Pickle: Rundown Between Bases

A classic baseball game in groups of three: two throwers pass the ball between two bases while a runner tries to reach a base without being tagged. Students practice accurate throwing and catching, faking, and reading when to take off.

How to play

1. Make groups of three and set two bases 30–40 ft apart for each group; two students are throwers, one on each base, and the third is the runner in between (2 min).
2. Throwers pass the soft ball overhand; the runner waits on a base and takes off while the ball is in the air.
3. Every time the runner touches a base without being tagged, they score 1 point; they can go back and forth as many times as they want.
4. If a thrower tags the runner with the ball in hand off the base, the runner becomes a thrower and the tagger becomes the runner.
5. Every 90 seconds the whistle blows and roles rotate even without a tag, so everyone runs the same amount (13 min).

Rules

• Safety: tag with the ball held in your hand, on the arm or back; never throw it at the runner.
• The runner may not go more than 6 ft off the line between bases.
• Passes are overhand and chest high to your partner.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: they stay a thrower, or run half the distance marked with a cone.
• Hearing impairment: replace the rotation whistle with a visual signal, such as raising a pinnie.
• Fitness level: a slower runner can start two steps off the base.

Learning goals

• Throw and catch accurately under time pressure.
• Read the right moment to leave the base.
• Rotate roles in an orderly, respectful way.

Equipment for a class of 25

• bases: 16
• soft balls: 8
• cones: 8

Teacher tip

The most common mistake is throwers chasing the runner instead of passing: remind them the ball moves faster than their legs. Make sure every group throws in the same direction.

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