No need to grab your baseball gloves, bats or batting helmets; all that's needed is a few friends, their legs and good sportsmanship.

Hoping to create an activity for families to enjoy together, the Cherokee County Recreation Department will introduce the most recent addition to its athletic arsenal next month, opening the inaugural season of the kickball league aptly named Team Cherokee County.

"It's a game so many people already know about," said Shannon Phillips of the Cherokee County Recreation Department. "Our hope is to get something going that people in our community of all ages can play and be excited about."

A playground favorite for youths worldwide, kickball's roots are derived from baseball, with teams required to round the bases to earn runs before making their third out.

Not using a baseball glove to catch grounders or a pop fly, players must use their hands to snag the ball. Teams earn outs by striking batters out (three strikes), catching the ball, hitting or tagging baserunners with the rolling sphere below the shoulders, or the old fashioned way of passing the ball along to a fielder manning a base before the runner makes it to the bag.

In addition, a bat is not required to put the ball in play; all that is needed is the swing of a leg.

"There's no equipment, so people can play this before other sports," Phillips said. "Plus, it's safer. People can actually hit you with the ball not feel any pain at all.

The league will use rules similar to those the Kickball League of Baltimore (Md.) has in place. Starting with only four teams in 2001, the organization has blossomed to close to 250 teams playing two nights a week each fall and spring.

Phillips hopes the program can have similar success.

"A lot of towns are running leagues like this and our goal is to give local residents another source of recreation," Phillips said.

Registration for the upcoming kickball season will remain open until Aug. 31. The Team Cherokee County kickball season will begin Sept. 8.

KICKBALL LEAGUE

Sponsored by the Cherokee County

Recreation Department

Open to all ages

Registration ends on Aug. 31

Season begins Sept. 8