We have glossaries for all sports and activities on The PE Hub platform, including rounders.
Backstop - A fielder positioned directly behind the batter. Their job is to catch any bowled ball not hit by a batter, or to field any backward hit.
Backwards hit – Any bowled ball that is hit by a batter that goes behind the batting square. Batters can only run to 1st base until the ball crosses back into play past the batting square.
Bases/Posts – Stations on a rounders pitch marked out by posts that a batter has to run around to score for their team. There are 4 bases, and a batter in contact with a post cannot be stumped out.
Batter – The player trying to score rounders for their team. They do this by hitting a bowled ball and running around all 4 bases without stopping.
Batting stance – How a batter stands when preparing to hit a bowled ball. It is a side-on stance, with the bat held in the arm furthest away from the bowler.
Batting square – The area batters have to be stood inside when batting. If their foot is outside the square when hitting, they are out.
Batting team – The team that is batting. Only 1 batter at a time is hitting. The other batter waits for their turn.
Bowler – The player who bowls the ball for a batter to hit. They bowl the ball underarm, and it must get to the batter between knee-high and head-height.
Bowling square – The area bowlers have to be stood inside when bowling; If their foot is outside the square, it is a no-ball.
Close fielder – A fielder positioned close to the batter, usually near a base. Their job is to try and stop balls getting to the outfield, as well as to try and stump a batter out on a base.
Deep fielder –A fielder positioned far from the batter in the outfield. Their job is to try and stop and catch balls that are hit by a batter, as well as throw the ball to a close fielder to try and stop a batter from scoring.
Fielding team – The team that is fielding. This comprises a bowler, backstop, close fielders, and deep fielders. They are trying to restrict the number of rounders scored by the batting team in each inning.
A rounders glossary can help teachers gain a solid foundation for the terminology and keywords they may encounter when teaching the unit.
Good ball – a ball that is bowled within the rules of the game
Half-rounder – Part of the scoring method in rounders. Half a rounder is scored by a batter getting to 4th base in one go without hitting the ball; or a batter hits the ball and runs to 2nd base in one go; or a batter who gets to 4th base but stops at any post on the way round or a bowler bowls 2 consecutive no-balls at a batter.
Innings – The period of time when one team bats. The innings lasts until a batting team reaches a side-out situation. Once this happens, the fielding team then swap to become the batting team. Or a set number of good balls being delivered e.g. 30.
No ball – When a bowler bowls a ball, that is against the rules. Offences include a bowler not having their feet inside the bowler’s square, if the ball goes the wrong side of a batter’s body, or if the ball goes lower than knee height or over head height or directly at the body.
Obstruction - Is an offence when a batter intentionally tries to block a fielder from getting to a ball or if a fielder blocks the path of a batter who is running. Obstruction results in the offending team conceding half a rounder.
Out – When a batter is batting, if they are out, it means they are no longer batting and cannot score rounders for their team. Ways a batter can be out include stumped, caught, overtaken by another batter and obstruction.
Overtaken – When a batter overtakes a teammate when running around the stumps, the player overtaken is out.
Rounder – The scoring system in a game of rounders. When a batter hits the ball, and can run around all 4 bases in one turn.
Side out – When a batting team has no more batters waiting to bat. It signals the end of the innings.
Stumped – When a fielding team can get the ball to a fielder on a base before a running batter reaches it, the batter is out.
Umpire - The name given to the officials in rounders.
We have glossaries for all sports and activities on The PE Hub platform including rounders.