Kingball

Kingball is a bat and ball game played by four or more players, each competing individually to score the most runs.

The game requires minimal equipment:

• a single ball, similar to a soft-core baseball
• several wooden rods, about 1 inch diameter and 4 feet long
  
  • the Bat
  • the Post
  • two or more Marks (three is standard)

The field is set up as follows: the Post is placed upright in the ground, and then the Marks are also placed upright in the ground at varying distances from the Post. See the Brookline Kingball Club's field layout for an example.

Players take up one of the following positions:

• Batter
• Pitcher
• Catcher
• Fielder

To start the game, players set up as follows: the Batter takes the bat and moves into position by the Post. The Pitcher takes the ball and moves into position near the Mark closest to the Post. The Catcher may take up a position near the Post, typically such that retriving a ball thrown by the Pitcher is quick. The Fielders can position anywhere in the field they choose, except a Fielder cannot block the Pitcher's throwing path to the Post, and a Fielder cannot be closer to the Post than the Catcher.

The game begins when the Batter has tapped the Bat against the Post ("tapping in").

The Batter
Once the game begins, the Batter attempts to mark runs without getting Out. The Batter is Out if:

• a hit ball is caught on the fly
• a Pitch hits the post on the fly
• the Post is Closed, by the ball touching the Post when the Batter is not Holding the Post

Runs
The Batter marks a run by tapping the Bat against an open Mark while not Out. Typically, this happens after the Batter has hit the ball and judges that he can mark one or more runs safely. Once a Mark has been tapped by the Batter, it remains closed until all other Marks have been closed, at which time all Marks are opened, including the most recently closed Mark.

Marked runs are stored on the Bat. A Batter may take possession of any runs on the Bat by Declaring the runs, voluntarily giving up the Batting position, at which point the runs transfer from the Bat to the player's score. To indicate Declaration of the runs, the Batter says the word "Declare" while holding the Post. If not holding the Post, the Batter can say "Declare at Post", at which point the next instant the Batter holds the Post, the runs are Declared and the Batter's inning ends. Runs can only be Declared after the Batter marks at least one run. Runs remain on the Bat if the Batter gets out, and the next Batter will have the opportunity to Declare those runs.

The Pitcher
The Pitcher attempts to get the Batter out by throwing a Pitch and hitting the Post with the Ball. A throw by the Pitcher is only considered a Pitch if the Pitcher begins the throwing motion while his foot is touching the near Mark. A Pitch can Close the Post and get the Batter out if it touches the Post on the fly, even if the Batter is holding the Post. If the Pitch touches the ground or another player, it can no longer close the Post while it is held by the Batter.

The Catcher
The Catcher has the privilege of being the fielding player closest to the Post during a Pitch. Other players may not stand closer to the Post than the Catcher while the Pitcher throws a Pitch, unless the Catcher is further from the Post than the nearest Mark.

Promotion
Players change positions in two circumstances:

• The Batter declares the runs on the bat and ends his turn at bat.
  In this case, positions change as follows:
  • The departing Batter becomes a Fielder
  • The Pitcher becomes the new Batter
  • The Catcher becomes the new Pitcher
  • The new Pitcher chooses the new Catcher
• The Batter gets out.
  In this case, positions change as follows:
  • The departing Batter becomes a Fielder
  • The player making the out becomes the Batter
  • If there was an Assist on the play, the first assisting player becomes the new Pitcher. Otherwise, the Catcher becomes the new Pitcher
  • If there was a secondary Assist on the play, the second assisting player becomes the new Catcher. Otherwise, the new Pitcher chooses the new Catcher

Winning the Game
The game continues until there have been a number of Declarations equal to the number of players playing the game. At this point, the next Declaration which takes or extends the lead wins the game for the player who made the Declaration. This latter phase of the game is known as the Final Declarations phase. Any number of Declarations can occur during the Final Declarations phase.