Baseball is one of America's most beloved and distinctive sports. For those unfamiliar with this game, the rules can seem confusing and complicated. However, once you learn how to set the pitch, play offense and defense, you can join a baseball team or create your own.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Finding a Team
Step 1. Gather nine players
You will need at least nine people to field a defending team. It is possible to play with fewer participants, but they will have to cover more field. It can become very difficult to reach the balls hit by the attack, so try to find at least nine players.
Step 2. Determine who will play as pitcher and catcher
The pitcher is the player who occupies the center of the court and throws the ball to the batter. The catcher drops behind the batter at home plate, in order to catch the balls that escape the latter.
Make sure the catcher is wearing appropriate protective gear, such as a face mask, as the pitcher will throw balls with speed and force that can cause serious injuries
Step 3. Select extensions
The players inside the field (or in the diamond) protect the bases. You should field a player on first, second and third base, known by the names of their positions (first base, second base and third base). The fourth player will be the shortstop and will occupy a mobile position, helping the players on the bases to capture the inside balls.
Step 4. Select the exteriors
The three players on the fielder are the right fielder, center fielder and left fielder. They are responsible for catching the high balls on the outside of the court and the low balls that pass the inside.
Part 2 of 4: Preparing the Camp
Step 1. Lay the groundwork on the pitch
There are four bases (first, second, third and home plate), which are considered "safe spots" for runners during the game. They are bags covered with canvas or rubber that are arranged in a square, although the shape of the field is usually called a 'diamond'.
- The bases are numbered counterclockwise from home plate: first, second and third. Second baseman is directly across from home plate, across from the pitcher's mound.
- Each base is located approximately 27.5 meters from the others.
- The lines connecting the bases are made up of dirt, so runners can glide over the bases while the rest of the field is grass.
Step 2. Prepare the pitcher's mount
The pitcher occupies a mound of dirt in the center of the diamond, approximately 60 feet from home plate. On the mount, you need to place a small rubber plate from which the pitcher will throw the ball.
Step 3. Draw the lines of the phallus
A ball that is hit and lands to the left of third base or to the right of first base (as viewed from home plate) is considered a "foul ball" and stops play. Foul lines extend from home to first and third bases, then continue to the end of the outfield.
Step 4. Draw the batter's box
Whoever bats must position himself to the left or right of the plate, in order to make better use of his dominant arm. Draw areas of 1.2 meters by 1.8 meters on either side of home plate.
Step 5. Draw the receiver area
Draw a small area just behind home plate where the catcher and referee will stand to watch the ball thrown by the pitcher.
Part 3 of 4: Playing Attack
Step 1. Send a hitter to the pot
One of the attacking players will position himself next to the plate, in one of the areas reserved for batters, waiting for the pitcher to throw. The batters can practice swinging the bat until the pitcher is ready to go.
During the offensive action, all players take turns as batters to try to hit the ball
Step 2. Watch the ball as it is thrown
The batter must try to predict whether the ball will be hit. He may decide to make an attempt to hit the ball or stand still and let it go to the catcher behind him. If no valid contact is made, the referee will make one of the following three calls: strike, ball or foul.
- The "strike" indicates that the batter should have hit the ball but did not, or that he attempted to hit the ball but missed. The striker is eliminated after the third strike that arrives in the catcher's glove.
- The "ball" occurs when the pitcher completes an invalid pitch, throwing the ball too far from the batting area and the batter does not attempt to hit it. After 4 balls, the batter is entitled to a "walk," meaning he can advance directly to first base. Occasionally, hitters try to fill the bases and get a walk instead of attempting to hit the ball.
- A foul ball is a ball hit by the batter that lands outside the foul line or lands in the foul zone before reaching first or third base. The ball is considered "dead" and all runners must return to the base they occupied before the pitch, without risking elimination. Usually, fouls count as strikes; however, in most cases, a batter who has already taken two strikes cannot be called out for a foul. Exceptions are made when the batter hits a foul ball directly into the catcher's glove or if he sends a bunt (a hit with the club held in his hand without moving it) into the foul zone.
Step 3. Swing the club
Keep your feet parallel and knees slightly bent, then hold the club straight at the base with two hands. Bring it forward quickly in one smooth motion while shifting your weight from your back foot to your front foot. Don't forget to keep your eyes on the ball to increase your chances of hitting it.
Step 4. Run on the basics
As the ball you hit travels across the court, in the air or on the ground, the batter (now referred to as a "runner") drops the bat and runs as fast as possible to first base. If the runner is not put out, he may stop at first base or continue running for as long as he can.
- A runner who has left his base (and has not passed first base) is put out when touched by a fielder who is in possession of the ball.
- The batter is automatically called out if the ball he hit is caught by a fielder before it hits the ground or one of the walls of the court. This type of elimination is called a flyout or sprint. If it is not the third out of the inning, all runners must return to the base they occupied prior to the qualifying serve. Some runners can be eliminated by throwing the ball at home plate before they can reach it.
- A batter may be called out if a valid serve touches the ground, but a fielder in possession of the ball touches first base before the runner reaches it. Runners who are "forced" to leave their position following a hit that touches the ground can also be eliminated in this way.
Step 5. Steal the bases
In many cases, the runner will not be able to complete the entire round of bases in a single action, so he will have to stop on a base and wait for the next batter to step onto the plate. However, at any time, the runner may attempt to "steal" the next base by running as the pitcher throws the ball.
Since the pitcher is usually the best player at throwing the ball, stealing a base at another time is very dangerous; in fact, the pitcher could turn and pass the ball to one of the men on base instead of to the batter, making an easy elimination. In many youth baseball leagues, stealing bases is not allowed until the ball has cleared home plate
Step 6. Fill in the basics
Only a runner can occupy a base. When all bases have a runner, the offensive team is said to play "full bases" and therefore the next hit or walk will necessarily result in a run or an out, because all runners will be forced to advance.
