Baseball, much like any sport, has very complicated rules and very basic rules. The basic rules of baseball are the ones that you see everywhere you go. The rules and regulations are what govern how a game is played. Learning the rules before attempting to play would be a great idea for proper knowledge and understanding.
Positions
There are nine defensive players out on the field at a time. These positions include three outfielders, three basemen, a pitcher, catcher and shortstop. The shortstop plays between second and third base. There is no rule as to where these players can stand or who can play any particular position.
The Pitcher
The pitcher must follow basic rules to not be penalized. The pitcher's goal is to strike out three batters without allowing any of them to get on base and score. To strike them out, he must throw balls to the catcher and force the batter to swing at them. If the ball crosses the plate and at the waist of the batter, it is a strike if the batter refuses to swing. If the ball does not go across the plate, then it is a ball. If the pitcher throws four balls, the batter is allowed a free base.
The Batter
The batter has an obligation to hit the ball into fair territory or not swing at balls. Fair territory is the part of the field that is between the white lines that run from home plate to the back wall. Anything outside those lines is a foul ball and counts as a strike. If the batter hits the ball into fair territory, he must run as fast as he can and at least get to first base before the defense throws the ball there. The batter must run on any ball hit into fair territory.
Outs
Each time the two teams bat, it is called an inning. To switch sides, you must get three outs on the batting team. One way of getting outs is by the pitcher striking out the batter. Another way of getting an out is by catching the ball in the air. If the batter hits the ball and it is caught before it touches the ground, it is an out. Two more ways of getting the team out, is by tagging the base with the ball in hand or tagging the player with the ball. If the batter hits the ball on the ground and the defense gets the ball to the base before the runner tags it, he is out. If the defense touches the runner with the ball, he is also out.
Foul Balls
If the batter hits the ball outside the white lines, it is a foul ball. A foul ball is counted as a strike for the first two strikes. On the third strike, the batter can hit the ball foul as much as he wants until he gets it into fair territory. If the defense catches the ball while traveling foul, it is an out. A ball is also considered foul if it rolls outside the white lines before it makes it past first or third base without being touched. If the ball lands in fair territory, then gets knocked past the foul lines, then it is still fair.
Scoring
When one of the players successfully makes it around three bases and back to home, it is counted as a run. The run only counts if the player touches every base. Every player that makes it around adds another run. If the batter hits a home run, then he adds a run, and anybody else on base adds one run each. The most runs scored at one time can only be four. This is called a grand slam. There are nine innings in a game of baseball, and the team with the most runs at the end of the nine innings wins.
Running the Bases
Runners are required to touch each base in order from first to home. In most baseball leagues, runners are allowed to lead off the base. Leading off means, when a pitcher has the ball, the runner is allowed to step off the base as far as he wants to get an advantage on making it to the next base. The runner must be careful because if the pitcher throws the ball to the base and he gets tagged, then he is out. Another rule for runners is that a runner is not allowed to pass another runner. If a runner overlaps his teammate, the overlapped player is out.
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