1-
History & Object of the Game
2- The Essentials (Offense,
Scoring, etc.)
3- Field
Diagram & Positions
4- Glossary
of Baseball Terms
The Essentials
Game Length
Baseball games are played in units
called innings. There are seven scheduled
innings in a high school baseball
game (nine in college and major league),
during which each team has the opportunity
to bat. The visiting team bats in
the first half of each inning, called
the top of the inning;
the home team bats in the second half
of each inning, called the bottom
of the inning. There is no set
time that an inning lasts; each half
of the inning continues until the
defense accumulates three outs.
If the game is tied after the last
inning, the game goes into extra
innings, and continues until
one team holds a lead at the end of
an inning.
Offense and Defense
Offense Strategy:
A run
is scored every time a base runner
touches all four bases, in the sequence
of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and home. To score
a run, a batter must hit the ball
into play and then run to circle the
bases, counterclockwise. On offense,
each time a player is at-bat,
he attempts to get on base via hit
or walk. A hit
occurs when he hits the ball into
the field of play and reaches 1st
base before the defense throws the
ball to the base, or gets an extra
base (2nd, 3rd, or home) before being
tagged
out. A walk
occurs when the pitcher throws
four balls.
It is rare that a hitter can round
all the bases during his own at-bat;
therefore, his strategy is often to
get on base and advance
during the next at bat.
Defense Strategey:
On defense, each time a player is
at bat, the pitcher has an opportunity
to get him out by throwing three strikes,
called a strikeout.
If the batter hits a pitch, the defense
has many ways to get the batter out.
The defense can create a force
out by throwing the ball to
1st base before the batter can reach
the base, tag
out by tagging the base runner
while he is not standing on a base,
or fly-out
by catching the ball in the air
before it has touched the ground.
Once the defense creates three outs,
it switches to be on offense.
Base Running
The ultimate goal for base runners
is to reach home plate and score a
run. They attempt to avoid getting
out by following the rules
of the game. Runners are safe as long
as they touch a base, and only one
runner is allowed on a base at a time.
If a runner is on 1st base and the
batter hits the ball into play, the
base runner is forced
to run to 2nd base because the batter
is attempting to occupy 1st base.
In this scenario, a fielder can throw
to 2nd base to get a force
out. However if there is a
runner on 2nd base and no runner on
1st base, the runner may remain on
2nd base when the ball is hit into
play because he is not forced
to advance there is room for
the batter to occupy 1st base and
the base runner to occupy 2nd base.
More advanced base running strategies
include leading
off, stealing,
tagging
up, and hit-and-run.
Common Umpire Signals
Several referees, called umpires,
govern the game to ensure fair and
safe play. Umpires use hand gestures
and verbal calls to signal their rulings
on the field. The two most important
signals in baseball are safe and out.
A player is safe
when he reaches a base before
being thrown out during a force
out (tie goes to the runner)
or avoids being tagged
out. The umpire crosses his
arms parallel to the ground and then
extends both arms out to the sides
to signal safe. An out
is called when a player strikes
out, is tagged
out, or is thrown out for
a force
out. The umpire makes a fist
and motions as if to punch the air
to signal an out. The umpire stationed
behind home plate will call each pitch
a ball
or a strike.
The umpire verbally calls ball
for a ball and a combination of calling
strike and using the same
signal for out (fist and punching
motion) for a strike. Umpires also
signal for hit balls that are close
to being fair
or foul.
The umpire points in the direction
of foul ground for a foul ball and
in the direction of fair ground for
a fair ball.
Equipment
All players wear shoes with cleats,
a cup, and a uniform, which consists
of a jersey, pants, and a baseball
cap. Equipment differs for offensive
and defensive positions. On offense,
batters have a wooden or aluminum
bat, batting gloves for grip, and
batting helmets for protection. On
defense, fielders use a leather glove.
The catcher has special protective
equipment, including a face mask,
chest protector, and shin/leg guards.
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