Frequently Asked Questions

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

PO Box 4458
Sheffield
S20 9DP
Tel: 01142 480 357
Email: enquiries@roundersengland.co.uk

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

Rounders England offers coaching and umpiring courses to match your age, ability and need. To find out information about our coaching courses you can visit the coaching section of our website or you can contact us. 

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

Our Rounders leagues and clubs are always happy to welcome new people whether you are an experienced player or just want to have a go. Just type your postcode and our club locator will find your nearest club.
If there isn’t a club near you don’t worry, our Regional Rounders Officers are based around the country and would love to hear from you. 

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

Rounders England has a number of resources that can help in developing skills in Rounders. To order please visit our shop where you can buy online or download a resource order form. We aim to have your resources delivered to you within 30 days of receiving payment.

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

Information about getting started in Rounders can be found on the play section of the website and includes information on our rules, equipment and pitch.
To start your own team you just need to get a group of people together which can be done through advertising at your local community facilities such as schools, leisure centres and shopping centres.
We would also advise that you become a member of Rounders England which will give you benefits such as insurance, newsletters, a free copy of our Rule Book, access to Rounders England competitions and much more.
Our development team can also give you additional advice about forming a Rounders team in your area.

Can I pay for resources by card?

At the moment we are only able to accept payment by card online in the shop and not over the phone. 

Rounders Rules:

How do I get a copy of the Rounders rules? 
 
A copy of the simplified version can be found in the play section of the website or alternatively you can purchase a copy of the full rule book by visiting our shop where you can download a copy of the resource order form. 

Use of Runners

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.

From our rule book:

(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’.

Quite simply, a post cannot be unstumped. So.... if a batter managed to reach third base as fourth was stumped and the bowler dropped the returning ball, the batter may wish to run on (especially if there are only a couple of batters left in) but would not score. However, this rule gets a little muddy when players are between posts. 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 directly in front of the batter that counts.

A batter is deemed to at a post if they are in contact or within arms reach.  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 repeated will be out.

Holding on to the Bat

A batter must hold on to the bat whilst running round the track.  If this 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 this is obviously deliberate, then the batter is out.

2m extension line – Turning the Corner and Running On.
 

As long as a batter maintains contact with the post 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 asks the batter to run on comes in to force if they turn the corner, over the 2 metre extension line and do not make contact with the post. Or if they have made contact initially, and then dropped contact, in the first instance the umpire should remind the batter to maintain contact, however if this happens again then they will be asked to run on to next base and may be put out in the usual way.

New rule book, page 26 rule (f) - The umpire shall instruct the batter to continue their run to the next post if they have overstepped the 2m line and are NOT in contact with the post.

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.

From our Rule Book page 31:

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

You will find the following information on page 34 of the current rule book.

i) 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.

ii) 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.

Overtaking

You will this information on page 27 of our new rule 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 coming up the rear runs passed, then they would be out as the overtaker.