how to Play Baseball

Baseball is a team sport that combines hitting, running, throwing, and catching. Children take turns batting and playing out in ‘the field’ (fielding).

Teaching your child the fundamentals of baseball is easier than you might think. Throughout these pages, we will look at how to build the essential skills required to play the sport, most importantly catching, throwing, and hitting. These skills can be taught in the backyard, front room, or local park. And while it helps to have the right equipment, learning the fundamentals of these skills requires little more than a bat, ball, and patience.

What is Baseball?

Baseball is a game played by two teams of nine players. The game is divided into parts called innings. In each inning, one team bats (offense) while the other fields (defense), and then they switch roles.

A professional game has nine innings, but at the youth level (Little League), games are typically six innings or limited by a time cap. After the final inning, the team that has scored the most runs wins the game.

The Goal: Scoring a Run

A player scores a run by completing a full circuit of the four bases, which are laid out in a diamond shape.

The game starts at home plate, where the batter stands. After hitting the ball, the batter becomes a runner and must run to first base. The ultimate goal is to run around first, second, and third base before returning safely to home plate. A runner can choose to stop at any base. Once on base, they can only advance to the next base when a teammate hits the ball.

How Players Get “Out”

The fielding team tries to get three “outs” to finish the other team’s turn at bat. The most common ways to get out are:

Strikeout: The batter fails to hit the ball after three strikes. A strike is a pitch that is either swung at and missed or passes through a designated area called the strike zone.

Fly Out: A batter hits the ball, and a fielder catches it in the air before it bounces.

Force Out: When a runner has to advance to the next base, a fielder can get them out by catching the ball and simply touching the base before the runner arrives.

Tag Out: If a runner is between bases, a fielder can get them out by physically tagging them with the ball (held in their glove or hand).

The Positions on the Field

Every position requires a different set of skills. The main roles are:

Pitcher: Throws the ball from the center of the field towards the catcher, trying to get the batter out.

Catcher: Squats behind home plate to catch the pitcher’s throws. They are the leader of the defense.

Infielders: Guard the area around the bases. Their job is to field balls hit on the ground and get runners out. They are: First Baseman, Second Baseman, Shortstop, and Third Baseman.

Outfielders: Stand in the large grassy area beyond the infield. They are responsible for catching long hits. They are: Left Fielder, Center Fielder, and Right Fielder.

Hitters: Every player gets a turn to hit. Before the game, the coach sets a batting lineup of all nine players, and they must bat in that order for the entire game.

Why Get your child into Baseball?

Baseball captivates audiences with its mix of action, strategy, and skill. As a sport, it teaches kids how to work as part of a team, how to stay focused, and how to stay resilient.