Ah, baseball. Often called America’s greatest pastime, it’s one of the first team sports many kids learn to play. It’s also one of the easier sports for adults who want more exercise to understand and play.
If you’re not familiar with the sport, but want to learn more, don’t sweat it. Our helpful guide will give you a basic rundown of how to play baseball. It might not get you a slot in the MLB, but it will give you a good foundation to start from.
First, Let’s Discuss Baseball Rules
Summarizing how to play baseball in a succinct way can prove difficult. Nevertheless, we will try!
A game of baseball is based on innings. There are 9 in a standard game, though some games may get cut short or go into extra innings due to inclement weather or a tied score. Each inning lasts until both teams have had a turn at-bat. Each team’s at-bat period lasts as long as it takes for them to get 3 outs.
Outs can happen in one of two ways. A batter can get struck out by missing the ball 3 times. Or, a ball that a batter struck can get caught before hitting the ground by an outfielder.
After the conclusion of the 9th inning, scores get tallied, and the team with the most runs wins.
What Skills Should You Practice?
The skills that you need to practice before you play baseball will depend on the position that you wish to play. Hand-eye coordination is a critical skill for all positions. However, other things you may want to practice while playing baseball include:
- Sprinting over short distances- crucial for all positions, but especially runners at-base or at-bat
- Grip strength- makes it easier to swing at the ball
- Batting stance- because positioning is everything when you swing (and hopefully don’t miss!)
- Developing arm muscles for stronger swings
These skills can help boost your baseball game to the next level.
How Important Is Baseball Equipment?
Now, let’s talk equipment. In many team sports, the quality of the equipment that you can access is paramount. Baseball is no exception, as shoddy equipment can leave your head, arms, hands, and legs vulnerable to heavy damage.
When you play a sport where the ball gets thrown at speeds approaching 70 or more miles per hour, it’s best to ensure proper protection. Even more so for your hands, which are exposed to the ball much more.
Fragile bats are little better for you than poor defensive equipment. So, if you’d rather not invest in low-quality bats, check out this list of the best USA bats 2022. That way, you can ensure that you have the best baseball equipment possible with your budget.
Did You Enjoy Learning How to Play Baseball?
Learning how to play baseball can be tricky, and our guide could only go over the basics. However, if you enjoyed learning more about this beloved sport, and want to dig deeper into more team sports, why not check out our blog? We update each day with more sports and recreation content like this.
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