(ThyBlackMan.com) Baseball is one of the most popular sports in the world, and it is not too hard to see why. After all, it is a game which involves many different aspects of sportsmanship in one. Almost everyone has played some baseball at some point in their life. Yet, not everyone continues to do so. If you are thinking about taking up a sport again, then baseball could be a great one to start with. Similarly, if your child is looking to get into a sport, you can’t’ say much fairer. Whether it is you or your child, it helps to know as much as possible about the game before getting started. With that in mind, we are going to go through some of the basic elements and concepts of this diverse and surprisingly complex game. We will look at its benefits, how it is laid out, and what you need to play it. Without further ado, let’s take a look at this beneficial sport.
Great Form Of Exercise
One of the main advantages of this sport is that it is particularly good exercise. In fact, it is one of the sports most often recommended by those in the medical field. Why might this be? Well, it has a lot to do with the fact that there is a lot of stopping and starting. It goes without saying that this is particularly true for whoever is batting. For the batter, their game consists of intermittent periods of swinging and running. This means that they are getting a great cardiovascular workout, as they are going from still to moving quickly multiple times. This is a great way to get the heart pumping faster, and so is good for the whole body. Of course,
the batting and bowling actions themselves are also great for muscle development. With baseball, you have a sport which enables you to get some beneficial exercise in while having fun.
Fun For Anyone
Speaking of which, baseball also offers the budding sportsman many hours of fun. It doesn’t matter whether you are playing with a few friends, or even semi-professionally. However it is done, this is a game which is always bound to please. If you are playing with just a few friends, this can be a great way to while away a few hours at the weekend. But even professional players have famously remarked on how enjoyable the sport is. Unlike some games, which become less fun with increased play, baseball is likely to always bring a smile to your face. So if you are looking for a way to spend time with your friends, this could be your answer.
The Basic Concepts
We have seen the ways in which baseball can be an enjoyable and beneficial game. Whether you are thinking of getting into it, or your child, it is good to learn some basics first. As a popular sport, chances are you already know some of the basics involved. However, it can be surprising how much you don’t know. Even those who think they are well-versed might find themselves coming into something new here.
If you are keen to get into baseball properly, then you should familiarise yourself with the basic concepts to begin with. Baseball is a sport which requires a special field of its own, just like many other sports. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you can’t also play it somewhere else. Anywhere you have a decent sized patch of grass, you can probably set up a game. In general, however, a baseball field is best. The game is played over a number of innings, in common with several other field games of a similar variety. Each inning, in turn, is divided into a top and bottom section. Points are scored, as you are probably aware, by hitting the ball with the bat and running around all four bases. If the runner is tagged by the ball, they’re out. After three outs, the teams switch roles. Professionally, you will normally see around six to nine innings being played. However, for amateur baseball, this can of course be reduced to however many you want. With a basic understanding of the underlying concepts, you are then ready to learn a little about the field of play.
The Infield
In baseball, the field itself plays a very important role, in a way which is unusual for many sports. The reasons for this should become clear relatively soon. For now, let’s take a look at the two main areas of the pitch, starting with the infield.
The infield is, as the name suggests, on the inner part of the field. This is where most of the action happens, and the most recognisable part of the field. It consists of the four bases which the runner must run between, laid out in the famous diamond shape. Near the middle of the diamond, you have the pitcher’s mound. This is the place from which the ball is thrown towards the home plate. Obviously, that is the batter’s position, and the place to which they are trying to return after a run.
The Outfield
The infield is generally defined by a dirt border – at least in the more professional settings. This is a way of making the border much more obvious and easier. However, beyond this dirt border is the rest of the field. Everything else is caled the outfield, and it plays another important role in how the game plays out. The outfield is a larger section of (normally) green turf or grass, cut short to allow for easier running. The main difference between this and the infield is that it is not defined by any particular structures or layouts. Mostly, this area is simply populated by a few defensive players, whose job is to try and catch the ball and return it. Technically, this area does not have to be any particular size or shape. Although, as with all sports, professional fields do have set regulations.
The Right Equipment
If you are looking to get into baseball, it is essential that you get hold of the right equipment. If you play catcher, you can get catcher’s mitts here, however, if you play any other position you want to make sure you are using the right size glove and everyone needs the right size bat. This might be more of a challenge than you think, for a number of reasons. First of all, what equipment you need depends on what kind of baseball you are playing. For example, if this is for the benefit of your child, then you will need to look into getting youth baseball equipment. The experts at The Baseball Diamond should be able to help you with finding the right equipment in that scenario. However, for regular baseball, chances are the options will be fewer and the decisions therefore easier to make. Having the right equipment makes a huge difference in how the sport is played. If you don’t have the right equipment, it is unlikely that you will get as far into it as you hope to.
Basic Roles
As with any sport, there are a number of basic roles played in the game. It is a good idea to be as familiar with them as possible. That way, you have a greater sense of what is going on at any one time. It is tempting to only learn about the one particular role that you will be playing. However, if you know what everyone is doing, then it will be much more beneficial for everyone all round. A team is generally composed of twenty-five players. However, only nine of each team are playing at any one time. When your team is on the offensive, every member gets a turn at batting. That’s why this is the one role you should really get to grips with. On the defensive side, you have certain specifically marked out roles. The most important, and most obvious, is the pitcher, who throws the ball. You also have the catcher, who crouches behind the home plate trying to catch the ball. Beyond that, there are those players who are specifically meant to look after a certain base. Last but not least, you have those players who are defending in the outfield, trying to return or catch the ball. Chances are, you will be particularly proficient at a certain role. It is worth focusing on that and capitalising on your skills.
The Umpires
Another type of role which should be mentioned is the umpires. These are not assigned to either team. They are impartial observers who ensure that the game is being played as fairly as possible. They will decide the outcome of each play, and their word is always final. Typically, there will be several umpires in a professional game of baseball.
Outs
Let’s now look a little more closely at the various rules of the game. The more intimately you understand them, the better a player you are likely to be. It can take some time getting used to some of the intricacies of the sport, but it is worth going through them. Let’s take a provisional look now. In terms of outs, they actually remove a player from play for the remainder of the inning. A player may be caught out, as discussed above, or run out. Similarly, they might be forced out by way of a foul.
Staff Writer; Kyle Scott
