Kickball

Kickball is typically played among young, school-age children,[citation needed] both as a playground game and as part of physical education (PE).

The lack of both specialized equipment and highly skill-based positions (like the pitcher) makes the game an accessible introduction to related sports such as baseball and softball.

[1] Kickball was likely invented around 1910 in the United States and began to spread from about the 1920s onward, mainly via PE classes in public schools.

[5] In 1920–1921, "Kick Ball" was used by physical education teachers in US public schools to teach young boys and girls the basics of baseball.

It was played by ten to 30 players and the field included a "Neutral Zone": an area not to be entered until the ball has actually been kicked.

[9] In the 1940s, American World War II correspondent Ernie Pyle reported kickball being played by U.S. soldiers during the Tunisia Campaign of 1942–1943.

[10] In addition, "Kick Ball" was promoted as an informal game for soldiers by the United States Department of the Army from as early as 1943.

Sometimes in less formal games, the field is not bounded by a fence (which traditionally surrounds a softball or baseball diamond), but is instead open.

This may result in informal rule changes to accommodate the field, such as home runs being counted by number of bounces instead of by distance.

Kickball can also be played on a rectangular blacktop area with chalk or paint outlines, such as an open outdoor basketball court.

While kickball was long mostly considered a child's game in the United States and Canada, over time it has gained popularity among adults as a recreational sport.

"[citation needed] In England, the variation often played in PE lessons in schools is referred to as "Football-Rounders," a mix of association football and rounders.