# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
AP Photo/Kevin Rivoli You remember the big red ball, don't you?

Players with makeshift eye black punch one another in the arm in between stretches, as fans from opposing teams taunt one another in the bleachers.

There are chants and chest bumps.

There are cheers and butt slaps.

There are blue plastic cups scattered all over the sideline, and a guy with a painted-on Robin mask is standing in the middle of the field holding a red rubber ball.

It's a warm summer night in Grand Rapids, Mich., and this is kickball -- grown-up style.

"It's a sport with strategy and logic, and so whenever I compete, I just want to win," said pitcher Daniel Voetberg, also known as Danny V.

Danny and his merry men and maidens represent McFadden's, a popular college bar in town. The league, which started this year, has eight teams total, representing about 100 players. Tonight, Danny V's opponent is not only undefeated but is also, coincidentally, the other team from McFadden's. Talk about an interesting day at the office.

"The brown shirts didn't talk to the yellow shirts at work all day," said John Sherry, a security guard at the bar who started working there too late to join a team but just in time to watch -- and laugh. "If the brown shirts lose, then yellow has a two-game lead, and it's pretty much over. I know it sounds funny, but it's about bragging rights, and it can get pretty intense."

It sure can. Things may start off with laughter and a wink, but by the fourth inning the cordial banter that's been replaced by angry stares, a sprinkling of four-letter words and face-to-face yelling -- and that's among teammates.

Now, if you're thinking, What the hell?, you're not alone. Curious bikers, joggers, even people in their cars all slow down to watch this group of adults go all-out in a game most of us haven't played in decades. And nearly all who pass by leave with a smile, which, I guess, is the point.

"Finding sponsors for the league was the easy part," said Caroline Wessely, co-founder of the Great Lakes Sport and Social Club, which oversees the local adult kickball league and dodgeball league. "The hard part was finding players because people are hesitant to try new things. But once you get them out there, they see how much fun it is, and they tell their friends."

Wessely got the idea of starting the league in Michigan after living and playing in Baltimore, where the league has grown from four teams in 2001 to nearly 250 today. You read that right, 250 teams. That translates into thousands of adults running around reliving their youth -- with a slight difference.

Let's just say, if softball is the country's rec league sport in which players go to the bar after the game, kickball would be the rec league sport that brings the bar to the game. I'm not suggesting the players were all kicking under the influence, but those plastic cups I mentioned earlier were not filled with Gatorade. And the logo for MUSA -- the Midwest Unconventional Sports Association -- is a kickball holding a mug of suds and smiling from ear to ear ... well, if kickballs had ears.

But it's not just about alcohol. The quiet popularity of kickball is best illustrated by the Founder's Cup, a kickball Super Bowl that's held during Columbus Day weekend in Las Vegas. It is sponsored by the World Adult Kickball Association, an organization that has a full-time staff and attracts teams from all over the globe. This year, Frosty Balls will look to defend its title in Founder's Cup XII.

"We never had beer," said Haley Meyer, who played on a team that was made up of former college athletes and won eight Milwaukee Social Club League championships. "One member would be in charge of the 'kickball juice.' We used a big Igloo cooler with a spout, that each player took turns making the juice and bringing the cups every week. ... Once, we had to make up a game and have a doubleheader night in one of our last seasons. ... Well, by the second game we actually were tied with a team, 'cause everyone got so drunk and we were like, um, we need to focus."

Meyer has since moved to Tucson, where the grown-ups are, well, a bit more grown-up.

"People here laugh when I tell these stories," she said. "They can't believe adults play kickball."

But not only do they play, they play to win -- by any means necessary.

"I never saw fists thrown, but twice guys from other teams got in my male teammates' faces," she said. "And teams would get dirty and take out our female players at the bases."

Wow, who's coaching these guys, Prince Fielder? But then I was witness to several cars peeling out of the parking lot after the loss, and if you thought LeBron was a sore loser, you should've seen some of the yellow team players after suffering their first defeat of the season. They're now in a three-way tie for first, and the league's first championship is up for grabs.

Danny V, who pitched his club to the win, said he left it all on the field.

"My arm was extremely sore," he said. "I really gave it my all every pitch. I'm just glad I made it through all seven innings."

Yep, sounds like a pro to me.
LZ Granderson is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine and a regular contributor to Page 2. He can be reached at l_granderson@yahoo.com.
Senior Writer, ESPN The Magazine

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
AP Photo/Kevin Rivoli You remember the big red ball, don't you? Players with makeshift eye black punch one another in the arm in between stretches, as fans from opposing teams taunt one another in the bleachers. There are chants and chest bumps. There are cheers and butt slaps.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What is the history of Kickball? What are its origins? Where did Kickball come from? Who invented it? Here is the history of Kickball.

What are the Basic Rules of Kickball?

Kickball is a similar sport to that of baseball. They both consist of two teams attempting to score runs by touching all the bases without getting out. However, instead of having to hit a ball with a bat like in baseball, a rubber ball, similar to a dodgeball, is rolled to the hitter while they are trying to kick it as far as possible. Kickball is played between two teams consisting of between 5-15 players and it is preferred to be played on a softball field but any surface can be used as long as four bases are available. Unlike baseball and softball, a tie breaker is not determined in extra innings but instead an accuracy kick competition. The World Adult Kickball Association (WAKA) states that one designated kicker from each team kicks toward second base and the team whose kicker gets the closest to the base is the winner. In kickball there are no strikeouts, leading off the base by runners, or stealing. The defense is not allowed to peg a runner to get them out; a runner is considered out if their kick is caught on a fly, they are tagged out by the ball, or they are forced out at a base.

