Learn Baseball Basics: An Overview for Beginners

Baseball is a complex sport that cannot be mastered overnight. You have to learn baseball basics such as the various requirements and rules of the game before you play it in the field. And once you have a clear idea of the basics, you will need to learn how to throw, catch, and hit the ball. To make learning baseball a lot easier for you, here is a quick overview of the different aspects of the game.

Basically, baseball games are played by two teams, each with nine players, that take turns in playing the offense and defense positions. Each player takes one of the following nine positions: catcher, pitcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, leftfielder, rightfielder, and centerfielder.

To be able to win the game, a team must score more runs than its opponent. A run is scored when a team is able to run along the four bases on the diamond-shaped field. In professional baseball matches, each of the nine innings is divided in half at the bottom of the inning when the visiting team takes the defense position, and the home team takes the offense. On the other hand, the inning is divided in half to top of the inning when the home team plays defense and the visiting team plays offense. In each half of the innings, each team gets three outs. 

The team that plays defense wears baseball gloves for catching the ball. The offense team will strike the ball using a bat. The bat is made of a metal composite or aluminum for amateur players and wood for professional players. 

An important aspect of the game is the position that each player takes. For the defense, the pitcher starts the game by throwing the ball to the home plate. If the ball is not hit by the player of opponent’s team, the catcher (of the defense team) catches it. There are four infielders and three outfielders completing the rest of the team on defense.

A defense team has four ways to eliminate an offensive player. The most common is the strikeout in which a hitter misses three pitches. Second is the tag out that happens when a runner is touched with a glove holding the ball or with the ball. Flyouts occur when an offensive player hits the ball in the air and a defensive player catches it before it lands on the ground. Lastly, force outs occur when a defensive player who has the ball reaches the base first before the runner.

The field where a baseball game is held is divided into two parts: the infield and the outfield. The infield is the area near the bases, while the grassy area outside the infield is called the outfield. Each base is 90 feet away from the diamond; the distance is much shorter in children’s leagues. 

It takes a great deal of time and patience to learn baseball. The best way to start learning how to play it is to familiarize yourself with the basics, including the positions, equipment, and rules of the game.
