Wall Ball: The Game Behind the Bleachers

There is a cluster of kids giggling behind the bleachers banging a tennis ball up against the large “Woodlawn” shed and racing to touch the wall. Kids are screaming “Catch Out” to one another as banging balls are passing. Normally at a ball field the crack of a bat is the sound that is heard most often, but on days when the baseball game hasn’t started yet, and the parents and players are still arriving it isn’t a bat or baseball that you will hear at Woodlawn, it is “Wall ball”.

For generations, “Wall ball” has been played at the exact same spot (behind the bleachers, up against the “Woodlawn maintenance shed” , it is masterfully played with a tennis ball, sometimes a baseball hat, your hand and once in a while a glove (some of the kids think gloves are a no-no). The Woodlawn “Wall ball” building has been around for many years and has endured much torture from scores of players and their siblings. "It is a rite of passage to play wall ball,” says one mom.

Children of all ages are often seen throwing the tennis ball against the wall while others are trying to catch it with their hats or hit it back to the wall with their hands. It is a fun way to hang out at the ball field if you aren’t playing ball. The Wall ball team players don’t seem to notice differences in age, teams or schools, which is how a lot of these kids begin to forge friendships. It has become so wildly popular that the Snack Shack has begun to ask for donations of tennis balls, since kids are losing them or have forgotten to bring their own.

Many of the coaches at Woodlawn Little League also used to play ball on these very same fields. Kevin Miller, a coach with the AAA Pirates told me that when he was a kid growing up in Mount Vernon he played “Wall ball” on that very same wall. He said it is so awesome to see his players playing “Wall Ball” just like he did so long ago! “Wall ball” was always a blast and it is great to see that tradition has continued," Miller said.

“Wall Ball” is one of the many things that make Woodlawn Little League so special. It has provided a spirit of camaraderie between its players and a sense of additional enjoyment about being at the ballpark. Nowadays when kids are becoming so engrossed in their electronic devices as a way to pass their time, it is really nice to see them enjoying something that is just plain old outside fun. Soon, Woodlawn Little League fields will be getting a major overhaul once development begins. I think it would be fantastic if the “wall ball” wall actually got to stay on the new site as a tribute to all the Woodlawn wall Ball players from the past, present and future.

Some of the known rules of Wall Ball, according to my ten year old son, Sam:

Each player gets three lives, unless they get more or less.

*One player throws the tennis ball against the wall and then if it hits the ground before it hits the wall the person who threw it at the wall has to run to the wall touch the wall before someone else throws the ball, or they are out.

Tea party - when someone runs up to the wall and holds up the ball to the wall and everyone runs to the wall and the last person to touch the wall is out.  No limit to how often you can call tea party. (They try to do it when someone is far away on a “challenge”).

Sissy – is when you throw a ball and not even try to hit the wall (this is when you don’t even think you can hit it) you would throw this and run like crazy to touch the wall.

Catch out –If someone hits the wall with the ball, but another player catches it before it hits the ground, then the person who threw it is out.

Double touches – if the ball hits you, but then drops to the ground, you will be out if you throw the ball against the wall. Your best bet is to bounce the ball against the ground as hard as you can.

Home runs – when you run against the wall and throw it as hard as you can against the wall. The point of the home run is to set up a challenge. A home run must be catchable and is somewhat of a showboat move.

Home run dare – when you dare another player to throw a home run. Home run dares are mandatory.

If the person who has the ball is far away from the wall, you can yell out “challenge” and they have to throw it from where they are at.

No blocking people’s throws unless you are near the wall.

Please remember that Woodlawn Little League is a non-profit organization we work solely on volunteers and donations. Without you we would not be able to operate! Thank you to all those who put in their time, money and energy! If you would like to volunteer or you would like to provide a donation, please contact our Woodlawn Little League President, Shannon Scheel @ dcscheels@msn.com or email me here at Patch!