Did you know that around 15.9 million people play baseball each year? Along with football, basketball, and hockey, baseball is one of the most popular sports in the United States.
If you are new to baseball, learning how to play the sport can feel overwhelming. There are different terms, rules, positions, and equipment that you need to learn.
Are you wondering how to play baseball? If so, keep reading for a basic baseball guide.
Understand the Basics
If you want to learn how to play baseball, the first step is to understand the basics. To have a baseball game, you need at least two teams with nine players each.
The goal of the game is to score more runs than the other team. Each baseball game consists of seven innings. In each inning, one team bats while the other team plays in the field.
The goal of the team that is batting is to hit the ball and run the bases. There are four bases in baseball, and you score when you reach the fourth and final base.
The goal for the team that isn’t batting is to pitch the ball and prevent the other team from scoring. To prevent them from scoring, the players can catch the ball or tag one of the bases before the runner makes it.
Learn Common Terms
Once you understand the basics of baseball, you need to take some time to learn common baseball terms. Some of the most common terms you need to learn include field positions, batting terms, and running terms.
While there are nine different field positions, some positions are in the infield while others are in the outfield. The infield consists of the pitcher, catcher, and players covering the bases.
The outfield consists of right, center, and left outfield positions. Some of the most common batting terms are hit, ball, strike, and foul.
While a strike means you swung and missed the ball, a foul means you hit the ball, but it went out of bounds. Your batting average is a calculation of how often you hit the ball.
Get the Right Equipment
Before you can play baseball, you need to get the right equipment. Some of the most important baseball equipment includes a bat, baseballs, a glove, helmet, and baseball shoes.
If you are a beginner, you can rent equipment or buy cheaper equipment. Cheap equipment works perfectly for beginners, and you can invest more money as you improve.
While there should be no problems buying a cheap glove and bat, you should invest in good shoes. If you don’t, you are more likely to have foot pain, sprains, and other injuries. To learn more about shoes, click here.
Now You Know How to Play Baseball
Playing baseball is a great way to get into good physical shape, have fun with your friends, and gain a new hobby. If you are wondering how to play baseball, keep these tips in mind.
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