Summary of the Sport:
Rule: |
Description: |
The Ball |
The ball is a 8.5" to 16" diameter inflated rubber ball. |
Delivery of the Ball |
The ball must be rolled along the ground. The ball must also stay within the crease for the bowl to added to over count |
Protective Gear |
No protective gear is allowed. |
Number of Umpires |
2 umpires on the field, 3rd umpire off the field, 1 match referee. |
Number of Players |
At least 4, but no more than 10. |
Bowls Allowed per Batter |
Limited by the number of balls bowled in a match. A batter who neither strikes out, walks, nor hit by a bowl may continue to hit until one of these things occurs. |
Batting Order |
Flexible |
Maximum Runs Scored of a Bowl |
Six (assuming a legal delivery). |
Universal Shortball Field:
- Wickets = No wickets.
- Dimensions = A minimum of 100’ long and 100’ wide.
- Bowler-Batter Distance (The Crease) = 46’long x 6’ wide.
- Edge of Pitch = boundary line or a boundary rope.
- Bases = Designated by poles/sticks, rubber bases, or bags:
- The distance between bases is 46'.
- The ball is a 8.5" to 16" diameter inflated rubber ball.
- Teams may be coed, though they are not required to be.
- Four players are on the field at any one time; min of 5 and max of 10 on roster.
- 1B, 2B, Bowler, and Catcher, at least 3 outfielders (for larger fields only); all players act as both fielders and baseman (for small fields only).
- Both teams have unlimited substitutions; If a player is substituted, they cannot return unless the player is either injured or ill or the substitute becomes either injured or ill.
- Each team gets 2 innings of 5 overs each.
- An over is 6 consecutive bowls.
- Delivery = underhand (kickball methods only).
- Bowlers can have a start-up run before the bowl.
- All bowls must stay within the crease at all times during the bowl:
- Illegal Bowl = ball remains live (called wide if batter didn’t kick).
- All Batters may take at most 2 practice kicks before the bowl.
- It is legal for runners to lead off but cannot steal bases.
- No foul balls or bunting.
- Hit by pitch = not awarded 1 run.
- Team Batting Order = The Away Team Bats First and the Home Team Bats last.
- Individual Batting Order = Each team’s batting order is Flexible, but every player must bat in the inning and must bat in Pairs.
- Example Pairing = 1B/2B & B/C.
- Dismissal procedure = automatic.
- Strikeout = 3 missed swings / Foul-out = 3 bunts.
- Fly-out = catching ball before landing.
- Tag-out = tagging runner/bat or base before runner/bat touches base.
- Interference = batter or baserunner intentionally interfering with the fielding side.
- Handled the ball = batter or baserunner intentionally touching the ball with hand or bat.
- Timed out = batter not arriving within three minutes after previous one being dismissed.
- Batting Team:
- # of base runs = # of pts.
- Home Run = 6pts.
- Extras = 1pt each:
- Wides = four balls and each consecutive ball after the first four.
- Bye = missed bowl.
- No ball = illegal pitch.
- Fielding Team.
a) Fly-out = 1 point
b) Tag-out = 1 point
c) Interference = 1 point
d) # of Referees: 1 referee.
- T-shirt, shorts, ball cap, shoes, and sunglasses (optional).
- Similar to rugby, both teams must wear their dark color uniforms during games unless either 1) the teams share similar colors or 2) if someone is colorblind; If that is the case, the designated home team will wear their dark color uniforms and the away team will wear either 1) their lighter color uniforms or 2) an alternative darker color uniform.