Wireball facts for kids

Wireball is an exciting street game that's a lot like baseball! It's often played in cities across the United States. You don't need much to play: just a bouncy rubber ball (sometimes called a "pensie pinkie" ball) and a street or driveway with electric power lines stretching across it. The game uses rules from baseball, but they're changed a bit to fit playing outside. You can play Wireball with one or more players on each team.

How to Play Wireball

Setting Up the Game

To start, players stand on opposite sides of the power line. Before playing, everyone agrees on the boundaries for the game. This usually includes the width of the street. They might also pick a landmark, like a manhole cover, as the furthest point the ball can go.

Scoring Hits and Outs

The main goal for the player who is "batting" is to throw the ball over the wire or hit the wire. If they do this, it counts as a "hit." The player who is "fielding" tries to catch the ball before it bounces. If they catch it, the batter is "out."

Here's how different throws count as hits:

• A ball thrown successfully over the wire that isn't caught is a single.
• If the ball touches the wire and then goes over it, it's a double.
• A ball that hits the wire directly and drops straight down is a home run.
• If the fielder touches a home run ball but doesn't catch it, it becomes a triple.

Strikes and Fouls

If the batter throws the ball under the wire, it's called a strike. Just like in baseball, if you throw a "foul" ball (a ball outside the agreed-upon playing area), it also counts as a strike. You can have two foul balls count as strikes. However, you can't be "foul-out" of the game. Remember, the exact rules for Wireball can be a little different depending on where you play!

Tips for Playing Wireball

To play Wireball well, you should throw the ball hard and high. Aim to get the ball almost straight up in the air. The closer you can get to throwing it straight up, the better your chances are. Sometimes, players even stand almost directly under the wire to get the best angle. The game is often more fun and a bit easier if you play where there are two or three power lines close together.