A little reason to celebrate
National Kickball Day
Hobby ยท April 17
A day for kickball, the playground game that mixes baseball rules with a big rubber ball you kick instead of hit.
National Kickball Day falls on Saturday, April 17, 2027. That is 172 days away.
Kickball is baseball with the bat taken away. A pitcher rolls a large rubber ball toward home plate, the kicker boots it into the field, and then everyone finds out how fast they can run to first base.
The rules will feel familiar to anyone who has watched baseball. There are bases, innings, outs and a batting order, though here it is a kicking order. Fielders can get a runner out by catching a kicked ball in the air, tagging the runner, or beating them to the base. In many schoolyard versions, a fielder can also throw the ball at a runner below the shoulders, which explains a lot of childhood memories.
Most people meet the game in elementary school gym class or at recess, where it needs little more than a ball and some open grass. Adults play too, in casual neighborhood games and in organized social leagues where the score matters about as much as the gathering afterward.
The ball is a big part of the experience. A classic red rubber playground ball bounces high, stings a little, and makes a satisfying thump on a solid kick. Softer balls work well for younger players or mixed groups. Bases can be anything flat that stays put, like cones, towels or pieces of cardboard.
A good roll matters more than a fast one. Pitchers who keep the ball low and steady tend to get easier fielding chances, and kickers who aim for open space between fielders usually reach base.
Ways to celebrate
- Gather friends or neighbors for a pickup game at a local park.
- Teach a child the basic rules and roll them a few pitches.
- Set up bases with towels or cones in your backyard.
- Look up whether your town has an adult kickball league.
- Share a favorite recess kickball memory with someone you grew up with.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday, April 17 |
| 2027 | Saturday, April 17 |
| 2028 | Monday, April 17 |
| 2029 | Tuesday, April 17 |
| 2030 | Wednesday, April 17 |
Also on April 17
- National Cheeseball Day
- Bat Appreciation Day
- National Crawfish Day
- National Haiku Poetry Day
- Record Store Day
- Blah Blah Blah Day
Categories: Hobby days