maintain a healthy weight, while having fun at the same time.
Equipment
Kickball needs little equipment to play, which is one of the most attractive qualities about the sport. All you need is a kickball -- although a soft nerf soccer ball can also work -- as well as four bases arranged in a traditional baseball diamond shape. A field or indoor gym large enough for players to kick the ball into the outfield is also necessary. The size of the field can vary depending on the age and skill level of the players, but regulation fields measure 70-foot base paths with 50 feet to the pitcher's rubber.
Playing the Game
Kickball is similar to baseball except the kickball is rolled on the ground and kicked, instead of pitched in the air and hit with a bat. The players are first split into two equal teams. One team is up to kick and the other is in the field. The "pitcher" rolls the ball toward the first person who is up to kick, and the kicker tries to kick the ball away from anyone out in the field. When the ball is successfully kicked, the person tries to run the bases without getting out. If they make it all the way around, a point is scored for his team.
Outs
Each team is allowed three outs before changing places at the half or end of the inning. An out occurs if a kicker gets three strikes, a field player catches a fair ball that has been kicked before it hits the ground, the ball is thrown to a field player standing on a base before the runner gets there, or if a player is touched by the ball while not on a base. The ball can be thrown to get a player out, but the ball must hit below the shoulders.
Fouls and Balls
A foul occurs whenever the ball is kicked and lands in foul territory outside the confines of the sides of the field and behind the home plate. A foul also occurs if the ball is kicked from anywhere above the knee. Three fouls is an out. Balls occur anytime the ball is pitched outside the the strike zone, or when a ball is bounce-pitched. When three balls occur, the kicker advances to first base.
Change it Up
When using kickball as a summer fun activity, you can change up the game without altering the traditional rules. For example, consider water kickball by replacing the bases with kiddy pools filled with water, and installing a slip and slide into home base. For days where it's too cold for water, assign a different funny activity for a base runner to perform while standing at their base, such as singing a silly song, spinning in circles, or performing jumping jacks. They must perform this action non-stop until they move to the next base where they will be assigned a new action.
