Baseball & Softball

Overview Gameplay – offense and defense Baseball vs. Softball Techniques Positions/Field Vocabulary

Gameplay - Offense The team out in the field is on defense while the team batting is on offense. The pitcher throws the ball in an attempt to have the batter’s turn result in an out. The batter attempts to swing the bat and hit a fair ball. After a successful hit, the batter becomes a base-runner and must run to first base. The runner will continue to advance around the bases and touch home to score without getting out.

Gameplay - Offense Runners must attempt to advance to the next base if another runner is behind them, unless the ball is caught in the air, then the runners may not attempt to advance unless they tag up. Runners with an open base behind them are not forced to advance and do so at their own risk. The defense must tag such runners directly rather than tagging the base to get the runner out.

Gameplay - Defense The defense attempts to field the ball and may throw the ball freely between players, so one player can field the ball while another moves to a position to put out the runner. The defense’s primary job is to keep the offense from scoring runs by getting the batters and runners out. The defense may record outs in a variety of ways: Strike out Fly out Force out Tag out When the defense gets 3 offensive players out, the teams switch offense and defense.

Baseball Softball Add to the Output side 9 innings 7 innings The ball is 9 inches in circumference The ball is 12 inches in circumference 90 feet between bases, the overall field is larger than a softball field 60 feet between bases, the overall field is slightly smaller than a baseball field Pitched overhand, from an elevated mound either from the windup or stretch position Pitched underhand, from field level using either the slingshot or windmill style Runners may lead off Runner must stay on the base until the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand

Techniques Batting: Keep your hands together, elbows and knees bent. Hold the bat off your shoulder, keeping your hands back. Take a short step toward the pitcher with the foot closest to the pitcher. When you swing, swing level. Fielding grounders: Position your whole body in front of the ball, keeping your free hand and your glove low to the ground, scoop the ball up with two hands, pop up stand sideways to the target and throw. Fielding fly balls: Keep your glove up, look the ball into your glove, squeeze and secure the ball with two hands. Throwing: Remember from back in Kindergarten! T-L-Step and Throw!

Positions/Field Add to Output side

Field Vocabulary Diamond Batter's Box Infield Outfield Foul Lines Label on the Output side field diagram Diamond Batter's Box Infield Outfield Foul Lines

Vocabulary Ball: A pitch which does not enter the strike zone and is not struck at by the batter. Max = 4. Batter: The offensive player who is currently positioned in the batter's box. Bunt: A legally batted ball, not swung at but intentionally met with the bat and tapped within the infield. Count: the number of called balls and strikes on a batter. The number of balls will always be listed first and then the number of strikes. Double Play: A defensive play in which two offensive players are put out as a result of one continuous action.

Vocabulary Fair Ball: A legally batted ball that settles on or over fair territory. Fielder: One of the nine defensive players. Fly Out: A ball which goes high in the air when batted and is caught by a defensive player before the ball touches the ground. Force Play: A play in which a runner loses his right to occupy a base when the current batter becomes a runner. Foul Ball: A batted ball that lands on foul territory. Ground Ball: A batted ball which rolls along the ground.

Vocabulary Inning: That portion of the game within which the teams alternate on offense and defense and in which there are three outs for each team. Each team's time at bat is a half-inning. Lead off: step off the base in an attempt to gain an advantage in advancing to the next base. Line Drive: A ball which is batted directly to a fielder without touching the ground. On-deck: the next person to bat. Run: The score made by an offensive player who has rounded the bases and returned to home plate. Runner: An offensive player who is advancing toward, touching or returning to any base.

Vocabulary Steal: a base runner advances to the next base without the current batter hitting the ball. Strike: A legal pitch called by the umpire, which: Is struck at by the batter and missed; Is not struck at, if the ball passes through the strike zone; Is fouled by the batter when he has less than two strikes; Is bunted foul; Touches the batter as he strikes at it; After being batted, travels directly from the bat to the catcher's hands and is legally caught by the catcher (foul tip). Strike Zone: An area directly over home plate, from the bottom of the batter's kneecaps to the midpoint between the top of the batter's shoulders and the top of the batter's uniform pants.

Vocabulary Tag: The action of a fielder in touching a base with his body while holding the ball, or touching a runner with the ball, or with his hand or glove while holding the ball. Tag up: When a batter hits a fly ball resulting in an out, all base runners must retreat back to their original base. The act of touching their original base is called "tagging up" after which, they may legally advance to the next base. Triple Play: A defensive play in which three offensive players are put out as a result of one action. Umpire: The official who judges the legality of individual plays and who otherwise enforces the rules of the game. Walk: (aka base on balls) batter receives 4 called balls and goes to first unchallenged.