What is the difference between baseball and softball?

They are very similar. Softball uses a bigger, softer ball thrown underarm and a smaller field, so it is often a good first version for younger or beginner players.

Do I need lots of equipment to play?

To play properly you need a bat, ball and gloves, and helmets for batters. Always have an adult nearby, because a hard ball and swinging bat can hurt if people stand too close.

The Rules of Baseball | Sport

What is baseball?

Baseball is a bat-and-ball team sport played between two teams of nine players. ⚾ One team bats and tries to score, while the other team fields and tries to stop them. Then the teams swap over.

It is played on a field shaped like a diamond, with four corners called bases.

The field and the bases

The four bases are:

First base
Second base
Third base
Home plate (where you start and finish)

A batter must touch each base in order to score. The middle of the diamond is the pitcher's mound, where the ball is thrown from.

The aim of the game

Your team wants to score more runs than the other team. You score a run when one of your players hits the ball, runs around all four bases, and arrives safely back at home plate.

The fielding team tries to stop runs by getting batters and runners out.

Batting and pitching

The pitcher throws the ball towards the batter. The batter swings to hit it.

A strike is when the batter swings and misses, or lets a good pitch go by. Three strikes and the batter is out.
A ball is a pitch thrown too high, low or wide. Four balls and the batter walks safely to first base.

Why these rules? They keep the game fair. The pitcher must throw hittable balls, and the batter must really try to hit them.

Running the bases

Once you hit the ball, drop the bat and run to first base. If your hit is good, you might reach second or third base before the fielders get the ball back.

Sometimes a player hits the ball so far (often over the fence) that they run all the way around in one go. This is the most exciting hit in baseball: a home run!

You are safe if you reach a base before a fielder tags you or the ball gets there.

Getting outs

The fielding team gets a batter or runner out in several ways:

Strike out — the batter gets three strikes.
Caught out — a fielder catches the ball before it bounces.
Tagged out — a fielder touches a runner with the ball while they are off a base.
Forced out — a fielder holding the ball touches the base before the runner gets there.

When the fielding team gets three outs, the teams swap. The batting team fields, and the fielding team bats.

Innings and winning

A game is split into parts called innings. In each inning, both teams have a turn to bat. After the last inning, the team with the most runs wins.

Why the rules work

Baseball balances attack and defence carefully. The three-strike rule gives the batter a fair chance but not forever. The out rules reward the fielders for good catching and throwing. Because both teams take turns batting and fielding, everyone gets to attack and defend.

Practice activity: bases countdown

You can practise running bases safely with friends and an adult to watch:

Set out four markers (cones, jumpers or chalk) in a diamond shape.
One player softly throws a ball; the runner hits it with a hand or soft bat.
The runner sprints to first base while a fielder fetches the ball.
Count out loud how many bases the runner reaches before the ball comes back.
Take turns and add up everyone's bases. This builds your running, hitting and throwing.

Keep bats and balls away from people's heads, and let an adult set up the safe distances.

Now you know the rules

You understand bases, runs, strikes and outs. Find a bat, a soft ball and some friends and play!

Want more sports rules? Read The Rules of Cricket, and learn about Teamwork and Sportsmanship.

The Rules of Baseball

Key takeaways