• Kickball, originally a popular schoolyard game for children, has now become a social activity and recreational pastime of young adults. Kickball is similar to baseball in terms of rules and procedures, except that it is played on a softball diamond and uses an inflated rubber ball that is kicked. As with baseball and softball, kickball has three bases plus a home plate.
  
  

Field and Equipment

• Play kickball on a softball field, or a field designed for kickball that resembles a softball field. The infield is diamond-shaped with approximately 60-foot distances between each point, referred to as a base. The distance between each base may be reduced to accommodate young children. The pitching strip is roughly 42 feet from home plate and the strike zone is the width of home plate, typically measuring 1-foot by 1-foot. Aside from players, the only equipment needed is a round, usually red, inflated rubber ball measuring 8.5 to 10 inches in diameter.
  
  

Scoring, Strikes and Foul Balls

• The rules for scoring, strikes and foul balls are similar to the rules in baseball and softball. For example, when a player returns to home plate after having run around all other bases, his team scores a run. A ball that is kicked in front of home plate is a foul ball, as is any ball kicked into foul territory. A strike occurs when a ball rolls across the strike zone and is not kicked. A ball occurs when a pitched ball passes a player but not in the strike zone. Umpires are in charge of calling balls, fouls and strikes.
  
  

Outs

• Three strikes equal one out and three outs end the offensive team's turn during the inning, just as in baseball and softball. Players are also out if a kicked ball is caught by a player of the opposing team or a player is hit with the ball while running in between bases.