Bat-and-ball games are field games played by opposing teams; a player on one team puts a ball in play and becomes a runner, trying to advance to a marked "safe haven". As long as the runner maintains contact with this marker, he or she is safe from the other team. Leaving the safe area places the runner in danger of being "put out". In games with multiple safe havens, the goal of the runner is to ultimately reach the specially designated "home base".