Coaching Youth Baseball Hitting
Understanding Baseball Fundamentals
The Playing Field
A baseball field is a combination of grass and dirt, shaped like a quarter-circle. The action is centered around a ninety-foot square called the infield, also known as the diamond. At each corner of the diamond is a base: first base, second base, third base, and home plate.
The large grassy area beyond the infield is the outfield. The game is played within two foul lines that run from home plate out past first and third base to the outfield wall. Any ball hit outside these lines is considered foul.
The Team on the Field
The defending team has nine players on the field at all times. Each has a specific job, but they all work together to prevent the other team from scoring. These positions are typically grouped into three categories: the battery, the infielders, and the outfielders.
The battery includes the pitcher and the catcher. They start every play. The pitcher throws the ball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher, who is positioned behind home plate.
The infielders protect the area around the bases. They are the first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, and shortstop. Their job is to field balls hit on the ground and make plays at the bases.
The outfielders cover the large grassy area beyond the infield. They are the left fielder, center fielder, and right fielder. They are responsible for catching balls hit in the air and fielding ground balls that get past the infielders.
| Position | Number | Primary Role |
|---|---|---|
| Pitcher | 1 | Throws the ball to the batter. |
| Catcher | 2 | Catches pitches and defends home plate. |
| First Baseman | 3 | Fields balls near first base. |
| Second Baseman | 4 | Fields balls between first and second base. |
| Third Baseman | 5 | Fields balls near third base. |
| Shortstop | 6 | Fields balls between second and third base. |
| Left Fielder | 7 | Covers the left side of the outfield. |
| Center Fielder | 8 | Covers the middle of the outfield. |
| Right Fielder | 9 | Covers the right side of the outfield. |
How the Game Works
The main goal in baseball is simple: score more runs than your opponent. A game is divided into nine periods called innings. In each inning, both teams get a turn to bat and try to score.
A run is scored when a player on the batting team advances around all three bases and touches home plate safely. To do this, a batter must first hit the ball into fair territory and run to first base before the defense can get them out.
The contest at the heart of baseball is between the pitcher and the batter.
The pitcher tries to throw the ball over home plate within a specific area called the strike zone. This is an imaginary box roughly between the batter's knees and chest.
If the batter swings at a pitch and misses, it’s a strike. If the batter doesn’t swing at a pitch that passes through the strike zone, it’s also a strike. If a pitch is outside the strike zone and the batter doesn't swing, it's a ball.
Three strikes, and the batter is out. This is called a strikeout. Four balls, and the batter gets to advance to first base automatically. This is called a walk.
A batting team's turn at bat ends when they get three outs.
Besides striking out, batters can be put out in other ways. If they hit a ball in the air and a fielder catches it before it hits the ground, it's a fly out. If they hit a ball on the ground and a fielder throws it to first base before the runner can get there, it's a ground out.
Once a team makes three outs, their turn at batting is over, and they switch to fielding. The other team then comes up to bat. After both teams have had their turn, the inning is complete. The team with the most runs after nine innings wins the game.
Ready to check your understanding?
Which of the following best describes the "infield" in baseball?
The group of players known as the "battery" consists of the pitcher and the catcher.
With these basics in mind, you have a solid foundation for understanding the flow and strategy of a baseball game.
