Danish longball

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Danish Longball is a racquet-sport founded in Denmark, and now played regularly in New York's Adirondack Mountains. It is a popular sport at U.S. summer camps and in British secondary schools.

[edit] Playing

Danish Longball is a two-team hybrid baseball-cricket game, in which each team takes turns batting and fielding. In British secondary schools in particular, it should be noted that an element of dodgeball is incorporated, with a player being "out" if he is hit with the ball (out of the safety zone) below the head whilst aiming to get a run.

[edit] Field of play

The batting field has two parts: Inside and outside a square (or circle). Fielders can position themselves inside or outside of the square.

[edit] Rules

The bowler pitches (either as in Baseball, Cricket or general underarm) the ball to the batter, who must use his bat to hit the ball. The ball must be hit within the field of play - the square - but is permitted the bounce or roll out. The batter must then run to the other side of the square to a "safe zone". The runner may rest in safety, but to earn a "run" he must make it safely back to the original side of the square without getting out. Each side bats its entire line-up. Five rounds of play are recommended.

When played in Britain it is usually an alternative to Cricket, so timed innings may be used along with a set of stumps (though usually not a cricket ball, as the risk of injury is signigicantly raised rather than a tennis ball).

A player is out if his hit is caught by the fielding team, if he hits the ball outside the square, or if the fielders hits a runner outside of the safe-zones with the ball.