Kickball/Adaptive Kickball

About

Kickball is a fun sport for children and adults!

It is especially popular during Physical Education class in schools at all grade levels. Sometimes children can feel left out or withdrawn if they haven’t mastered the skills to play team sports.

You can adapt a traditional game like kickball to different levels if you have a group of children with various abilities. Many children can benefit from breaking down the skills needed to play and by making a few rule adaptations.

Here are some ways to make kickball more accessible for players with different abilities:

Use a ball on a kicking tee – For players with limited lower extremity movement, a ball on a kicking tee can help them kick the ball.

Use an electric ball launcher – For players with limited movement, an electric ball launcher can help them kick the ball.

Use a ramp – For students in wheelchairs, you can roll the ball down a ramp.

Use a sound source device – You can use a sound source device at bases or use beep baseball bases if available.

Use a different ball size – A different ball size can affect how the ball rolls and how easy it is to kick. A brightly colored ball can also increase visual attention.

Simplify the rules – You can simplify the game rules, such as having each child get one up and go toward only one base at a time.

Partner with the kicker – An adult or older child can partner with the kicker during the kick and then run to base with them.

Have the instructor pitch – The instructor can pitch the ball, adjusting the distance and rate of the roll.

Equipment

Check out a list of kickball equipment here.

Competition

Meaningful Adapted Sports League (MASL)

A private pay league that offers kickball and other sports for athletes with intellectual or developmental disabilities. MASL’s goal is to promote a healthy lifestyle and community through sports. Click here for more information.

Beep Kickball

A program that aims to enrich the lives of people who are visually impaired through sports participation. Click here for more information.

Navy Mids Partner with Adaptive Athletes for Annual Kickball Challenge

An annual event that pairs Navy Midshipmen with adaptive athletes who face mental and physical challenges. Click here for more information.

Learn More

Kickball teams are all the rage these days–unless you’re visually impaired. But now there’s a new game in town–beep kickball. Beep kickball is an adapted sport for those who are visually impaired or blind.

Beep kickball is played on a baseball diamond just like beep baseball, using a ten-inch soft foam kickball that beeps. Players wear sleep shades to equalize their differences in vision. There is no pitcher. There is no running around the bases, and nobody throws the ball. There is no second base, just first and third bases. The kicker kicks the ball and runs to tag the base (either first or third), which is buzzing to reveal its location. Click here for more information.

Programs Near You

Ready to try adaptive kickball? Click here to find a location near you!