Quirky plays, confusing calls, and surprising twists are all part of the baseball game, something that baseball fans know all too well. But what you might not know so well if you are not a beginner – For young players and parents unfamiliar with the rules of baseball, here are some basic rules:
The Basic Baseball Equipment
Teams consist of nine players who use a leather-covered hardball, a wooden in the professional game or aluminum bat, and padded gloves. The batter, baseball jersey shirts or custom sublimated baseball jerseys, catcher, youth baseball uniforms and home-plate umpire wear special protective gear. Other team turns in the field and at-bat, the home team batting last.
The Game
There are nine innings in professional baseball, and each inning consists of two half’s, The first half is when the visiting team hits and the home team plays defense then changed and the second half of the inning is when the home team hits and the visiting team plays defense.
Each team gets three innings outs in each half of the innings.
Rules of Baseball
The baseball game has two teams of 9 players.
The fielding team’s positions are made up of a pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, shortstop, and three outfielders at left field, center field, and right field.
The game lasts for 9 innings of which both teams get to bat once. If the game is a tie after 9 innings then an extra inning will be given until a winner is found. If the team batting second in the bottom of the 9th inning is already ahead in points, then they do not need to complete their batting innings.
Once a batting order is picked, then it cannot be changed during the game. Substitutes are permitted, however, they must bat in the order of the previous player whom they replaced.
If the batter manages to hit the ball from the pitcher, they must make an effort to at least get to first base. Then they can run to as many bases as they wish before being tagged out. Each base must be touched with some part of the batter’s body when running past.
A batter gets up to three strikes before getting out. A strike is deemed when a batter swings for a ball and misses it. The batter can leave the ball but, if it’s within a strike zone, then a strike will also be given. If four balls will miss the strike zone and the batter does not move their bat, they can walk to first base.
When at the base, the batter can run to the next base at any point.
Players can be dismissed by either a 'strike out' (When a batsman missing the ball three times), 'force out' (when a player fails to make the base before the defensive player), 'fly-out' (when the ball is hit in the air and caught without it bouncing), and 'tag outs' (where a defensive player with the ball tags the batsman with the ball all whilst they are running).
Stealing Bases
In youth baseball leagues for ages 8 and below, stealing bases not allowed although there are exceptions. For youth baseball uniforms leagues for ages 9-12, stealing bases is allowed. A survive runner may run to the next base after the pitch is thrown and arrives at the catcher, even if the ball is not hit. This is called a steal. The pitching team may try to this runner out. Remember that a runner may not steal on a ball hit foul - in this situation, the stealing runner is allowed to safely return to the home base. Also, Remember that some leagues may allow stealing bases before the ball gets to the catcher. Some local rules can also apply in the local baseball game
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