BASEBALL

 Baseball is considered to be an old version of the

game of rounder
 Is closely related and similar to both the game of
softball and rounder in techniques and tactics.
 First official baseball game is recorded as having
taken place in Cooperstown New York in
America in 1839.
 Introduced and played by early American
settlers.
 Abner Doublesday, an American was the first
American to organize the game of baseball.
 Baseball is spread widely in North America and
it’s the most popular sport in America.
 American soldiers spread baseball to other
countries during the first and Second World War.
 Today baseball is played in Asia, central and
south America and Africa.

1
 Its played in more than 106 countries around the
world
 International body that runs baseball is called
international association of baseball federation.
 Baseball is currently an Olympic sport.

BASEBALL IN KENYA

 Baseball was made popular in Kenya by visiting

American and Japanese coaches.
 A Japanese coach attached to national youth
service helped to train various players and
coaches who have helped to spread the game in
schools.
 Kenya baseball and softball manages the sport in
Kenya.

The game.

2
 baseball is a game between two teams of nine
players each who alternate between offense and
defense
 The objective of each team is to win by scoring
more runs at the conclusion of the game.
 The visiting team bats first.
 The game consist of nine innings unless extended
because of a tie score or shortened

EQUIPMENTS

BALL
 white ball
 sphere
 3 inches in diameter with red stitching
 Smaller than softball
 Rubber or similar material

BAT
 smooth, round stick made of wood
3
 aluminum or metal at amateur levels
 no colored bat unless approved
 Not more than 42 inches in length.
 Not more than 2.61 inches in diameter

PLAYERS UNIFORM
 wear uniforms
 Identical in color.
 Should have numbers on the back.
 Have two sets of uniform, white for home games
and different color for road games.
 May have names on the back

PLAYING EQUIPMENTS
 bases
 pitchers plate
 Baseball.
 Bats
4
 Uniforms
 Catchers mitts
 First baseman gloves
 Protective helmet

Definition of terms

5
 a balk- is an illegal act by the pitcher with a
runner or runners on the bases entitling all
runners to advance to one base.
 A ball –is a pitch which does not enter the
strike zone in flight and is not struck at by the
batter.
 A base-is one of the four points which must
touched by a runner in order to score a run
(marked by rubber plate)
 A base on balls-is an award of first base
granted to a batter who during his time at bat
receives four pitches outside the strike zone.
 A batter is an offensive player who takes his
position in the batters box.
 batter runner- is a term that identifies the
offensive player who has just finished his time at
bat until he is put out or until the play on which
he became a runner ends.
 Battery-is the pitcher and catcher.

6
 bench/dug out-seating facilities reserved for
players, substitutes.
 A bunt- is a batted ball not swung at but
intentionally met with the bat and tapped slowly
within the infield.
 catcher-is the fielder who takes his position at
the back of the home base.
 Dead ball-is a ball out of play because of a
legally created temporary suspension of play.
 Foul tip- is a batted ball that goes sharp and
direct from the bat to the catchers hand and is
legally caught.
 An inning-is that portion of a game within
which the teams alternate on offense and defense
and in which there are three put out for each
team.
- Each team’s time at bat is a half inning.
 A pitch- is a ball delivered to the batter by the
pitcher.

7
 Squeeze play-is a term to designate a play
when a team with a runner on third base attempts
to score that runner by means of a bunt.
 fly ball-is a batted ball that goes high in the
air in flight.
 A force play-is a play in which a runner
legally loses his right to occupy a base by reasons
of the batter becoming a runner.
 foul ball-is a batted ball that settles on foul
territory between first base or between home and
third base
 An illegal pitch is (1) pitch delivered to the
batter when the pitcher does not have his foot in
contact with the pitchers plate.(2) a quick return
pitch-when runners on base is a balk.
 infield fly-is a fair fly ball which can be
caught by an infielder with an ordinary
effort,when 1st,2nd,3rd, bases are occupied before
two are out.

8
 safe-is a declaration by the umpire that a
runner is entitled to the base for which he was
trying.
 A tag-is the action of a fielder in touching a
base with his body while holding the ball
securely and firmly in his hand.
 or touching a runner with the ball or with his
hand or glove holding the ball
 throw-the act of propelling the ball with the
hand and arm to a given objective it should be
distinguished from pitching
 time-is the announcement by an umpire of a
legal interruption of play during which the ball is
dead.
 wild pitch-is one so high,so low or so wide of
the plate that it cannot be handled with ordinary
effort by the catcher.
 quick return pitch-is one made with obvious
intent to catch a batter of balance,its an illegal
pitch.
9
  retouch-is the act of a runner in returning to a
base as legally required.
 runner-is an offensive player who is
advancing toward or touching or returning to any
base.
 strike-is a legal pitch when so called by the
umpire when the ball
 is struck at by the batter and is missed.
 Is not struck at.if any part of the ball
passes thro any part of the strike zone
 Is fouled by the batter when he has less
than two strikes.
 Is a bunted foul
 Touches the batter as he strikes at it.
 Touches the batter in flight in the strike
zone
 Becomes a foul tip

Putting the ball in play (live ball)

