Photo Essays: Games--Rounders
Figure 1.--Here the boys at this prep school are playing rounders. At first I thought it was morning break, but I think now it was their gym class. Rounders was also used for afternoon games with the younger children. Notice the small bat swung with only one hand. No gloves are used by the fielders.
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Rounders is a sport with some similarity to baseball, in fact earky references to the gane used the term "baseball". Rounders became more common as baseball emerged as a major sport in America. The games appears to date back several centuries amd like many other teamsports, originated in England. Written references aee more modern. As in baseball, two teams take turns fielding and batting. The official ball is leather, but schools use a variety of balls depending on the field and age if the players. A small, short bat is used and swing with one hand (figure 1). No gloves are used by the fielders. Home plate is called fouth base. It is sometimes played as a competitive sport by the girls. It is also used as a game activity for the younger children played during morning break, physical education (gym) or afternoon games. It was a sport that could be used for mixed groups. The skill sets are not as demanding as cricket whuch many of the younger boys have trouble with. In that sence it is used rather like kickball is used in American primary schools. The children have a good time with it and is a popular choice for a game activity.