Which Country Started Kickball?

The game of kickball was invented in the United States originally as kick baseball. Specifically, it was started in Cincinnati, Ohio in parks throughout the city. Physical education teachers incorporated kick baseball into their curriculum in public schools throughout the United States. As time went on, and the game became more played throughout schools, better techniques were developed and more aspects of baseball were added. After it was created, soldiers adopted it to keep them busy and energized during World War II. This seemed to be the peak of its popularity because after this the popularity of the game began to dip and decline drastically.

Who Invented Kickball?

Kick baseball was invented by the supervisor of Cincinnati Park Playgrounds Nicholas C. Seuss in order to help children better understand the principles of baseball and softball. The rules of the game were published in a physical education journal in order to spread the game as much as possible. As the years went on children began to play less and less however, when adults got into the game, kickball saw a soar in popularity like never expected.

When was Kickball Established?

The original game of kickball was created by Seuss in 1917. The sport reached the curriculum of the public school system in the United States in the early 1920s. The game began to add more aspects of baseball throughout the 1920s and 1930s to expand the knowledge of baseball in children that were learning the game in the gym classes at school.

When did Kickball Become Popular?

Kickball became popular almost as soon as it was created. It became popular in physical education classes throughout the country. It was also played overseas by soldiers during World War II in order to pass time. After this, the popularity of the sport decreased. It rose again in the 1990s as adults began to become reinterested in the sport and created many adult leagues. Kickball remains a popular game today among both children and adults in parks throughout the United States.

Most Popular Countries that Play Kickball

Though the game of kickball may have originated in the United States, there have been many countries that have developed an interest for the sport. They maintain very similar rules to the original game but they changed the name that it is known as. The most popular countries for this game as well as the name of it are:

United States - Kickball

South Korea - Foot Baseball

Japan - Quickbase

Canada - California Kickball or Soccer Baseball

Kickball History Key Facts and Timeline

There are many variations of kickball that have been created. Some of these include Big Base, Soccer-Base-Basketball, and No Pitch. All these games include similarities to kickball but add in their own twist.

The World Adult Kickball Association (WAKA) was created in 1998 to develop fun and social co-ed adult kickball leagues around the United States.

All pitches that are thrown must be done underhand.

Often there is a limit on the amount of foul balls that a batter may hit. Usually the limit is set at three foul balls.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What is the history of Kickball? What are its origins? Where did Kickball come from? Who invented it? Here is the history of Kickball. Kickball is a similar sport to that of baseball. They both consist of two teams attempting to score runs by touching all the bases without getting out.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Many people have fond memories of playing the classic playground sport kick ball as children. This baseball-like game, played with the familiar bouncy red rubber ball, has been around for almost 100 years. While it initially started as a simple game for children, kick ball has developed into a social sport for kids and adults with many devoted enthusiasts.

Early Beginnings

The game of kick ball, originally called "kick baseball," was invented by Supervisor of Cincinnati Park Playgrounds Nicholas C.Seuss in 1917. The game was used in school settings to help children better understand the principles of the sport of baseball. Physical education instructors incorporated kick ball into their curriculum within the public school system during the early 1920s.

Original Kick Ball Rules

The rules of kick ball were printed in publications such as "Mind and Body," a physical education journal. The field for kick ball was laid out in a similar fashion to a baseball diamond, with four bases, including a home plate. Two teams, consisting of 10 or more players, competed alternately in innings. The fielding team had basemen, a pitcher, catcher and outfielders. The object was for the other team to kick the ball, then reach as many bases as possible before being tagged out.

Kick Ball Develops

As the game progressed through the 1920s and 1930s, it adopted more aspects of baseball. Three strikes per out and three outs per inning, four balls to walk a kicker and so on were added to the game. The role of players, such as shortstops, and pitching techniques were better defined. The game also continued to introduce the sport of baseball to a wider audience, including young girls.

A Playground Staple

The game continued to be played in schoolyards and playgrounds for the following decades. Adults sometimes played the game as well. Famed war correspondent Ernie Pyle reported from North Africa during World War II on soldiers playing a number of organized sports, including kick ball. However, kick ball remained largely a children's game until the end of the twentieth century, when more adults caught on to the sport.

Participation Grows for Adults

There was a resurgence in interest in kick ball during the late 1990s, particularly among adults who had played the game as children. Social kick ball leagues began to pop up throughout the United States. As interest grew, organizations such as the World Adult Kickball Association were formed, and thousands of adults became involved with the game. Kick ball remains a favorite pastime of kids and adults alike, who play in playgrounds and parks across the United States and internationally.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Many people have fond memories of playing the classic playground sport kick ball as children. This baseball-like game, played with the familiar bouncy red rubber ball, has been around for almost 100 years. While it initially started as a simple game for children, kick ball has developed into a social sport for kids ...