Step 7. Perform a home run
In some cases, the batter hits the ball with such force or precision that he can complete the full circle of the diamond before being knocked out, scoring a run with a single hit. This is called a "home run" or home run. Almost all home runs occur when the ball is sent over the fence at the back of the pitch, where the defense can't reach it and can't help but watch.
A home run with solid bases is called a "grand slam" and allows you to score 4 points (one for each runner). Although this is a rare occasion, the grand slams are able to change the tide of a difficult game or virtually guarantee victory
Step 8. Play the game with normal actions
Home runs are fun, but they are not common enough to be considered a reliable means of winning the game. Instead, try to learn how far you should run after a normal valid serve. By learning when to stop and wait, you can stay in the game longer and improve your odds of scoring a point.
Step 9. Avoid getting three eliminations
Once three batters or runners have been eliminated, the roles of the teams are reversed and the defense becomes the offense. By playing defense, you will not be able to score any points.
- The game is made up of nine periods, called 'innings', which are made up of two parts: the "high" and the "low". When a team's offense has received three eliminations, the game moves to the bottom of the current inning or the top of the next.
- The attacking team scores points every time a runner arrives safely at home plate. A point does not count if: 1) the runner at home plate was not on the base he previously occupied during or after a sprint; 2) the runner has touched the home plate after the defending team has made the third elimination; 3) the runner reached the home plate during the same action that led to a third forced elimination, even if the home plate was reached before the elimination.
Part 4 of 4: Playing Defense
Step 1. Throw the ball
The pitcher will occupy the pitcher's mound and throw the ball at the batter, trying to take him out. Often pitchers use fastballs, curved balls, substitutions and sliders to confuse opponents.
- Fastball is baseball's fastest throw, followed by the curve ball.
- The change involves the pitcher pretending to throw a fastball, but throwing a much slower pitch, surprising the batter.
Step 2. Try to catch the ball after it is hit
Once the batter hits the ball, it will fly through the air or roll on the ground. The defending team, which occupies the inside and outside of the court (the grass area beyond the diamond), will try to catch the ball before it hits the ground. This action automatically kills the batter and prevents the attacking team from advancing onto the bases.
If the ball hits the ground before a player catches it, the defenders must hurry to catch it and pass it to a teammate close enough to attempt an out
Step 3. Try to take out the runners
If a fielder has the ball in his hand, he may touch a runner trying to advance to the bases and put him out. Alternatively, a man on base can be given a pass and put one foot on the plate, in order to eliminate a runner who cannot return to the previous base and tries to get closer.
Step 4. Eliminate multiple runners at the same time
When specific playing conditions are met, defenders may be able to make a double or even a triple elimination, in which they eliminate two or three opponents in the same action.
- Triple eliminations are rare, but in some cases they are possible on low sprints, defined lines or if there are enough forced eliminations available.
- Double eliminations are more common; often, they require a forced out at second base and a batter out before he reaches first base.
Step 5. Continue playing until you have completed the total number of innings
Unlike football or many other sports, baseball has no time limit. Conversely, the game continues until all innings are completed. At the end of the last inning, the team with the most points wins.
- For this reason, matches can last a very long time, so teams have the right to make substitutions, especially pitchers, in order to always field fresh players, from start to finish.
- If the teams are tied at the end of the last inning, an extra inning is played. It is quite unusual for a baseball game to end in a draw; usually, extra innings are played continuously until one of the teams manages to score a run. If the scoring team is the away team, the home team has another chance to draw. If he doesn't use it, the away team wins.
Expert Advice
Work on these aspects to improve reaction times:
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Improve awareness in the field.
If you want to improve reaction times, you have to work a lot on game knowledge. You have to be careful and understand the situation, so that you understand where you need to position yourself even before the launch.
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Try explosive exercises.
To improve reaction times, you need to perform explosive exercises, such as quick starts, sprints and turns, especially if you play as a winger. Also, try short leaps, in which your trainer will hit balls that run rapidly along the ground and that you will have to chase.
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Get to know your opponent.
When playing against another team, you need to know the statistical odds of what could happen, based on the opponent you are facing. To do this, you need to study the other teams and other players.
Advice
- Avoid starting playing for a team before you have trained enough and are familiar with the game. If you don't know the rules, join a beginner team.
- Always keep an eye on the ball.
- Keep your eyes on the ball. Don't hit it if you have to turn your head to follow it, because it's probably a ball.
- Learn and practice as much as possible. Friends who play baseball are a great source of information, as are books, guides, and courses. However, in the end, you will learn more simply by playing in first person.
- Be patient. Learning to play baseball takes time and effort, while getting good is even more difficult. All positions on the field present unique challenges. If you keep trying, you'll soon start enjoying yourself and improve every time you step onto the pitch.
- Always avoid hitting or trying to hit a baseball in another person's home. Always take precautions to prevent it from happening accidentally. Don't climb a fence to retrieve a ball if you can't see where it landed.
- If you are a beginner in defense, keep the glove close to your face, so if the ball is hit or thrown towards you, you will be able to defend yourself (and possibly catch it).
- To prevent the risk of collisions or head injuries, it is recommended that runners slide towards the bases, bringing their feet forward.
Warnings
- Wear protective gear when playing. In particular, helmets are recommended for batters and receivers should always wear masks, helmets and chest, knee, shin and foot protectors (the same ones worn by the referee).
- Always make sure all players have plenty of water available so they stay hydrated throughout the game. Also, try to make sure they can go to the bathroom, especially if there are no green areas around the pitch or if there are girls on the team.
