Boys' Baseball Rules

Baseball is an exciting game for boys.baseball in glove image by leafy from Fotolia.com

Baseball is an exciting sport played with at least nine people on a team. It can be played indoors or outside on a baseball diamond, which consists of four bases. Each game has several innings--usually five to seven--during which each team has the opportunity to bat and field. Baseball teaches teamwork, and provides boys exercise without redundancy and boredom.

Outs

The batter is out when he gets three strikes or when a hit ball is caught before it touches the ground. An out will also occur if the ball makes it to first base before the batter has reached the base. Defensive players can put out runners if, on a force play, they receive the ball at the base before the runner gets there, or if they tag the runner with the ball while the runner is between bases.

The defending team can get two quick outs on a double play, which most commonly occurs when the batting team has a player on first base, and the batter hits a ground ball to the shortstop or second baseman. As the two players are running to their bases, the second baseman (or shortstop, depending on which side of the infield the ball is hit to) fields the ball and tosses it to the shortstop (or second baseman), who steps on second base for a force out before relaying the ball to the first baseman for a second force out.

When a fair ball is hit, the batter will attempt to do one of four things: run to first base only (a single), continue running past first to second (a double), run past first and second going to third (a triple), or try to get a home run by making it all the way back to home plate. While running from home plate to first base, the batter is allowed to run past the base and still be considered safe so long as the ball has not been caught. This is known as over-running or running through the base. Over-running can only be done at first base.

The strike zone is the area approximately the width of home plate and the height from the batter's knees to the middle of his chest. When the pitcher throws the ball within this zone and the batter does not swing, he will receive a strike. Three strikes make an out.

Pitches thrown outside of the strike zone are called balls. If the batter gets four balls before he is called out he is allowed to advance to first base; this is called a "walk" or "base on balls." Another way to "walk" is if a batter is hit with a pitched ball. In this case he is automatically allowed to go to first base.

Foul balls, which are hit outside the line from home plate to first, or home plate to third base, count as strikes. However, a batter cannot receive a third strike from a foul ball unless it is caught before hitting the ground.

In baseball leagues for children under 9, stealing bases is generally not allowed. The exception is if the league is for 9- to 12-year-olds. To steal a base, the runner must try to run to the next base after the pitch is thrown and caught by the catcher even if the ball is not hit. A runner is not allowed to steal on a foul ball. Some leagues do not allow stealing bases even for children over 9. Check local rules to learn the proper protocol for stealing bases.