Outdoors Activities 4 U       European Handball     This fun, exciting, and thrilling sport is played in Europe and Asia. You can play this sport with about 10-15 players. To play, you will need to European Handball nets (if you can not find two of these nets, you can use lacrosse nets), two pairs of goggles (any kind), a basketball court or a gymnasium, two creases (like the ones you use in basketball also called, "the paint"), a soccer or four square ball, and of course, players!     To play, you first have to split the players into two teams. Next, each team has to pick a goalie. The goalie must wear a pair of goggles for protection. The goalie's job is  to block the ball from going inside the net. After that, each team has to pick defensive players. Defence's job is to help protect the goal that the opposing team is trying to shoot on. Then, have bot teams choose offensive players. The offense's job is to score points in the opposing goal to score points. No matter what position you play, you are sure to have fun!     When both teams decided where to start, both of the teams must know the rules and the objectives. When you play handball, your objective is to score the most points in the time given. Each time you score, your team receives one point. The rules of playing are similar to soccer and basketball. To start the game, one player from each team starts in he middle of the court to hit a drop ball. The referee will drop the ball between both players high in the air while the players in the middle are trying to hit the ball to the side they are shooting on. If the ball is hit toward the end of the court you are shooting on, you will try to score. If the ball is hit toward the goalie on your team, the goalie and defense must try their best and clear the ball out of the defensive end. The goalie is the only player on the team allowed to hold the ball and walk at the same time inside the crease. Defensive and offensive players only can dribble with their feet or with their hands. Yes, that does mean you can punt! The same rules apply to basketball when you dribble with your hands. You must only have one hand on the ball at all times. You also are not allowed to walk with the ball. If you are caught walking with the ball, the other team will receive the ball. Also, if you fall and you have the ball in your hands, you are not allowed to get back up, you must pass the ball to one of your team members. Not only do the rules apply to basketball, but they also apply to soccer! If you choose to dribble the ball with your feet, you must remember the rules of soccer. To hit and receive a great pass, you should pass the ball with the inside of your foot to a player on your team. Remember, offense isn't allowed to step inside the crease when shooting. If the ball ever is out of bounds, the team that didn't hit the ball out would throw it in bounds to a player on their team. Now, you know all the rules. Ready, set, go!

Baseball is known to be an American sport. Baseball is played all around the world from the US to Japan. To play, you will need a baseball diamond, 20-26 players, 2 or more baseball bats, 1 or more baseballs or softballs, 20-26 baseball gloves (as many gloves as there are players), 6 or more baseball helmets, 2 pairs of baseball catcher's gear, and an umpire. Before beginning the game, you must divide all the players into two teams. To make a fair desicion, you can pick two captaiins that will decide who will be on their team. When decided, you should split the equipment between the two teams. Each player should have one glove. Each team should have the same amount of baseball bats, baseball helmets, and baseball catcher's gear so each team has the same amount of supplies. When you play the game of baseball, you must have everything in place. Each team should have a bench with all their equipment. The benches should be behind the baseball diamond. The bench will be used to keep all the players gloves while they are up at bat and to rest when they are off the field.     Before playing, you have to know the rules. To start, one team will be up at bat and the other team will be on the field. When up at bat, you must have on a helmet and have a bat. One person from the team will hold a bat with a comfortable grip as if they were shaking someone's hand, although they will be shaking two hands! one hand will be at the bottom of the bat and the other right above it. Your grip should be firm and steady. You have to stand on the left or right side of home plate (home plate is a base that is in the shape of a house). If you are a leftie, you should stand on the left side of home plate. If you are a rightie, you should stand on the right side of home plate. No matter what side you are on the home plate, your legs should be shoulder width apart. you should stand with your hip to the pitcher's mound (that will be where the pitcher is standing). When the pitcher pitches you the ball, hit the ball like you are sweeping the bat across an imaginary table. If you miss the ball, you get one strike. If you continually miss the ball three times in a row, you are out and you have to go  back to your team's bench. If you hit the ball out of the area where you are able to hit, it is called a fowl. If this happens, you just hit again. If you hit the ball, you get the chance to run to 1st base (first base is the first base you see on the right). Before running, you have to gently place your bat down near home plate. Then, you sprint  to 1st base as fast as you can. If you get there before the other team gets to first base with the ball or they tag you with the ball, then you are safe. Otherwise, you are out and you have to go to your team's bench. If you are safely at 1st plate, when the other players on your team run to 1st plate, you run to 2nd plate (2nd plate is the first plate to the right). The same rules apply for first base to get out on second base third base, and home plate. Repeat the same steps except instead of running to second base, you will run to 3rd base, Then home plate, just where you started! If you successfully run to home plate with out getting out, your team will receive a point! Each run is worth one point. When three people on your team misses three balls or everyone on your team got a chance to bat, it is the other team's turn to be up at bat.     When you are out on the field, it is your job to work as a team and try your best to stop the other team from scoring. When on the field, only nine of your team's players will be on the field. If your team has more than nine players, the other players will sit on the bench waiting to be subbed in and cheering their team on. The positioning on the field can be confusing, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes very simple. When you are on the field, you must wear a baseball glove. There is the pitcher, the first baseman, the second baseman, the third baseman, the out fielders, the in fielders, and the catcher. The pitcher pitches the ball to the player up at bat. If the pitcher fails to pitch the ball successfully three times in a row, the player up at bat is allowed to walk to 1st base without getting out. This is called a "walk." Occasionally this happens, and it isn't great for the pitcher's team, although it is for the other team! When you are first, second, or third baseman, your job is to try to catch the ball and get the other team's players out. If you are an out fielder, your job is to stay at the back of the baseball diamond incase  there is a home run. A home run is when the player up at bat hits the ball far away from the diamond, that the player up at bat is able to run all the way around to every base, in only one run! The in fielder's job is to pass the ball to the basemen when they receive it or tag the player out. Lastly, there is the catcher. Not only does the catcher have a baseball glove, they also have a bundle of catcher's gear to wear! The catcher stands behind the player at bat and catches the ball when the player misses it and gets a strike. If someone on the other team is about to run to home plate, you are able to throw the ball to the catcher to get the player out. There is one more rule to this wonderful game. If you hit the ball and someone on the field catches the ball before it hits the ground, you are out! Well, you're ready to play ball!

Baseball