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Bat-and-ball games facts for kids

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Safe zones in baseball and cricket
The green areas are the safe zones in cricket and baseball, which are the two biggest bat-and-ball sports in the world.

Bat-and-ball games are exciting games played by two teams on a field. They are sometimes called "safe zone" games. This is because players score points by running between special safe spots on the field.

In these games, teams take turns doing two main things: "batting" and "fielding." The team that is batting tries to score points. The team that is fielding is on defense, trying to stop the other team from scoring. Both teams get equal chances to bat and field. Bat-and-ball games don't have a time limit. Instead, they are played for a certain number of "innings" or "rounds."

The name "bat-and-ball" comes from the main tools used. Usually, a player from the fielding team throws a ball. Then, a player from the batting team tries to hit the ball with a "bat." A bat is a type of club, but its size and shape change depending on the game's rules. After hitting the ball, the batting player runs between safe zones to score points. The fielding team tries to get the batting player "out" by using the ball. If a player is out, they can't score points for a while. The further a player hits the ball, the more points they can usually score!

The two most famous bat-and-ball games around the world are cricket and baseball. Games like golf and hockey are not bat-and-ball games. This is because golf doesn't have teams, and in hockey, teams don't take turns batting and fielding.

How Bat-and-Ball Games Work

Here are some things that are common in many bat-and-ball games:

  • Getting "Out": A batter can get "out" if they make a mistake or if a fielding player does something good. When a batter is out, another player from their team takes their turn.
    • If a fielder catches the ball after it's hit by the bat, the batter is out. This is called a "flyout" or "caught out."
    • If the ball is thrown well and the batter doesn't hit it, they might be out. Examples include a "strikeout" in baseball or being "bowled out" in cricket.
    • When enough players on the batting team are out, their turn to bat ends. For example, in cricket, 10 players get out, while in baseball, 3 players get out.
  • Scoring Points: Batters run from one safe place to another to score points, called "runs."
    • While running, players are safe if they are in a "safe place." But if they leave a safe place, a fielder with the ball can stop them from running.
    • This can happen if the ball reaches a safe place before the runner (like a "run out" in cricket or "force play" in baseball). Or, if the ball touches the runner directly (like a "tag out" in baseball).
    • If the ball is hit very far, or out of the playing field, the batter scores many points at once. This is like a "home run" in baseball or "six runs" in cricket.

What You Need to Play

Here are some items used in bat-and-ball games:

  • Bat: This can be a baseball bat or a cricket bat. Some games might use something similar to a hockey stick.
  • Ball: Often, the ball is about the same size as a tennis ball.
  • Safety Gear: Players might wear things to protect themselves, like helmets or gloves.

On the field, you might see:

  • Safe Zones: These are marked places where runners are safe. Examples include bases in baseball, wickets in cricket, and lines like the crease in cricket.
  • Target Area: Sometimes there's a special area near the batter, like the "strike zone" in games such as Vitilla.
  • Field Edges: There might be something marking the edges of the field, like a fence in baseball.

Types of Bat-and-Ball Games

There are many different bat-and-ball games played around the world! Here are some of them:

Images for kids

  • Cantigas de Santa María - Xogo da pelota

    Young men playing a bat-and-ball game in a 13th-century manuscript from Galicia.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Juegos de bate y pelota para niños

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