Very alert and rapid play is needed to make this game a success. As one team (Blues) may play faster than the other (Reds), it is not necessary that Number Six of the Red team and Number Six of the Blue team, for example, should be on the center throwing bases at the same time. The two games go on independently of each other.
FOULS.—The overstepping of boundaries in ways not allowed by the rules score one for the opponents.
SCORE.—A goal keeper scores one point for his team every time that he catches a ball which has not been touched by one of the guards around his goal. A ball caught by a goal keeper after being touched by a guard does not score.
In addition to the score made by goal keepers, a guards' score is kept, each player counting the number of balls he catches and holds, no matter where he be standing, whether in his position as guard or in the center base from which he is to be thrower. Such a catch by a guard scores one point, the guards reporting their points at the end of the game. Touching the ball does not score under any circumstances. It must be caught and held.
Fouls score for opponents, as stated under "Fouls."
The score for the game for either side is the sum of all of the balls caught, according to the above rules, by the goal keepers and guards on that side. The game is usually played on time limits of from twenty to forty minutes.
For experienced players, scoring by guards may be omitted if desired. The particular object of this feature is to encourage guards to expert work in catching the ball, instead of merely interfering.
DOUBLE DODGEBALL
(See Dodgeball)