Page:Indoor and Outdoor Gymnastic Games.djvu/71

Rh turn. There are no fouls. A man must be given a fair chance to strike the ball. Three strikes are out. Three out, all out. If a man is not home to take his turn at the bat, it puts that man out.

The ball used may be either a basket ball or light medicine ball. The rules for ordinary base ball will hold in this game, with the exceptions which will be mentioned. Any number may play the game. One side may play another or the players may rotate, as in base ball. A high bar is needed by which the batter can support himself by the hands. The ball must be struck with the bottom of one or both feet. A ball passing in front of a perpendicular drawn from the end of the bar is a fair ball. A ball struck by any other part of the body, or passing behind the aforesaid perpendicular, after being struck, is a foul. Three fouls are out. If the batter misses the ball entirely it is a strike. One strike is out, if caught on the fly. A fly caught is out under any circumstances. Convenient places on the floor may be chosen as bases. If a light ball is used, the runner may be struck with it between bases and thus be put out.

An open square (usually the whole gymnasium) and a rubber or hand ball, or bean bag or basket ball are necessary for this game. Four to eight players stand one at each of the corners (if eight, place one between any two corners) as outposts, and a like number in the centre of the square. The outposts toss the ball from post to post, the inner players avoiding proximity to the posts at which the ball may be held for the moment, the duty of the outposts being to throw the ball at the centre players, when opportunity offers for a sure strike. Upon striking a player who may avoid the ball in any way he can without leaving