3. BLASTBALL

BlastBall is a developmental game. It is a very simple concept utilizing the skills of Baseball in a fun fast paced activity for young players.

The game is an exceptional introduction to Baseball for a number of reasons:

• it is fun

• it is easy to play, players have instant success

• it is fast paced

• no gloves or special equipment needed by the player

• it runs within a time frame

• it does not cost a great deal to register

• it allows good and efficient use of facilities (5 or 6 games at a time on a diamond)

• minimal special equipment required

• minimal instruction for volunteers

  This is a game that has the potential to create a great deal of interest in baseball for players of a very young age. It offers an exciting recreational event with a minimum of administration. One short Volunteer education evening would suffice.

  BlastBall teaches all five basic fundamentals of baseball-hitting, throwing, catching, running and fielding. It is also a ton of fun with fast, continuous action and simple rules.

  Equipment

• BlastBase

• BlastTee

• BlastBall (2-Pac)

• BlastBat

• Cone

• Line Marker

  3.1. Objective

  BLASTBALL is played with a suggested 6 players per team. A smaller number, such as 2-3 players per team works equally well.

You will end the (half) inning by batting once around the line-up. For younger players it is recommended that everyone bat every inning and you may not even want to keep score. The BlastBase is audible, emitting a loud "H O N K" that the kids love whenever the runner stomps on the base. When fielded, the defensive player can throw the BlastBall back to another player, or an adult positioned near home plate (safely away from the Tee). Gloves/mitts are not needed because of the softness and size of the Ball. The fear factor of being hit is eliminated

from the game all together. While batting helmets are not needed because the BlastBall is not being pitched or thrown to make the out, for optimum safety helmets are recommended.

3.2. Field Set-Up

In an open area, like a backyard, field or park, position your BlastTee/home plate so that hitting allows you a safe area of play. Like a regular ball diamond, from the Tee pace off 30 to 40 feet to the right and position your BlastBase. This establishes your fair/foul line to the right.

To the left of the Tee and perpendicular to your BlastBase line, pace off an equal distance and position your Cone. This establishes your fair/foul line to the left.

Now pace off 10 feet directly in front of the Tee and lay out your Line Marker running between the (hypothetical) first and third base lines. This becomes the fair/foul line for play. If a ball is hit inside of that line it is foul and should be re-teed for another try. If it goes beyond the line, either in the air or on a roll it is considered in play.

NOTE: The critical decision for Local Association Administrators is to know when to add difficulty to the game. The kids catch on very quickly. When the novelty of the noisy base wears off, you must be ready to add small incentives to the game to keep the kids challenged remembering at all times that attaining success is the number one priority to having fun. Some additions are as follows:

• add one throw and subsequent catch to anyone by the defensive player who fields the ball. This throw can be to anyone on the defensive team anywhere in the field.

• add one throw and subsequent catch to one specific person on the defensive team.

• lengthen the distance of the base.

• rotate the defensive players position on the field after each batter

• widen the vector for the hitters

• add outs to the game instead of all players hitting each inning.

• reduce the size of the ball and/or bat.

• add a coach pitcher and lob the ball to the hitter

  have three teams on the field--one hitting, one defense, and one doing fundamentals. Rotate at the end of each 1/2 inning.