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Major League Baseball Rules




Major League Baseball Rules are comprised in a rather fat rule book with Sections, Subsections and Sub-Subsections, which could put the most avid baseball fan to sleep.

In addition to the MLB rules, which is the bible of baseball rules, youth baseball associations write rules which apply to their specific leagues, addressing their certain concerns, which literally adds hundreds of addition rules.

There are rules governing everything in baseball from the weight and length of the bat, to the size of seams on the baseball and everything in between. To attempt to explain every possible rule and for you to attempt to understand them all, would be all but virtually Impossible.

So we’re going to learn a quick “All Around” look at the basic rules and concepts involved in playing the game of baseball, which will help the beginner learn how to play and understand the game.---Major League Baseball Rules

The Game:

The game of baseball is a contest between two teams, of 9 active players, which alternates between playing defense and offense. The objective of the game is to score More Runs than your opponent.

The Basic Equipment:

The basic equipment is broken down between offensive equipment and defensive equipment.

Defensive equipment mainly consists of the Glove, which is used to help the fielder catch the baseball. There are basically three different types of gloves, the fielding glove, first baseman’s glove and the Catcher’s glove, which is normally called a Mitt.

The Offensive equipment consist of a bat, which is used to hit the baseball. Bats in the MLB are always made of wood, but in lower and younger brackets, the bat could be made of wood, aluminum or a composite.---- Major League Baseball Rules

The Baseball, depending on age of the players, is a round ball @ 3” in diameter, covered with white rawhide and red stitching. This is what the offense tries to hit with the bat and the defense tries to catch with the glove.

The Baseball Field:

The Baseball field is divided into 2 parts. The part closest to the bases and usually dirt, is called the Infield, while the farther part, grass is called the Outfield. These are the only two things that are the same no matter where the field is located. Major League Baseball Rules

Depending on the age level playing, the bases can be between 40 & 90 feet apart, which affects the size of the infield. The same can be said about the outfield, where the fences could be between 100 & 410 feet from home plate.

The areas of ground outside the field’s white lines, is known as Foul Territory and can differ at every field.

Defensive Positions:

There are 9 defensive positions on the field. The pitcher is positioned in the middle of the infield and starts all the action by pitching the baseball to the batter.

The catcher catches the pitched ball if the batter doesn’t hit it and throws it back to the pitcher.

The rest of the infield consist of the First Baseman, Second Baseman, Shortstop and Third Baseman, while the outfield consists of the Left Fielder, Center Fielder and Right Fielder.

Game Length:

MLB and older divisions of players play a 9 inning game, but younger players usually play 7 innings or less.

Innings are divided into two parts, the top or first part of the inning is called the Visitors Half of the inning and the bottom or last part is called the Home Half of the inning. Each team gets 3 outs in their part of the inning.

***Which team is considered the visiting or home team is determined before the game begins.***

Offense:

MLB and Older Aged Divisions play 9 players at one time, and these players are placed in order they are to bat and can not be changed, except by substitution. Batting orders of Younger divisions may have 10 or more which will bat, but still must remain in order.--- Major League Baseball Rules

The play begins when the pitcher throws the ball to the batter. If the batter hits the ball on the ground and into fair territory he must run and reach first base before the defense can get the ball to first base, or else he’ll be Out. The runner can continue to run to as many bases as he thinks he can without being put out.

A batter gets 3 chances to hit the ball, called strikes, before he is called Out. These strikes can either be from swinging and missing or fouling the ball, or the umpire calling the pitch a strike. If the pitcher throws 4 pitches which are not strikes, called Balls and the batter doesn’t swing at, the batter goes to first base.---- Major League Baseball Rules

When a batter reaches base safely, he becomes a Runner, and is eligible to score a run. A run is scored when a Runner completes the circuit of going from First to Second to Third to Home Plate safely before there are 3 outs made.

Whichever team scores the most runs in the pre-determined number of innings to be played, wins the game.When a batter hits the ball over the fence on a fly, it’s called a Home Run, and the batter automatically completes the circuit by running around all the bases. Any runners on base at the time of the home run, also score.--- Major League Baseball Rules

Defense:

There are many ways a defense can get an out on the offensive team. These are Four Common Ways.

1. Strike Outs. The batter fails to hit the ball fair before getting 3 strikes.

2. Fly Outs. If the defensive player catches a pop fly before it hits the ground, the batter is Out.

3. Force Out or Put Outs. If the defensive player catches a ground ball and gets the baseball to the base, either by throwing or running and touching it, before the batter or runner gets to the base, that is an Out.

4. Tag Outs. If a defensive player tags the runner while he is not in contact with the base, he is Out.

This brief explanation of the rules of baseball are just that … Brief, but you now have the concept of how baseball is played and governed.



Major League Baseball Rules to Coaching Baseball

mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/official_rules/foreword.jsp

Infield Fly Rule

Balk Rule

Baseball Score Keeping

Youth League Sites for Rules

little league.org

pony.org

babe ruth league.org

Learn Youth Baseball Coaching


Understand The Game Of Baseball

Avid baseball fans might not understand how a person, especially a parent, could possibly not totally grasp the game of baseball.

Wouldn’t it be nice, and very non-embarrassing, if there was a book written in easy to understand language which explains the game, the coach’s, players’ and Parents’ responsibilities.

Well, there is one now. This booklet explains the game, fan protocol and the Best way for a Parent or Grandparent to enjoy their youngsters’ playing. Most people don’t understand the intricate strategy of Chess, but you wouldn’t feel foolish for asking questions.

The same goes for baseball. Don’t hesitateorder this book immediately and be ready for the upcoming season and enjoying the game. Click here:

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