FAQs

What is the official address, telephone number and email for Rounders England?

c/o I. R.Collins & Co.
The Bridge House
Mill Lane
Dronfield
South Yorkshire
S18 2XL

T: 0114 248 0357
E: [email protected]

What age can juniors play in an adult Rounders team?

Rounders England recommends that players under the age of 13 are not permitted to play in adult teams or take part in competitive games against an adult team.

I would like to train to be a Rounders coach – how do I find out about coaching courses?

Rounders England offers coach and umpire courses to match your age, ability and need.

I would like to join a Rounders team – how do I find a team where I live?

Rounders teams and leagues are always happy to welcome new people. It does not matter if you are an experienced player or just want to have a go. Find your nearest team.

I would like to order some resources, how do I go about doing this?

Rounders England has a number of publications that can help in developing skills of the game. You can place an order via the shop. We aim to have your resources delivered to you within 2 weeks during busy periods.

I am interested in forming a Rounders team – how do I go about this?

Information about getting started in Rounders can be found on our website. Take a look at our case studies of success for inspiration.

We would also recommend building your knowledge and contacts by attending an Activator Award. This aims to develop a workforce to initiate ‘start up’ Rounders activity. Take a look at our player pathway to see how you could progress in the long term.

Finally, becoming a member of Rounders England will give you many benefits which may include insurance, newsletters, a free copy of © Official Rounders Rules book, access to competitions and much more.

AND remember that Rounders England are always here to help and support you.

How do I get a copy of the Rounders rules?

You can purchase the © Official Rounders Rules book via the shop.

Playing Rounders while pregnant

Rounders England have drafted guidance to help navigate situations where a pregnant person wants to be involved in rounders. Rounders England is committed to providing a safe and enjoyable environment for all who participate in rounders, including those who are pregnant. This guidance is provided to support teams, leagues and players in ensuring that the purpose of Rounders can be delivered across the entire sport. Whilst supporting perinatal and foetal health.

Use of Runners in Rounders

Rounders England do not support the use of runners. This was open to abuse by teams using their best batters / runners under the guise of an injury. At the beginning of the match you need to submit the nominated team sheet including any substitutes, who may be brought in to replace any injured batter. If a player is injured prior to the start of the game, they should not be added to the team sheet.

(a) Substitutes may only be changed at a dead ball situation.

(b) Players once substituted may return during the game, but batters only in the position of their original number.

Dead Ball – Whilst the batter is being changed or a substitution is being made and the bowler has the ball in the bowling square, the ball shall be deemed ‘dead’.

The bowlers umpire should call ‘play’ to restart the game after a stoppage for a dead ball situation.

The Infamous “Misfield Rule”

Firstly, there is no such thing as a misfield rule in rounders. There is a common misconception that a rounders post can become ‘unstumped’ if the ball is misfielded but quite simply, a post cannot be unstumped. So…. if a batter managed to reach 3rd as 4th was stumped and the ball is then no longer at the post or in the possession of the bowler in the bowling square (it does not have to be misfielded), the batter may wish to run on (especially if there are only a couple of batters left in) but would not score. If the batter was between 2nd and 3rd when fourth was stumped, this would not stop them from scoring in the usual way as it has to be the post immediately in front of the batter that is stumped to prevent scoring.

Umpires should have a keen eye for batters that ‘hover’ between posts so that they can still score. THIS IS NOT ALLOWED, any batter approaching a post and then not making contact MUST be asked to do so by the umpire, and if they refuse they will be out.

Holding on to the Rounders Bat

A batter must hold on to the rounders bat whilst running round the track. If losing the bat is a genuine accident, then once the game play is at a dead ball situation (ball back with bowler) the umpire should ask the batter to retrieve their bat. However if they drop or throw the rounders bat deliberately, then the batter is out. A batter can still score without a bat.

2m zone line – Turning the Corner and Running On

As long as a batter maintains contact with the post vertical on its spot they may turn the corner and wait in anticipation of the next ball. They may decide not to run (a batter waiting at a base does not have to run on every ball bowled, unless of course there is another batter running to that post). The rule where an umpire orders the batter to run on comes in to force if they turn the corner, over the 2m zone line and do not make contact with the post, or if they have made contact initially, and then lost contact.

Page 26 rule (f) of the ©Official Rounders Rules book
Penalty – The umpire shall order the player back to the post they passed.

Bowling to the Bat

The batter is allowed to stand anywhere in the batting square and the bowler should bowl to them appropriately. The bowler does not have to bowl within the batting square limitations, so if a batter stands with their toes up against the edge of the batting square, then obviously the arm and bat would be outside the square, and the bowler should still bowl in relation to where the batter is standing, not the batting square. This is not a wide ball. The umpire should determine this against where the ball is in relation to the batters body and not the batting square.

HINT – Position of the Batter:

Umpires should note that the accuracy of a ball is judged in relation to the batters’ position in the square when the ball is released and not the square itself. Therefore a ball bowled outside the square is not necessarily a wide ball.

Side Out in Rounders

Page 34 of the ©Official Rounders Rules book.

a) Where there is no batter waiting their turn to bat, all the batters on the running track may be put out simultaneously by the ball being thrown full pitch, or placed by a fielder into the batting square before any batter has reached and touched 4th post.
HINT– Any batters reaching 2nd or 3rd post will not score as this action puts them out.

b) Where there is no batter waiting their turn to bat and the bowler has possession of the ball in the bowling square so that no batter can leave a post, the innings shall be declared over.
HINT– Any batters in a scoring position will retain their score as this action does not put them out.

Side Out/Innings Over in a Limited Ball Rounders Game

Scenario – In a limited ball innings, it is the last good ball, the batter hits the ball, reaches 2nd or 3rd post and stays there;

a) If the fielding side returns the ball to the batting square, the umpire should declare “Side out” and the batter has no score, because they are ‘out’ on the track
b) If the fielding side do not return the ball to the batting square, the umpire may wait a brief moment and observe what happens. If nothing happens the umpire should declare “Innings over” and award a half to the batter at 2 or 3, even if the fielding side have stumped the post ahead of the batter and/or returned the ball to the bowler
iii) If the rules of the day require it, a ‘countback’ of batters out would mean the “Side out” batter at 2 or 3 would be marked out, but the “Innings over” batter would be still ‘in’ on the score-sheet

Overtaking in Rounders

Page 27 of the ©Official Rounders Rules book.

(g) A batter may not remain at the same post as another batter. Penalty – The umpire shall order the player who batted first to run on and may be put out in the usual ways.

Basically, the batter that doesn’t want to move has to, and the umpire should state so. If they are both between posts and the batter behind runs passed, then they would be out as the overtaker – see rule (i)

(i)  A batter completing the track, shall not overtake any batter who is running ahead.

Batters Leaving the Square

A batter is out if their foot projects over the front or back line of the batting square before they have hit the ball or it has passed them.

However, once they have completed their batting action they may exit the square in any direction.

Batters waiting at the Post

When at a post, players should refrain from resting a foot or standing on the base as this prevents the free movement of the base and post.

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Clarification on Rounders Difference

Rounders difference is the output of a calculation applied to determine the winner of a round robin group of matches, when there is a tie on points. A teams total rounders scored over all the group matches is deducted from the total rounders conceded over all the group matches. The result is the rounders difference. The team with the greatest rounders difference is the winner.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Rounders England does not recommend participation whilst pregnant due to the significant risk to health. Individuals who do choose to participate whilst pregnant should seek medical consent before participating and must accept responsibility for any adverse consequences of their decision.

Players must not wear jewellery unless it is safely taped.