Kickball

For the record label, see Kickball Records.

Adults playing kickball.

Kickball, (or Soccer-Baseball) is a playground game and competitive league game, similar to baseball, invented in the United States in the first half of the 20th Century. Kickball may also be known as kick baseball, base soccer, soccer-base, or soccer-baseball. It is essentially baseball where players kick the ball to bat it instead of using bats (this makes it more accessible to younger ones).

History

Kickball, originally called "Kick Baseball", was invented around 1917 by Nicholas C Seuss; Supervisor of Cincinnati Park Playgrounds in Cincinnati, Ohio. Around 1920–1921 "Kick Ball" was used by physical education teachers in Public Schools to teach young boys and girls the basics of baseball. Around this time, the ball that was used was a soccer ball or volleyball. It was played by ten to thirty players and the field included a "Neutral Zone": an area not to be entered until the ball has actually been kicked. There was no pitcher as the ball would be kicked from the home area, which was a 3 ft circle. The ball must pass beyond the 5 foot line. Base-runners could only advance one base on an infield ball. Teams would switch sides only after all team members have kicked.

A game in Madison, Wisconsin.

Girls playing kickball in central park.

During this time, it was played on the same field as baseball except that there was only one base corresponding to a baseball diamond's 2nd base. Multiple players could be on base at a time, but all needed to get home before the last kicker kicked and the kicking order had retired.

There were also two short stop player positions: one between 1st and 2nd and the other between 2nd and 3rd. Home plate was marked by a 3 ft by 4 ft rectangle on the ground.

American World War II correspondent Ernie Pyle reported it being played by U.S. soldiers during the Tunisia Campaign, 1942–1943.^{[citation needed]}

Field

The game is typically played on a softball diamond with a 8.5- to 16-inch (250- to 400-mm) inflated rubber ball. As in baseball/softball, the game uses 3 bases, a pitcher's mound, and a home plate.

Rules

The ball is usually bouncy and closer to a soccer ball than a softball in size. Rules generally follow baseball/softball rules, except that the pitcher rolls the ball towards home plate instead of throwing it, and the "batter" kicks it instead of striking it with a bat. If the ball goes into fair territory (between first base and third), the batter runs toward first base, becoming a runner.

A common rule variant in kickball is that a fielder may put a runner out by hitting him with a thrown ball in lieu of tagging him with the ball.

There is no official set of kickball rules as kickball leagues tend to develop their own sets of rules.

Kickball in other countries

Kickball is popular among youth in South Korea. Known as balyagu [발야구 (foot-baseball)], it is a staple in PE classes within elementary schools. Kickball is referred to as "California Kickball" in Canada.

External links

• Parker, Ashley (2006-09-15). "Getting a Kick Out of Kickball". The New York Times. http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/09/15/travel/escapes/15kickball.html. Retrieved 2006-09-29. 
• Dreazen, Yochi J. (2005-07-06). "Playing kickball is much less fun with adults". The Wall Street Journal via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05187/533670.stm. Retrieved 2006-09-29. 
• Skipp, Catharine; Dishongh, Kimberly (2006-08-21). "Trends: All for the Love of the Game". Newsweek. http://www.newsweek.com/id/46412. Retrieved 2007-03-19. 
• Beja, Marc (2008-02-05). "Still Kicking". Washington Square News. http://www.nyunews.com/2008/feb/05/7/. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
• Whirty, Ryan (2009-07-29). "Follow the red bouncing ball". CITY Newspaper. http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/news/articles/2009/07/RECREATION-Adult-kickball-leagues-in-Rochester/. Retrieved 2012-01-02.