has been around in various forms for centuries coming from ancient times. As the years go by, it has evolved into a professional sport catering to the needs of millions of fans throughout the world, with many not knowing the rules and basics of the . In this article, we will explain the basics and instructions on .
Table of Contents
The objective in a b
The goal of the is not to just hit the as far as you can (even though it helps), but also to score more runs than the .
The needs to run around 4 bases back to in order to score a run. Once the makes it around all four bases without being tagged out, another will take their place.
Players & equipment
A lasts for . Each baseball which is made up of 9 players, alternate their turns and fielding through the course of the .
There are three per in a . In the end of the , each teams’ scores are added to an overall score and the with the most points wins. Each has a top (away bats) and bottom (home bats).
A the . These 2 sections are separated by 4 bases spaced at 90 feet apart from each other, in the shape of a diamond. The (whose job is to or throw the ) stands and throws the from the ’s mound, and the stands at the . The other three bases are the 1st base, 2nd base, and 3rd base. In order to score a run, the must touch all bases without getting tagged out. has two sections; the and
Pitching
A good pitcher is often necessary for a defensive or fielding team to win a game. A pitcher’s job is to make sure the batter has a hard time trying to hit the ball, while also trying to strike him out.
While standing on the pitching mound, pitchers use various pitch speeds and pitches in order to throw their hitters off-balance. They want to throw the ball past the batter so that when the ball comes off the bat, it lands somewhere other than inside the field of play. This is so they can get runners out and keep them from getting on base.
A good pitcher will have several different pitching techniques that they use in any given game which include a fastball along with a slider, change-up and curveball. They want to be able to throw the ball past the batter in many different ways.
Hitting
The purpose of the offensive team in baseball is to score more runs than the opponent. In order to do this, hitters attempt to “hit the ball in a direction not occupied by a fielder.”
After hitting the ball, a batter will run as fast as he can to first base. The batter can stay on first base if he reaches the base before a fielder throws the ball to the first baseman who is on the base. Batters can take second or third base when they hit to the outfield.
A “single” is a hit that gets the batter to first base. A “double” gets him to second base, and a “triple” gets him to third base.
On some occasions, batters are able to hit a “home-run”. If a batter is able to hit a ball over the outfield fence while keeping it between the foul lines, that hit is called a home run. The three main factors in determining a home-run hitter are power, speed, and luck.
Power is the most important factor for a home-run hitter. A batter with power will have the ability to generate more bat speed and hit the ball with more force. Power hitters tend to be heavier than those who lack this skill, which helps them maintain their balance at the batter’s box and swing harder at balls pitched outside of their normal hitting zone.
Speed cannot be overlooked when judging a home-run hitter either. A high-speed runner can tag up on singles or doubles, get on base through bunts or steals, and advance on fly balls that only clear one fence rather than two.
Finally, luck. A lucky hit will be able to clear all outfield fences no matter how far away the fence is or where the ball lands in relation to it. Many home runs end up in the stands, and others bounce off the wall. Sometimes a pitch will hit a runner and score another run, or maybe a fielder will drop an easy fly ball. All these factors are out of the players’ hands but happen every day.
Standard Baseball Gear
- Baseball Glove / Mitts
- Baseball Bat
- Baseball
- Batting Helmet
- Catcher’s Gear
- Protective Cup
- Baseball Hat
- Baseball Cleats / Shoes
- Baseball Pants
- Batting Gloves
- Baseball Bat
A which is made from wood, aluminum or metal. The has a bright white color and red stitching, with a diameter of 3 inches. A wears hats and gloves that are called ‘mitts’ (big, oversized gloves), which helps them catch the . The behind the wears leg guards, a body pad, and has extra padding in their glove to protect them from injuries. or needs a helmet, and a
Scoring Rules
After the is hit, the becomes a and must cover all four bases to score. They must do this before the defending can pick up the and throw it to any base the is heading to.
A can score a mandatory point if he/she hits a home run, which usually occurs when the gets out of the playing area within the foul lines. If a feels they might not reach the next base before being tagged out, he or she can stop in any base.
A can score multiple points from one hit, with a maximum of four points. This is possible if they have multiple runners already on any of the bases. Once a has reached first base, whoever is sitting at second or third base can run to the .
Winning the
To win a match. , a must score more runs than their opponent through the played, which is the standard amount of in a professional
Most high school and college matches will last seven , while Little matches will last six . If the home is ahead in points, they don’t need to in the final because they last. If both teams are tied at the end of a , they will play extra innings until a winner is declared.
Basic
- A has two teams ( and ) that consist of 9 players each.
- The defending consists of a , , first, second & third basemen, shortstop, and three outfielders at center field, right field, and left field.
- The match lasts in which both teams get to once. If the remains tied after , then an extra is played until a winner is decided. In the 9th , the second in the bottom don’t need to complete their if they are already ahead in points.
- A the they replace. cannot be changed throughout the once it has been picked. Substitutes may be used, but they must in the order of
- The The can then run to as many bases as they would like before being tagged out. Each base must be touched by some part of the when he/she runs past it. must make an effort to reach first base if they manage to hit the from the .
- The is allowed three strikes before he or she gets out. A strike occurs when the attempts to swing at the , but misses it. The can leave and not swing at the , but will be given a strike if it’s within a predetermined area (called the ). The may walk to 1st base if the 4 balls miss the and the doesn’t swing the . A missing the is called a .
- When a is on base, they can advance to the next base whenever they wish.
- Players of the can be dismissed by a ‘strike out’ (meaning the missing the 3 times), ‘force out’ (cannot make the base before the defending ), ‘fly out’ (when the is hit but caught mid-air by a , without it touching the ground), and ‘tag ‘ (where a with the ‘tags’ the with the while the is running).
How to Play Baseball: Baseball FAQs
Who is in charge of a ?
In along with making judgments on plays. , the officiates the , starting and ending the , and enforcing the
The is the area above between the bottom of the ‘s knees to the midpoint between the top of the ‘s shoulders and the top of his pants. Have a look at the picture below to get a good visual understanding of the .
How many baseballs are used in a ?
Around 10-12 dozens of baseballs are used in a . The reason for this is that each has a lifespan of around three pitches. Balls that have struck the ground are immediately swapped, because possible dents, scuffs, and scratches can impact the path of the on the next throw. Another reason is that dirty baseballs make it harder for the and to see.
number positions
You can view the number positions in in the picture from Wikipedia below.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a or just an average fan, understanding the rules and basics on is a must. Why? Because is a sport that requires a good grasp of the rules to be enjoyed. It’s a sport based on very basic concepts, like scoring runs or putting the in play, which make it the perfect sport for anyone to pick up.