Indoor stoolball

Stoolball is played all year round, moving indoors for the winter. With its softer ball, indoor stoolball is particularly good for children.

The usual rules of stoolball apply, with these changes:

1. Teams to be composed of 8 players. No player may play for more than one club during the season.

2. Each match to be of one innings per team; a maximum of 8 overs. Each member of the team must bowl at least one over.

3. Any batsman who reaches 25 runs must retire but may return at the end of the innings. If all the rest of the batsmen are out then they may continue batting until the end of the allotted number of overs, with the last batsman.

4. End of innings

4.1. In the event of a team losing seven wickets before the completion of its allotted eight overs and no batsmen having retired, the last batsman may bat on with the penultimate batsman remaining as a runner.

4.2. The last batsman will be given out if the penultimate batsman (running with them) is run out.

5. Scoring

5.1. A ball hitting any wall will score TWO EXTRA runs plus any runs taken.

5.2. TWO BYES will be scored for a ball hitting the wall behind the wicket-keeper. If the batsmen run then the number of runs taken will be added to the score.

5.3. An over-throw hitting any wall scores TWO EXTRA runs plus any runs taken.

6. Dismissals. All dismissals of the parent game shall apply plus the following:

6.1. The striker may be out caught if the ball is caught by a fielder after it has hit a wall or ceiling, providing that the ball has not touched the ground.

6.2. The last batsman will be given out if the penultimate batsman (running with them) is given out.

7. The ball shall be a coloured plastic stoolball.

8. At the end of each over the batsmen change ends (The fielders do not, bowling is in one direction only).

9. Umpires to be supplied by each team for their own match. The bowler's-end umpire shall keep scorers in touch with the actual runs scored.

10. Scorers. Each side shall supply a scorer whose job it is to keep the umpires and players informed of the state of play. They must call out to the umpire as soon as a batsman reaches or passes 25 runs. They shall call out the scores at the end of each over, if a scoreboard is not available, to inform the players of the progress of the game.

11. The team scoring the most runs during its innings shall be the winning team. In the event of the scores finishing equal, the game shall be a tie regardless of the number of wickets lost by either side.

12. If a "no ball" or "wide" hits the wall behind the wicket-keeper, 2 RUNS EXTRA will be scored plus ONE run for the "no ball" or "wide" plus any runs taken.