Kickball

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Kickball is a playground game and also a competitive league game, similar to baseball, invented in the United States in about 1942. American World War II correspondent, Ernie Pyle, reported it being played by U.S. soldiers during the North African campaign, 1942-1943. It is typically played on a softball diamond with a 10- to 16-inch (250- to 400-mm) inflated rubber ball. The pitcher bowls the ball towards the catcher, and the "batter" kicks it with his foot. In some games, batters request a certain type of pitch-- rolling, bouncing slightly, or bouncing 1' to 2' off the ground. Once the ball, is kicked, the batter's objective is to get to reach base. In addition to tagging a base to get a forced runner out, or getting a runner out by touching him/her with a held ball, fielders may throw the ball at a runner to get him/her out (though hitting a runner above the shoulders with a thrown ball is often either discouraged or illegal; the latter being the more common rule.). Sometimes, in pickup-type games, a "pitcher's hand" rule may be used. When this rule is in effect, the batter may be out if the pitcher has the ball at the mound before the runner reaches base.

Since a good kicker will often connect with a rolling ball, strikes and strikeouts are infrequent. The ball is very large and soft in comparison to a baseball or softball, so fielding is different as well: catching fly balls can be easier, but throwing the ball can be harder. Thus, the dynamics and strategy considerations of kickball turn out somewhat differently from those of baseball, softball, or over-the-line. Some leagues do not allow the bunt, emphasizing more on kicking for power (The bunt is considered "cheap" by some, as the defense cannot field it very well). Even if the ball hits a runner, the ball is still a live ball.

Other rules, often introduced at children's games where there are insufficient members of a given team, include the "ghost runner" rule, where a player on base can return to the plate leaving a "ghost runner" who advances one base for each base advanced by the kicker.

In 1998, an adult kickball league, The World Adult Kickball Association (WAKA), was founded in Washington, DC. The sport grew quickly in popularity and spread across the country as a fun alternative to adult softball and soccer leagues. WAKA is currently the largest of organized adult kickball leagues but many other independent leagues operate throughout the United States.

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