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Rounders

infoWhy this? Rounders develops striking, catching, throwing, ground fielding, and purposeful running between posts in an accessible team game. Its scoring and dismissal rules require batters and fielders to judge risk, communicate quickly, and make tactical decisions about space and targets.

scheduleWhy now? Following cricket, pupils can transfer catching, throwing, striking, and fielding principles into a faster game with posts and compulsory running after a legal bowl. This comparison strengthens understanding of the common features and contrasting tactical demands of striking-and-fielding games.

neurologyYou need to know

  • In rounders, the fingers down, or reverse-cup, catching technique is generally used when the ball is caught below waist height.
  • In the fingers down catch, the hands stay central to the body, the fingers are spread, and the little fingers are close together to create a wide catching surface.
  • In the fingers down catch, the hands move towards the ball, the fingers close around it, and the hands withdraw towards the hip to soften the catch.
  • In rounders, the fingers up catching technique is used when the ball is caught around chest or head height.
  • In the fingers up catch, the thumbs and index fingers create a circular 'window' in front of the face so the fielder can watch the ball into the hands.
  • In the fingers up catch, the hands move up towards the ball, the fingers close securely around it, and the hands withdraw towards the shoulder to soften the catch.
  • A legal basic bowl in rounders is an underarm action released from inside the bowling square with the shoulders and hips in line.
  • An effective underarm bowling action uses bent knees and a smooth pendulum motion of the bowling arm.
  • In rounders, a bowl should reach the batter between knee height and the top of the head; otherwise it is classed as a no-ball.
  • A spin bowl is created by rotating the thumb backwards and the fingers forwards as the ball is released.
  • A batter's ready position includes a balanced side-on stance, feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, elbows bent, weight on the back foot, and the bat held away from the body in the dominant hand.
  • An effective batting shot strikes the ball into space away from fielders to create time to run between posts.
  • Keeping the eyes on the ball helps the batter time contact and control the direction of the shot.
  • The long barrier is the safest fielding technique for stopping a rounders ball travelling along the ground.
  • In the long barrier, the fielder gets the whole body behind the ball, bends both knees, turns sideways, and places the strong-side knee on the ground next to the other heel.
  • In the long barrier, the hands are extended downwards with fingers spread and little fingers together before the ball is gathered into the body.
  • A pick-up and throw is used to field a rolling ball quickly and release it towards a target without unnecessary delay.
  • An underarm throw is usually used over a shorter distance and should travel flat at around chest height.
  • An overarm throw is usually used when more power or distance is needed and should also aim to travel flat at around chest height.
  • Accurate fielding and throwing can outwit the batting team by limiting scoring chances and creating opportunities to get batters out.
  • A full rounder is scored when a batter hits the ball and reaches and touches fourth post, without stopping at another post or being put out, before the next ball is bowled.
  • A half-rounder is scored when a batter stops at second or third post after hitting the ball, or reaches fourth post without hitting the ball; a half-rounder is also awarded for obstruction by a fielder or two consecutive no-balls to the same batter.
  • After a legal bowl, the batter must run even if the ball is missed, whereas after a no-ball the batter may choose whether to run.
  • A runner may stop at first, second, or third post and remains safe by keeping contact with the post using a hand or the bat.
  • A runner waiting at a post may leave when the bowler releases the next ball, but once contact is broken the runner must continue to the next post and cannot return.
  • Two runners cannot stay at the same post, so the runner already there must continue when the following runner reaches it.
  • Runners must travel around the outside of each post, make controlled contact rather than collide with it, and avoid sliding into or deliberately knocking over posts.
  • A batter is caught out when a fielder catches a ball hit from a legal bowl before it touches the ground.
  • A runner is run out when a fielder holding the ball touches the post the runner is approaching before the runner reaches it, although a batter cannot be stumped at first post after a no-ball.

rocket_launchYou must be able to

  • Catch a ball below waist height using the fingers down, or reverse-cup, technique, with hands central, fingers spread, little fingers close together, and soft hands withdrawing towards the hip.
  • Catch a ball around chest or head height using the fingers up technique, forming a window with the thumbs and index fingers, watching the ball in, and softening the catch towards the shoulder.
  • Bowl legally underarm from inside the bowling square, using bent knees, aligned hips and shoulders, and a smooth pendulum arm action so the ball reaches between knee and head height.
  • Apply spin to an underarm bowl by gripping the ball with four fingers and the thumb behind or inside the ball, then rotating the thumb back and fingers forward on release.
  • Strike the ball one-handed from a balanced side-on stance by moving towards the ball, making controlled contact, and following through into space away from fielders.
  • Field a rolling ball with the long barrier by moving into line, placing the body behind the ball, dropping the strong-side knee to the ground, and gathering the ball safely into the body.
  • Pick up and throw a rolling ball by approaching in short strides, bending the knees, collecting outside the throwing-side foot, swinging the arm back, and releasing early towards the target.
  • Throw underarm by collecting next to the throwing-side foot, stepping into the throw in one movement, and sending a flat ball towards the target at about chest height.
  • Throw overarm from a front-on or retrieving position by collecting the ball low, stepping through, swinging the throwing arm back, and following through directly towards the target.


Revision Quiz

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