School Beep Baseball

Adapted beep baseball for blind players: a blindfolded batter hits a bell ball pitched by a teammate and runs to whichever base is sounding. Blindfolded fielders are directed by a spotter.

How to play

1. Set up 2 fields: home plate and, 50 ft out, two cone bases 50 ft apart, each with a base keeper holding jingle bells. Make 4 teams of 6; on each field one team bats and one fields (4 min).
2. A sighted pitcher from the batter's team tosses underhand from 16 ft, calling “ready… pitch”; the blindfolded batter gets 4 swings with the soft bat.
3. If the ball passes the 13-ft line, the teacher points to a base, which starts ringing; the batter drops the bat and runs to the sound until touching the cone.
4. Five blindfolded fielders cover zones 1 to 5, and a spotter calls the ball's zone. If a fielder controls the ball before the runner arrives, it's an out; if not, a run.
5. Each team bats all 6 players, then teams switch, rotating pitcher, spotter and base keepers. Three innings per team (22 min).

Rules

• Fielders move crouched with short steps; if the spotter yells “stop!” everyone freezes.
• No fielder may stand between home plate and the cone bases while someone is running.
• Batters and fielders wear blindfolds; the pitcher and spotter never touch a live ball.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: pitch or spot, or bat seated while a teammate runs.
• Autism or shyness: bat with eyes closed and open them to run.
• Fitness level: a closer base using an extra cone.

Learning goals

• Hit a bell ball by trusting the pitcher's call.
• Move safely toward a sound source.
• Cooperate through verbal communication between spotter and fielders.

Equipment for a class of 25

• soft bats: 2
• ball with bells: 2
• blindfolds: 12
• cones: 12
• jingle bells: 8

Teacher tip

Beep baseball began in the United States with buzzing bases; jingle bells work too. Insist that fielders stay low and the bench stays quiet so runners hear the base.

More main activities for Middle School