A baseball field consists of bases.

TeamsTeamsPlayers bat in turns in a pre-determined order and play in this order for the entire game. The same players play defence when they don’t bat. On defence, teams have one pitcher.

Basic rulesBasic rulesIn turns, players go up to home plate to bat a baseball thrown from a pitcher. The pitcher throws the ball over home plate and between the batter's knees and shoulders. If the ball is not hit and the batter moves, it is a strike. Batters have to get a hit before three strikes or they are eliminated. When batters hit the ball they have to touch all the bases on the run to home plate. If a player is out of a base when the pitcher gets the ball he or she is eliminated. When the player gets home plate the team scores a run. A non stop run is a “home run” and the team gets a life for an eliminated player. If the team on defence catches the ball in the air the teams change positions--the batting team plays defence, and vice versa. The team with the maximum number of runs at the end of the game time is the winner.

Out of boundsOut of boundsYou or the ball cannot touch outside the lines of the rectangle or it is “out of bounds”. If you don’t have the ball, you can step out of the line.

DribblingDribblingA dribble is when you bounce the ball and walk or run with it. If you use both hands or pick the ball up and dribble again it is “double dribble” (foul) and the other team gets the ball. For a good dribble bounce with the hand on the top of the ball.

ShootingShootingTo score, the ball goes through the basket. There are three places a person can shoot from, for different points. If you are behind the three point line, which is the big arc around the basket, and score, you get three points. Inside the arc you get two points. If you are fouled you shoot free throws from the free throw line and get one point.

FoulsFoulsA foul is when you touch or hit the person with the ball.

“Double dribble” or “travelling” are fouls.

Picking up your dribblePicking up your dribbleIf you are dribbling the ball and you pick the ball up, you can take one or two steps. For three or more steps it is considered “travelling” (it is foul), and the other team gets the ball. When you pick up the ball you can pass it or score.

Objective of the gameObjective of the game

Two teams play the game and the objective of the game is to get the ball into the other’s team goal. The team with the maximum number of goals at the end of the game time is the winner.The players (except the goalkeeper) can use any part, apart from the arms and hands, to attack or defend. The goalkeeper can use his hands only in the penalty area.

TeamsTeams

The teams have 11 players. One of them is the goalkeeper.

The pitchThe pitch

The halfway line and the centre circle are in the centre of the pitch where the kick off takes place at the start of the game, the start of the second half or after the opposition has scored.The penalty area is a rectangular area around the goal.

Corners and throw-insCorners and throw-ins

If the players of one team kick the ball out of the playing area, on the length side of the pitch, (not facing the goal), then they concede a throw-in. If the ball goes out of the pitch from the line behind the goal that they are attacking, then the goalkeeper of the opposing team gets a goal kick. If the defender puts the ball behind the line of the goal which they are defending then the opposing team gets a corner kick. A corner kick is from the side from where the ball has gone out.

A foulA foulA foul is when a player handles the ball or attacks a player of the opposing team.

A foul normally results in a free kick to the team of the fouled player, from the place where he is fouled.

A penaltyA penaltyA penalty kick is given to one team when one of the attackers is fouled in the

penalty area or a defender handles the ball. The player takes the kick from the penalty spot and the goal is guarded by the goalkeeper.

The sending off (red cards)

A player can be sent off (red-carded) if he commits too many fouls or a penalty.Remember to use your head and PRACTISE FAIR PLAY AND RESPECT.

TeamsTeams

5 players and 1 goalie.No player except the goalkeeper can enter the goal area.The ball is played with the hand, but it can touch any other part of the body except the feet. This results in a free-throw (foul) for the other team from the point of infraction.The throw-on at centre court occurs at the start of the game and half time, and after a goal is scored.

Mode of travelMode of travel

3 steps, bounce, 3 steps - is the maximum that can be travelled at 1 time - then a pass or shot.If an offensive player's shot hits the goalie, the goal posts or the cross bar and comes out of the goal area, the ball is in play.If the ball goes off of the goalie or an attacker it is a goalie's ball.If the ball goes off of any other defending player, it is a corner throw-on for the offensive team, (similar to corner kick in football).

Body contactBody contact

A player can stand his ground to prevent an attacker from breaking through the defence.A player cannot catch a ball from another player's hands.Penalty shot results from hitting a player illegally when he has a clear chance of scoring a goal.

The gameThe game

The ball is played only with the stick on the ground.A goal is scored when an attacker strikes the ball into the goal.

FoulsFouls

A player may not:Obstruct the ball from an opponent with the body or stick.

Hit an opponent.Play with the stick in the air.

Stop the ball in the air or on the ground with any part of the body. Hit an opponent stick.

Fouls in the area are penalties.

The push-in/hit inThe push-in/hit in

A push-in or hit-in to the opposition is when a player hits the ball over the sideline (out). All players and the sticks must be at 5 metres from the ball.

The courtThe courtThe net divides the court into two equal sections.

TeamsTeamsTwo teams are divided by the net, and each team has six players on the

court. Three players are positioned in the front row near the net and three players are in the back row. Each team can only hit the ball three times before the ball travels over the net to the other team. The same player

cannot hit the ball for two consecutive hits.

ServingServingBefore serving the ball the team must rotate clockwise one position. The player who rotates into the back-right position serves the ball from behind the line. The server can use his hand or arm to hit the ball. The ball must go over the net and fall inside the lines on the opposing team's side. If the

serving team wins the point the same player continues serving the ball.

ScoringScoringA team scores a point if it is serving the ball and the opposing team fails to return the ball because the ball hits the ground, the ball is hit out of bounds or the ball is hit more than three times. The first team to get 21 points wins

the game. The team that wins two out of three games wins the match.

Step 1Step 1To start the match see who serves first, you or the opponent.

Step 2Step 2Warm up by hitting the ball when it bounces before you hit it. Practice

volleys, which are balls hit before they touch the ground. Practice serves. During a warm-up, hit good balls to your opponent.

Step 3Start the match by serving. You hit a serve from one side of the court into the opposite side of the court. If the serve goes into the net or out it is a

fault. Two faults mean one point to the opponent.

Step 4Step 4To start serving hit the ball in the air.

Step 5Step 5You can hit the ball over the net after one bounce or in a volley (no bounce).

It is a sport played with paddles or bats (official name) and a small plastic ball.

The serveThe serve

The ball is in play when one player serves the ball to the opponent. On a good serve, the player throws the ball in the air and hit the ball so that it

strikes the table, goes over the net and then hits the opponent's side of the net. The other player returns the ball over the net, strikes the opponent's side

of the net and a rally starts. The game goes on in this manner until one player cannot return the ball.

Game formatGame format

Games are played to 11 or 21 points (usually to 21 points). A match is determined by the player who can win three games out of five. One player serves for the first five points of the game. Then the other player will serve

the next five points. Serves will alternate in this manner (5 to 5) until the game is complete. All games must be decided by a margin of two points. If a game is tied 20-20 (or 10-10), players will alternate serves after each point.

In order to win a tied match, one player will have to win two consecutive points after the score is tied.