Rounders

Rounders is a game that everybody can play together no matter what your age, your experience or your ability.

Rounders is normally played in the sunshine in the summer term at school, however, this game can also be played inside a sports hall.

It’s a game of two teams. One team bats (everyone gets a turn at batting) while the other team fields. Once the bowler bowls the ball the batter must run to first post even if they have not been able to hit the ball. Batters try and outrun the fielding team by moving around the posts 1/2/3/4 scoring ½ on post 2 and a whole rounder if they reach post 4 in one go. Once the batting team has finished, they become the fielding team and vice versa.

Rounders is an enjoyable, fast paced game which encourages team work and both boys and girls can play in the same team.

There are also lots of adaptations of this sport including football rounders which is a great hit with the boys.

Football Rounders Rules:

The bowler throws the ball underarm with a bounce from the bowling box to the batting box. The batter can kick the ball.

Once the batter has kicked the ball they then run around the 4 bases. They can stop at any base.

The fielders then field the ball into the bowler to stop the batter from moving on.

Scoring zones can also be added to get the batters to make decisions or add in the rule that if the batter is caught out then the whole team is out - this will encourage them to keep the ball on the floor and encourage the fielders to go for the catches.

Top tips

Before you start playing, try these warm ups from Rounders England then each of the videos below for each part of the game.

Creative Warm Up’s

Batting:

Keep your shoulders level
Head still
Bat back and still
Count for 1 before you swing when the ball is bowled

Batting Skills:

Catching:

Hold hands out in front of your chest
Move your body to get in line with the flight of the ball
Catch with your fingertips and pull the ball into your chest
Specialist Rounders Fielders:

Throwing:

Stand sideways to the player you are throwing it to
Take the throwing arm back behind the body

Develop Dynamic Fielders:

To keep your hand/eye coordination strong whilst at home try and keep the ball bouncing on the bat for as many hits as you can. If you have not got a bat, a rolling pin or water bottle works just as well.

Rounders England and you?

The England Squads are female only and there’s the opportunity, if you have a real talent for this great game, to trial from as early as Year 7 for the Under 14 squad!

Keep an eye on www.roundersengland.co.uk for the release of information in due course.