Hackey Sack Cricket is an sport that originated in Montgomery County Maryland. It has reached widespread popularity in many high schools and colleges since its inception. Hackey Sack Cricket is, as the name implies, a combination of cricket and Hackey Sack (footbag). The game also incorporates rules from American Baseball and Dodgeball. Due to this mix, it features very unique rules.
Hackey Sack Cricket is played with two teams of two players each. Like in cricket, one team is "at bat" and the other is "fielding". Traditionally, Hackey Sack Cricket is played indoors, but it can be played on any hard surface, including streets, blacktops, or basketball courts. Ideally, a Hackey Sack Cricket field should be approximately 20ft wide by 50ft long. The field consists of two "bases", which can be baseball bases or any other improvised marker. These bases are placed 15 feet apart from each other, centered and extending along the longer axis of the field.
The players of the at-bat team stand on the bases. On the fielding players is designated as pitcher, the other as fielder. The pitcher stands at least 5ft behind one of the bases, and pitches to the further one. A pitch must be launched only using the feet, with either a kick or a hackey sack serve. The batters may choose to either return the pitch or let it pass them. If they choose to return the pitch, the arms (from the shoulder down) or hands may not be used. Regardless of the batters' choice to return the pitch, they must also choose whether to run. A run consists of each batter running to the opposite base. This constitutes one point. If the batters choose to run, the fielders attempt to retrieve the hackey sack and through it at the runners. Throws to the head are often frowned upon, but still legal. If the fielders hit one of the runners while the runner is off a base, or if there are two runners on the same base, one "out" is issued. After two outs the teams switch. After both teams have played each role, one "inning" has passed. Games can be played for any period of time, but commonly used lengths are: 2 innings, 5 innings, and 7 innings.
Rules
At any point in time, if a player is off of the base, they may be tagged out by coming into contact with the hackey sack.
A player who is up to bat does not have to hit the ball when served, however; a delay of game foul may be called if it is determined that the player is intentionally holding up the game. This call results in one out for the team at fault
A hackey sack caught after being kicked by the team up at bat, results in an out. A double play may be made if the hackey sack is caught, and then the second player is tagged out before safely reaching the base.
Double hits are permitted, only if batter does not have to leave the base to do it. For example; a bump off the chest followed by a kick is permitted, however; kicking the hackey sack while running is not permitted.
A serve that rolls on the ground is still in play, and the batter is permitted to hit the hackey sack unless the fielding team touches it first.
The person who is not on the base designated for batting cannot under any circumstances, short of giving the hackey sack to the pitcher, interfere with the hackey sack. If it is determined that the a player who is not batting handled the hackey sack with malicious intent, they will receive one out.
Full contact is frowned upon, however it is allowed.
A wicket, while not necessary for play, is highly encouraged to be present. If the wicket is knocked over for any reason, the player is deemed out.
The serve must come from at the least, 5 feet behind the far base.
A serve is ruled invalid if the hands are used in any way to help propel the hackey sack.
More than two people may be on a team. However, when this happens the rules must change slightly. The number of outs required initiate the switch from batting to fielding is directly proportional to the number of players on that team.
When more than two people are on the batting team, a predetermined rotation must be established for the batting order. Only two people may be on base at any given point in the game, so the remaining players on the batting team must sit out. Once one of the players that is up to bat gets out, the next player will immediately take his place. This will continue until everyone on the batting team gets out, or the number of outs equals the number of players on that team.
A player in the rotation may not replace a player out of their turn. If such a violation is observed, the team will automatically receive an out.
If the rotation comes all the way around, a player may be up to bat twice in one inning. This is very common.
Other regional rules may exist, and are to be treated as such. For example in New York it is customary for the two players to always run to the right, as to avoid collision. Because of this it has been adopted so that a player must curve to the right when they run, or they receive a warning. The second time this rule is broken the violating team receive an out. Also in Pennsylvania, if the wicket is knocked down, the whole team is out and the opposing team put up to bat. This is made for quicker, more fast paced play.
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