10
 at the start the umpires calls” play”
 After the umpire calls play the ball is alive and in
play and remains alive and in play until for a
legal cause or at the umpires call of “time”,
suspending play, the ball becomes dead.
 While the ball is dead
 No player may be put out.
 No bases may be run.
 No runs may be scored.
EXCEPT
 That runner may advance one or more bases as a
result of acts which occurred while the ball was
alive e.g.
 a balk
 An over throw.
 Interference.
 A home run.
 Fair ball hit out of the playing field.
 The pitcher shall deliver the pitch to the batter
who may elect to strike or not.
11
 Offensive team objective is to have its batter
become a runner and its runners advance.
 Defensive objective is to prevent offensive
players from becoming runners and to prevent
their advance around bases.
 When a batter becomes a runner and touches all
bases legally he shall score one run for his team.
 When three offensive players are legally put out
that team takes field and the opposing team
becomes the offensive team.
The ball becomes dead and runner advance
one base or return to their bases without
liability to be put out when

 Pitched ball touches the batter or his clothing.

 Plate umpires interfere with the catchers throw
attempting to prevent a stolen base.
 A balk is committed runners advance.
 Ball is illegally batted runners return.

12
  A foul ball is not caught, in which case runners
return to their bases.
 A fair ball touches runner or an umpire on fair
territory before it touches an infielder.
 A pitched ball lodges in the umpires or catchers
mask and remains out of play.
 Any legal pitch touches a runner trying to
score; runners advance.

The pitcher
 is the defensive player who put the ball into play
from the pitching plate at the centre of the
diamond
 there are two legal pitching position
(a) Windup position
(b) Set position
Either position may be used

Rules

13
Windup position
- Stand facing the batter.
- His pivot foot in contact with the pitchers plate
and other foot free.
- Not raise either foot from the ground EXCEPT
during delivery he may take one step backward
or one step forward with free foot.
- Hold the ball with both hands in front of his
body.

Set position
 The pitcher shall step ahead of the throw.
 Pitcher shall take signs from the catcher.
 Pitcher must indicate visually to the umpire and
the batter the hand he intends to use during the
pitch (wear glove to the other hand)
 Once on the plate not allowed to touch the ball
after touching his mouth or lips or blowing, the
umpire may call a ball.
Not allowed to –
14
 expectorate on the ball either hand or glove.
 rub the ball on his glove, person or clothing
 apply any foreign substances on the ball.
 deface the ball in any manner.
 deliver a ball altered in any manner
- Penalty-the pitcher shall be ejected.
 Intentionally delay the game by throwing the ball
to players other than the catcher, when the batter
is in position.
 Pitching at batters head is unsportsmanlike and
highly dangerous.
 Deliver the ball within 12 seconds after he
receives the ball (when the bases are unoccupied)
 Not allowed to feint a throw and fails to complete
a throw.
 Not allowed to make an illegal pitch e.g. a quick
pitch.
 Should face the batter.
 Must be in contact with pitchers plate.
 Unnecessarily delays the game.
15
  Not allowed to pitch when the catcher is not in
the catcher’s box.
 The pitcher delivers the pitch from the set
position without coming to a stop.
 The pitcher while touching his plate accidentally
or intentionally drops the ball
 Ball passes over the strike zone.
 Strike position between the knee and the shoulder
of the batter

How a team scores

A run- is scored when a runner legally advances
to and touches 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and home base before
three men are put out to end the inning.
EXCEPT
A run is not scored if runner advances to home
base during a play in which the third out is made
by
(a) By the batter runner before he touches 1st base.
(b) By runner being forced out
16
 BATTER
 Each player of the offensive shall bat following
the batting order.
 The first batter in each inning after the first
inning is the player who follows that of the last
player.
 Take position in the batting box without delay.
 Should not leave the box when the pitcher is
ready or in set position.
 If the batter does not take his proper position
before three strikes have been called, the batter
shall be declared out
 Should be in contact with the box with at least
one foot/both feet
-
- Instances when he may move out of the
batting box
 Batter swings at a pitch.
 Batter is forced out of the batters box by a pitch.
17
 A member of either team requests and is granted
time
 Batter feints a bunt
 A wild pitch or passed ball occurs.
 The catcher leaves the catchers box to give
defensive signals
N.B in case he leaves the umpire may call for
strike without pitcher delivering the ball.

When the batter is put out of the game

 his fair or foul fly ball is legally caught by a

fielder
 Third strike is legally caught by the catcher.
 A third strike is not caught by the catcher when
the first base is occupied before two are out.
 He bunts foul on third strike.
 An infield fly is declared.
 He attempts to hit a third strike and the ball
touches him.
18
 His fair ball touches him before touching a
fielder.
 After hitting or bunting a fair for the second time
 After a third strike or after hitting a fair ball the
first base is tagged before he touches the first
base
 A member of his team interferes with defense
team.
 Running outside about 3 ft away from the line
 After hitting or bunting a ball that continues to
move over foul territory he intentionally deflects
the course of the ball in any manner while
running to the first base.

A batter is out for illegal action

 Batting while outside the box.

