Matball

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Matball, is a sport widely played in schools inside the United States. The main objective of the game is similar to kickball, but with a few differences.

[edit] Object

The object of Matball is similar to kickball in which there are two opposing teams, each trying to score by kicking the ball and then running the bases (represented by mats) successfully. The team with the most runs scored is the declared the winner.

This is an example of a matball field while a game is in progress. Red denotes defense, while green denotes offense.

[edit] Rules

• The game is played like kickball, in which one team is kicking and the other team is fielding.
• The game is played with a volleyball.
• The game is played in a high school gym.
• The teams are composed of however many players happen to be in that particular gym class.
• The ball is pitched by a member of the fielding team.
• A ball is put in play by kicking the ball into the field of play. That player must then run to first base.
• In matball, you can have as many as three players on one mat at a time.
• When the ball is in play, if a player on base steps off of that base, that player is forced to run whether he meant to step off or not. There is no tagging up when a ball is caught on the fly. There has been considerable discussion as to whether the runner must still run if only his/her shoelace is off the base, but there has been no conclusive decision.
• Matball is played throughout innings, similar to baseball. An inning is over once the team that is up to kick gets three outs.
• Outs occur when an offensive player gets hit with the ball while running the bases or their kick is caught on the fly. If the ball bounces of the wall or ceiling before being caught, it is still ruled an out. Unlike in baseball, a fielder can not hold the ball and step on a base before a runner gets there to get an out. A player is also ruled out if he/she hits the American flag with the ball, gets the ball stuck in the ceiling, or loses his/her shoe on the kick.
• Since matball is usually played in school gymnasiums, special rules are often made concerning whether a ball is fair.
• A run is scored when an offensive player makes his way around all of the bases and returns to home. If a player chooses, he/she can try to go around the bases twice. If they make it around twice before there are three outs, then that player scores three runs. However if the third out is achieved while that player is making a second trip around the bases, he/she does not get credit for any runs.
• Depending on your gym teacher, there are different ways to get a home run in matball. Several popular ways are kicking the ball so it hits above the bleachers on the far side of the gym, kicking the ball into one of the basketball hoops (which is rumored to score "a hundred runs" according to Mr. Oster), or hitting a chosen target on the wall of the gym such as a metal jagaur (this is known as "kicking the cat").
• The game ends at or soon after the ringing of the ten-minute bell.
• There sometimes is a "triple run inning" to conclude the game, which puts far more emphasis on the final inning of play.

[edit] Variations

• Three Base Matball - This game is played just like regular matball, only second base is removed.
• Two Kick Matball - In this version of the game, there are two balls. Instead of being pitched they are place on two marked spots on the floor. The person up to kick must run up and kick both balls. A player must be gotten out twice to actually be declared out (For example, if a player gets hit with a ball on his way to first base, he is not out and may keep going until hit again).
• Five Base Matball - This game is played just like regular matball, except bases are on all four corners of the gym.

[edit] Trivia

• "Hoppy" Mitruski is the all time winningest matball coach in the history of the game.