A children's game played with a
big rubber ball the size of a
soccer ball. Very similar to
baseball in that there are bases, three outs an inning per team, and the scoring is the same. Different in that the ball is rolled instead of pitched, has to be kicked to be put in play, and nobody uses a
glove. Various
neighborhood rules include...
- Indian Rubber
The ability to get a runner out by hitting him with the ball. Otherwise, only tagging or force outs are allowed (a la baseball).
- Headhunting
Throwing the ball at a person's head. Generally considered illegal unless the person moves their head into the ball.
- Leading & Stealing
Leading - the ability to step away from the base before the ball is kicked.
Stealing - the ability to take another base before the ball is kicked.
I have yet to see a kickball game that allowed stealing. Interpretations of leading allow for some pretty big leads, but the prospect of Indian Rubber usually discourages them.
- Fouls To Midnight
The ability to continuously kick balls in foul territory without penalty. An alternate of this rule would be three fouls and you're out.
- Do-Over
Perhaps the easiest way to settle a kickball dispute. Simply do it all over again. Everyone returns to where they were before the argument, and play resumes as though nothing happened.
- Into
Pronounced in-tow, short for interference. Any kicked ball that hits a tree branch, power line, or is in any other way altered by existing structures is called an Into. An Into almost always becomes a do-over.
- D.C.
"Doesn't Count". Refers to a younger person who wants to play, but whose talent would be detremental to the team in question. Their actions at the plate are ignored in the grand scheme of the game, but this way they aren't excluded and can still have fun with the big kids. The abbreviation is used to prevent the yute from learning the truth about his kickball status.
Also known as a Washington.
- Spinning
The art of putting spin on a rolled ball such that kicking it often results in a foul ball or a pop up.
All rule variations must be discussed prior to the game to avoid any permanent friendship endings (which usually last two days). The typical pre-game meeting between kickball captains goes something like this:
TYLER
OK. Fouls to midnight, leading but no stealing,
Indian Rubber but no headhunting.
AARON
Right. Into's a do-over, OK.
TYLER
Sure.
AARON
And Eddie's a D.C.
TYLER
Eddie? Why?
AARON
He can't kick.
TYLER
(beginning to pout)
Come on!
AARON
Look, he has to go inside in ten minutes anyway.
TYLER
(in full-out pout mode)
OK, fine. But no spinning, then!