Learn the basics of how to play baseball before you get out on the field to avoid making critical mistakes that could cost your team the game. The basic equipment required to play baseball is a bat, a ball and bases. In official games, players use additional equipment to improve performance and reduce the chance of injury including batting helmets, chin guards and special footwear.
Players
In baseball, players form two teams that alternate between offense and defense one time each inning. Each team has a number of players on its roster, but only permitted nine players are permitted in the field or in the batting order at any one time. Substitutions for offensive and defensive players are permitted between at-bats, unless the substitution is due to injury, in which case a substitution may be made during an at-bat. Players take turns at bat in a predetermined order.
Pitching
The pitcher throws the baseball to the batter and acts as a fielder. Most pitches are intended for the strike zone, but intentional balls or throwing to a base is part of baseball strategy. The strike zone ranges from the middle of the numbers on the jersey to just below the knee and over home plate. Pitches thrown outside the strike zone are called balls. Some leagues require the pitcher to take an at-bat, while others use a designated hitter who bats in place of another player. Pitching substitutions between at bats are permitted and common, especially in the later innings.
Batting
The batter stands inside the batter's box to the right or left of home plate with his bat. He generally tries to hit strikes and let balls go by. If three pitches are called strikes or are missed by swings of the batter, the batter is out. If the batter passes on four called balls, he can take a base. Once the ball is hit, the batter must proceed to first base and can optionally proceed to subsequent bases. If the ball falls on or within the two foul lines he is awarded the base he has successfully reached. When the batter hits a home run, he must run around and touch all the bases, including home plate, for the run to count. The first two foul balls are considered as strikes, and subsequent foul balls do not add to the count.
Running
Once you hit the ball, you must reach base before the ball gets there or being tagged out with the ball. Once declared safe by the umpire, a base runner cannot be tagged out as long as some part of his body maintains contact with the base. When the base runner breaks contact with the base, during the at-bat as indicated by the umpire, the defensive team can tag him out with the ball. Runners can steal subsequent bases but may only start running when the pitcher has released the ball and the batter does not make contact with it.
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