Brief History
Rounders has been played in England since Tudor times. In 1943 the National Rounders Association (NRA) was formed to be responsible for the rules of the game and its development. Nowadays, the NRA is still responsible for rules and development, and also offers a range of other services such as umpiring courses, coaching courses, a basic skills award, coaching for teachers, advice on tournaments and league organisation and the development of excellence within the sport. There are now more than 35 leagues in various parts of the country, and rounders is played by 90% of all schoolchildren.

Facilities and Equipment Required
To play rounders you need an area of about 100m x 60m - as a rough guide the size of a football pitch - 4 bases and posts, bats and balls. Rounders is traditionally played outdoors on grass during the summer months, but can also be played indoors and on synthetic surfaces. Rounders consists of two innings for each team in a full game and lasts for 1 to 1 ½ hours.

Benefits of Participating
Rounders players develop batting, running, bowling, backstopping and fielding skills. Rounders can be played by people of all ages and abilities, and can be adapted to suit various needs. Teams can be single sex or mixed, and rounders can be a very social game, with many organisations holding a rounders event culminating in a barbeque or disco. Participants can achieve a range of skill levels to suit a friendly game on the beach or a full international.

Variations of the Sport
Rounders has developed several mini games that are particularly suitable for children, and can also be played as a limited ball game or as an indoor game with a slight variation on the usual rules. Equipment can vary from soft sponge balls and bats for very young children to hard leather balls and aluminium bats for adults.