Rounders

For the movie of the same name, see Rounders (movie)

Diagram of a rounders pitch.

Rounders is a sport which originated in Ireland. A team consists of a maximum of 15 players and a minimum of 6 of whom no more than 9 may be on the field at one time. [1] The teams try to score points ("rounders") by completing a circuit of posts. The sport is very old and it has been documented as early as the seventeenth century. Baseball and softball evolved from rounders (see origins of baseball); the earliest literary mention of rounders calls the game "base-ball". The chief differences between rounders and baseball or softball are:

• the rounders bat is much shorter than a baseball or softball bat, and is usually swung one-handed.
• there is no foul territory.
• balls and strikes aren't called, so there are no walks or strike-outs.
• posts are sometimes used instead of bases made of stuffed fabric (but in school playing areas the bases are usually just painted on the asphalt surface)
• the circuit of posts has a different shape – the final post in the circuit is not in the same place as the spot where the batsman stands
• as it is today considered a child's game the distance between posts is much shorter (12 m) than the distance between bases in either baseball or softball.

Irish rounders is an Irish version of the game which is very similar to softball, the chief difference being that the distance between bases is 90 ft (27.4 m), as in baseball, rather than 60 ft (18.3 m).

Overview

Equipment: The ball is hard with a cork centre and covered in white leather (although a standard tennis ball is often substituted in school games). Its circumference is about 7.5 inches (19 cm). The ball is struck with a bat, which may be no more than 18 in (460 mm) long, 6.75 in (170 mm) around, and 13 ounces (370g) in weight. Bats can be made from wood or aluminium.

Players: The team bowling fields nine players. One must be a bowler but the others may play where they wish, although one (the backstop) plays behind the batting square to receive the ball from the bowler, three play near the bases, and three play beyond the posts.

Rules of play

The bowler bowls the ball with an underarm pendulum action to the batsman. It is a good ball if it passes within reach on the striking side between the batsman's knees and top of the head the batsman must try to hit it. Regardless of whether he hits the ball, he must run to first post. If the ball is hit into the backward area the batsman may not pass first post until the ball is returned to the forward area.

If the ball is not within reach on the striking side or between the batsman's knees and top of the head the batsman may try to hit it and may run but is not required to. Each batsman except the last in each inning is entitled to receive one good ball; the last batsman is entitled to receive three unless caught out. Two innings constitute a game. Each batting team's inning (sic) continues until nine outs are made. Two umpires officiate.

A rounder is scored if:

• fourth post is reached and touched before next ball is bowled following a hit
• fourth post is reached on no ball

A half-rounder is scored if:

• fourth post is reached and touched before next ball is bowled without hitting the ball
• second post is reached and touched before next ball is bowled after hitting the ball
• obstruction by a fielder
• two consecutive no balls to the same batter

A batsman is out if:

• he puts a foot outside the front or back of the batting square before swinging at a good ball
• a ball he hit is caught

A runner is out if:

• he runs inside the posts
• the post he is running to is stumped (touched with the ball by a fielder)
• he is not in contact with a post (using his hand or stick) while the bowler is preparing to bowl
• he is not in contact with a post and the next post is stumped
• he overtakes another runner
• he obstructs a fielder

See also

• Brännboll

External links

• Rounders Association of Ireland
• National Rounders Association (UK)
• DMOZ - Rounders