Baseball is a game between two teams of nine players each, under direction of a manager. It's played on an enclosed field in accordance with these rules, under jurisdiction of one or more umpires.

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objective of the game
The object of the game: The objective of each team is to win by scoring more runs than the opponent. The winner be that team which make more score, the greater number of runs at the conclusion of a regulation game.
The playing field:
  • ball field or a baseball diamond;
  • The infield shall be a 90-foot square (60-foot fot Youth league);
  • The outfield is the area between two foul lines formed by extending two sides of the square from home plate;
    • Equipment: Playing equipment including but not limited to the bases, pitcher’s plate, baseball, bats, uniforms, catcher’s mitts, first baseman’s gloves, infielders and outfielders gloves and protective helmets.
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    game preliminaires
    Before the game begins the umpire:
  • Require strict observance of all rules governing implements of play and equipment of players
  • Be sure that all playing lines are marked with white material easily noticeable from the ground or grass;
  • No player shall intentionally discolor or damage the ball;
  • A player, or players, may be substituted during a game at any time the ball is dead;
  • If aA player name is on his team's batting order, he can become a substitute runner for another member of his team;
  • The pitcher shall pitch to the first batter or other batter until such batter is put out or reaches first base;
  • The umpire in chief is notified immediately for any substitution bt the manager;
  • The umpire in chief annaunce each substitution;
  • Between games of a doubleheader the umpire in chief shall have control of ground keepers and assistants;
  • The umpire calls "Time", he suspends play;
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    starting and endind the game
    Starting the game:
  • the umpire, or umpires enter the playing field five minutes before the game to begin and proceed directly to home base;
  • when all players take their possitions on the playing filed, the umpire shall call “Play” and the game shall start;
  • The batting order follow the batting order list throughout the game unless a player is substituted for another;
  • The team at bat shall station two base coaches on the field during its time at bat, one near first base and one near third base;
  • Base coaches are limited to two in number;
  • When a manager, player, coach or trainer is ejected from a game, he shall leave the field immediately
    • How a team score:
  • One run shall be scored each time a runner legally advances to and touches first, second, third and home base before three men are put out to end the inning;
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  • When the winning run is scored in the last half-inning of a regulation game, or in the last half of an extra inning the umpire shall not declare the game ended until the runnerhas touched first base;
    • Ending of a game:
  • A regulation game consists of nine inning;
  • The game is regular if:
    • five innings have been completed;
    • If the home team has scored more runs in four or four and a fraction half-innings than the visiting team has scored in five completed half-innings;
    • If the home team scores one or more runs in its half of the fifth inning to tie the score;
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    putting the ball in play (live ball)
  • After the umpire calls “Play” the ball is alive and in play. The ball remains alive and in play until for legal cause, or at the umpire’s call of “Time”. When the umpire calls "Time", then the ball is dead;
  • The pitcher shall deliver the pitch to the batter;
  • The offensive team’s objective is to have its batter become a runner;
  • The defensive team’s objective is to prevent offensive players from becoming runners;
  • When a batter becomes a runner and touches all bases legally he shall score one run for his team;
  • After the ball is dead, play shall be resumed when the pitcher takes his place on the pitcher’s plate with a new ball or the same ball. The plate umpire calls “Play.”
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    the batter
  • Batting order list determines who batter will bat next;
  • When it's the batter time at bat, he takes his position in the batter’s box;
  • The batter shall not leave his position in the batter’s box after the pitcher comes to Set Position, or starts his windup;
  • The batter’s legal position - with both feet within the batter’s box;
  • Abatter has legally completed his time at bat when he is put out or becomes a runner;
  • A batter is out when:
    • His fair or foul fly ball is legally caught by a fielder;
    • A third strike is legally caught by the catcher;
    • An Infield Fly is declared;
    • his bat hits the ball a second time in fair territory, after hitting or bunting a fair ball. The ball is dead and no runners may advance;
  • A batter is out for illegal action when:
    • his one or both feet on the ground entirely outside the batter’s box, during the batt;
    • He steps from one batter’s box to the other while the pitcher is in position ready to pitch;
  • The batter becomes a runner when:
    • He hits a fair ball;
    • The third strike called by the umpire is not caught;
    • A fair ball, after having:
      • passed a fielder other than the pitcher;
      • passes over a fence;
      • passes into the stands at a distance from home base of 250 feet or more;
      • after touching the ground, bounds into the stands;
      • either before or after touching the ground, passes through or under a fence, or through or under a scoreboard;
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    the runner
  • Running Lane to First Base - when a batter/runner is running to first base and either gets called or not called out for interference. This could either be because he was hit with a thrown ball or if there is contact with the first baseman;
  • Touching the Bases in Order and Retouching - In advancing, a runner shall touch first, second, third and home base in order. If forced to return, he shall retouch all bases in reverse order, unless the ball is dead. In this cases, the runner may go directly to his original base;
  • Tie Goes to the Runner - There is no rule that states that a tie goes to the runner;
  • Two Runners Occupying a Base - Two ruuners are not allowed to occupy the same base. If two runners are touching the same base, the lead runner is entitled to the base;
  • Overrunning First Base - there is nothing in the rules that state which direction the player must turn. The reason for overrunning first base is based on the fact that the momentum of the runner doesn't allow for him to stop on first base. Some leagues allow a batter-runner to overrun first base on a walk or hit by pitch while others do not;
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    the pitcher
  • Legal pitching delivery - There are two legal pitching positions, the Windup Position and the Set Position. Either position may be used at any time:
    • Windup Position - The pitcher shall stand facing the batter, his pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate and the other foot free;
    • Set Position - The pitcher stands facing the batter with his pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate, and his other foot in front of, holding in front of his body the ball in both hands and coming to a complete stop;
    The relationship between pitcher and catcher is so important. Pitchers and catchers must coordinate each pitch. They communicate with a system of hand signals. Each one picher use different pitches to prevent the batter from hitting the ball well. The most usable is "fastball" - the pitcher throws the ball as hard as he can. Other usable types of pitching are curveball, slider, changeup, forkball, split-fingered fastball, and knuckleball.
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    the umpire
    The umpire is the person charged with officiating the game. He determines the beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions.
    In the game has two or more umpires:
  • the umpire in chief (or home-plate umpire) - is the umpire who is in charge of the entire game. He calls: balls and strikes; calls fair balls and foul balls short of first/third base; makes most calls concerning the batter or concerning baserunners near home plate;
  • base umpires - others umpires are commonly stationed near the bases. When there are two umpires on the field, the second one is called only "base umpire". It the umpires are more than two, they are called first base umpire, second base umpire and ect;
  • Crew chief - is usually the most experienced umpire in a crew;
  • Judgment calls - an umpire's judgment call is final, unless the umpire making the call.
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    the rules of scoring
    OFFICIAL SCORER - The scorer's primary role is to take the official record of action on the field - runs, hits, walks, errors. The scorer shall have sole authority to make all decisions involving judgment.
    OFFICIAL SCORE REPORT - A box score is a summary of the official scorer's game record. This record is used to compile statistics for each player and team. The information in the score report includes the date, location of the game, the names of the teams, the names of the umpires who officiated the game, the final score, and the data.
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