Banana Ball game mechanics
What Is a Trick Play in Banana Ball?
A Banana Ball trick play is a routine play made in a non-routine fashion that must result in an out. Any player on the diamond can record a trick play on the ground, in the air, or through a strikeout. When the visiting team has more trick plays than the home team entering the final inning, it earns the Trick Play Equalizer Point.
The qualifying sequence
How a Banana Ball trick play counts
A trick play combines an unusual defensive method with a completed out. The out is the condition that makes the action count.
A defensive play begins
A defensive play occurs on the ground, in the air, or through a strikeout.
The play uses a non-routine method
The routine defensive action is completed in a non-routine fashion.
The play produces an out
The action must result in an out to meet the Banana Ball trick-play definition.
The trick play is recorded
The successful out is recorded as a trick play and counts toward the player’s and team’s trick-play totals.
Definition and condition
What makes a trick play count?
The unusual movement is only part of the rule. The defensive action must also produce an out.
Routine play + non-routine method + out = trick play.
A spectacular attempt that does not result in an out does not meet the trick-play condition.
Defensive situations
Where can trick plays occur?
Banana Ball recognizes trick plays across the defensive settings named in the rule definition.
| Play setting | Counting condition |
|---|---|
| Ground play | A non-routine defensive play on the ground can count when it records an out. |
| Air play | A non-routine play in the air can count when the defensive action produces an out. |
| Strikeout | A strikeout can be recorded as a trick play when it is made in a non-routine fashion and results in an out. |
Pitching rule
What is a trick pitch?
A trick pitch has a specific delivery condition that prevents the pitcher from gaining an unfair advantage.
A trick pitch is a pitching-delivery condition; a trick play is a defensive play that must produce an out.
A trick pitch must be delivered while the pitcher is engaged with or near the rubber and without gaining an unfair advantage.
If the delivery violates that condition, the result is an automatic ball. The umpire signals the violation by tapping the top of the umpire’s head.
Team totals and points
How do trick plays affect the Equalizer Point?
The Equalizer Point compares the two teams’ trick-play totals before the final inning begins.
Both teams can record trick plays, but only the visiting team can earn the Equalizer Point when it has more trick plays than the home team entering the final inning.
Rule details
Banana Ball trick plays at a glance
These attributes connect the trick-play definition, defensive settings, pitch condition, and scoring effect.
| Definition | A routine play made in a non-routine fashion that must result in an out |
|---|---|
| Eligible player | Any player on the diamond |
| Play settings | On the ground, in the air, or through a strikeout |
| Team objective | Both teams can record trick plays; the visiting team earns an Equalizer Point when it has more than the home team entering the final inning |
| Equalizer condition | The visiting team has more trick plays than the home team entering the final inning |
| Equalizer value | One Trick Play Equalizer Point for the visiting team |
| Trick-pitch condition | The pitcher is engaged with or near the rubber without gaining an unfair advantage |
| Trick-pitch violation | An automatic ball, signaled by the umpire tapping the top of the head |
Worked situations
Banana Ball trick-play examples
These examples separate a qualifying trick play from an unsuccessful attempt and a trick-pitch violation.
A non-routine play that records an out
A fielder completes an out with an unusual defensive action. Because the play is non-routine and produces an out, it meets the trick-play definition.
A flourish without an out
A player attempts an unusual move but the action does not record an out. The attempt does not meet the trick-play condition.
A trick pitch
A pitcher delivers a trick pitch while engaged with or near the rubber and without an unfair advantage. If the pitch violates that condition, the umpire calls an automatic ball.
Quick answers
Banana Ball trick-play questions
- What is a trick play in Banana Ball?
- A trick play is a routine play made in a non-routine fashion that must result in an out.
- Does a trick play have to result in an out?
- Yes. The play must result in an out. An unusual attempt that does not produce an out does not meet the trick-play definition.
- Who can record a Banana Ball trick play?
- Any player on the diamond can record a trick play on the ground, in the air, or through a strikeout, provided the play is made in a non-routine fashion and results in an out.
- Do trick plays affect the Banana Ball score?
- They can affect the score through the Trick Play Equalizer Point. If the visiting team has more trick plays than the home team entering the final inning, the visiting team earns one additional point.
- What is a trick pitch in Banana Ball?
- A trick pitch must be delivered while the pitcher is engaged with or near the rubber and without gaining an unfair advantage. A violation results in an automatic ball.
- How is a trick-play violation signaled?
- The umpire signals a trick-pitch violation by tapping the top of the umpire’s head.