 Changing the boxes when the pitcher is ready.
 Interferes with the catchers fielding or throwing
by stepping out of the batters box or making
19
 movements that hinders the catchers play at
home base.
 He uses or attempts to use a bat that in the
umpire judgment has been altered or tampered in
such away to improve the distance factor or
cause unusual reaction on the baseball e.g. bats
filled, flat surfaced,nailed,hollowed,grooved or
covered with substance such as paraffin, wax etc.
 Batting out of turn-not adhering to the order.

When does a batter becomes a runner

 when he hits a fair ball

 Third strike called by the umpire is not caught,
providing the 1st base, is unoccupied or 1st base
occupied with two out.
 Fair ball having passed a fielder
 Fair ball passes over a fence or into the stands
beyond 250 ft (scores a home run) he touches all
the bases legally.
20
 Four balls have been called by the umpire.
 When the catcher or any fielder interferes with
him
 He is touched by a pitched ball which he is not
attempting to hit

RUNNER

 A runner acquires the right to unoccupied base

when he touches it before he is out-entitled to it
until he is put out or forced to vacate it, for
another runner legally entitled to that base.
 Shall touch 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and home base in that
order, if forced to return he shall retouch all
bases in reverse order.
 Two runners may not occupy one base while the
ball is alive
 If a runner is forced to advance by reason of the
batter becoming a runner and the two runners are
touching a base the preceding runner is forced.
21
 Each runner other than the batter may without
liability to be put out, advance one base when
there is a balk.
When a runner may advance without liability to
be put out
 When there is a balk.
 Batter advances without liability to be put out
forces the runners to vacate their bases.
 A fielder after catching a fly ball falls into a
bench or stand or outside the field of play (the
ball is dead).
 Batter interfered with by the catcher or any other
fielder in the field.
 A fielder deliberately touches a pitched ball with
his cap, mask or any part of his uniform detached
from its proper place on his person (3 bases)
 If a fair ball goes out of the playing area in flight
and he touches all bases legally scoring a run.
 If the fielder deliberately throws his glove at and
touches a fair ball (2 bases).
22
 If a fair ball bounces or is deflected into the
stands outside.(2 bases)
 If a fielder deliberately throws his glove at and
touches the thrown ball (2 bases)
 Any obstruction from the fielders

When is a runner put out?

 Runs more than 3 ft away from his baseline to

avoid being tagged.
 After touching first base he leaves the baseline,
obviously abandoning his effort to touch the next
base.
 Intentionally interferes with a thrown ball or
hinders a fielder attempting to make a play on a
batted ball.
 He is tagged when the ball is alive while off his
base except a batter runner cannot be tugged out
after over running or over sliding first base.

23
 He fails to retouch his base after a fair or foul
ball is legally caught before he or his base is
tagged by the fielder (runners may steal on foul
tip if a so called tip is not caught
 He or the next base is tagged before he touches
the next base after he has been forced to advance
by reason of the batter becoming a runner.
 He is touched by fair ball in fair territory before
the ball has touched or passed an infielder (ball is
dead)
 He passes preceding runner before such runner is
out.
 Attempts to score on a play in which the batter is
put out (interference)
 After acquiring a legal position in the field he
runs in reverse order for the purpose of confusing
defense.
 He fails to return at once to first base after over
running or over sliding that base. If attempts to
run to second he is out when tagged.
24
 A play on him is being made and a member of
his team (other than a runner) hinders a fielders
attempt to field a thrown ball.

Ball becomes dead when the umpire calls time

 his judgement on weather,darkness or similar

conditions.
 When an accident incapacitates a player or an
umpire.
 When a manager requests time for ssubstitution
or conference.
 Umpire wishes to examine the ball to consult
with either manager.
 Fielder catches the ball and then falls into a
bench or stand.
 When an umpire orders a player or any other
person removed from the playing field
25
 Match officials

umpires

 Responsible for the conduct of the game.

 Maintaining discipline and order.
 Authorized and required to enforce all these rules
 Authority to rule on any point not covered in
these rules.
 Can disqualify any player, coach, manager or
substitute.
 Can eject from the playing field any person who
is not legalized e.g. spectators, photographers,
newsmen, etc.
 Umpire decision is final.
 No umpire shall criticize, seek to reverse or
interfere another umpire decision .should always
consult to rectify.

26
 No umpire may be replaced during a game unless
he is injured or becomes ill.

chief Umpire

 shall stand behind the catcher (usually called the

plate umpire) his duties are
 Take full charge/responsible for proper conduct
of the game.
 Call and count balls, and strike.
 Call and declare fair balls and fouls.
 Make all decisions on the batter.
 Make all decision except those reserved for the
field umpires
 Decide when a game shall be forfeited
 Decide on time limits before the game starts.
 Inform the official scorer of the official batting
order, any changes in the line ups and the batting
order on request.

27
 Announce any special ground rules at his
discretion.

Field umpire
 take any position on the playing field
Duties
 Makes all decisions on the bases EXCEPT those
reserved to the umpire in chief.
 Work hard in hand with the chief to enforce all
the rules and maintain discipline

28
29
30