Q&A for How to Play Baseball

As a new player, it's best to learn how to play every position. That makes it a lot easier to figure out what you enjoy and what you're good at. It also makes it much easier for the coach to find a way to play you, since they know you can play every position.

There is no such thing as a "division" in a baseball game. (There are "divisions" within certain baseball leagues or conferences.) If you're asking about the units into which a baseball game is divided, they are called "innings." There are nine innings in a standard game (usually less at younger ages or in the game of softball).

Typically nine players on each team play at any one time. A team using a designated hitter will have ten players in the game. Younger teams might use an additional outfielder too, bringing the possible total to eleven.

A pop-up is a ball hit into the air above (or near) the infield. It is typically (but not always) easy to catch.

The coach or manager can remove a player from a game at any time simply by notifying the umpire that he is removing that player and substituting another player. Generally speaking, once a player leaves a game, he may not re-enter it (unless the governing league specifically permits this).

If you're asking about the number of players on a team's roster, there is no standard number. American Major League teams usually consist of 25 active players (and maybe some additional "inactive" players). If you're asking about the number of players participating in a game at one time, the standard number is nine (ten when a designated hitter is used). Younger-age teams (as well as some softball teams) may use an additional outfielder.

It depends on how many umpires are working. If there is only one, he will stand behind the pitcher. If there are two umpires, one will stand behind the catcher, and the "base umpire" will stand near the base most likely to see the next play made. If there are four, one will be behind the plate and the other three will stand near the bases. In especially important games, there can be two extra umpires to cover each foul line in the outfield.

A point, or "run," is counted every time a runner crosses home plate. Up to four runs can be counted in a single play - which would occur when a batter hits a home run while three teammates are on base.

Softball is a game very similar to baseball. A "softball" is used, which is larger and softer than a baseball. The pitcher delivers pitches "underhand" rather than "overhand" as in baseball. Some softball leagues allow its teams to employ a fourth outfielder. There are a few other, minor differences between the two games.

If a runner is forced to leave a base because another runner approaches that base, the first runner must advance to the next base: first to second, second to third, or third to home.

Find a local baseball league -- you can search for them online -- and sign yourself up. You will then be automatically assigned to a team at the start of the baseball season.

Play any infield position in practice. Show a strong arm. If you do well, the coach will notice. Tell him you'd like a chance to play shortstop.

Outfielders catch fly balls and ground balls and throw them to an infielder.

That is a player who only bats and runs bases in a game and does not play defense. A designated hitter usually takes the place of the pitcher in a team's batting order (although the DH could take the place of any other teammate in the batting order if the coach so chooses).

As with other sports and games, the point is to have fun. Some people very much enjoy watching and/or playing baseball. Specifically within the context of a game, the point is that two teams compete to score the most points (or "runs") within a specified number of scoring opportunities (known as "innings.")

A "dinger" is a particularly hard-hit ball, especially a home run. "Slapping a dinger" means making good contact with a pitch and hitting it hard, usually into (or beyond) the outfield.

Games at older age levels normally consist of nine innings (or more if a game is tied after nine innings). At younger levels games often consist of six or seven innings.

Grip the ball along the seams, then place your thumb under the ball and squeeze it, then wind up and release the ball.

A ground ball, or grounder, is a batted ball that rolls or bounces in the infield. If a fielder gets the ball and throws it to first base before the batter gets there, the batter is out.

If a batter is hit by a pitch, he is awarded first base. This assumes the pitch was not a strike. If the pitch hits the batter while it is in the strike zone, the batter is not awarded first base. Also if in the umpire's opinion the batter makes no effort to avoid being hit, he will not be awarded the base.

The rules state that a batter hit by a pitch (that he attempts to avoid) is automatically awarded first base. There is no provision for a batter's refusal to go to first base. However, umpires are in charge of the game and could probably make any ruling they wanted, including allowing a hit batter to continue to bat, but that would be extremely unusual.

Sliding means finishing your run to a base by falling to the ground and sliding into the base to make it harder for an opponent to tag you with the ball. See Perform a Baseball Slide .

The infield is the square formed by home plate and the three bases. It is also considered to be the area just outside that square.

Normally there are two offensive players on the field at one time (plus a couple of coaches). The batter is at home plate, and the "on deck" hitter (the next player to hit) will stand in or near the "on deck circle" not too far from home plate. There also may be up to three offensive players on the bases. The rest of the offensive team is required to remain in their dugout in foul territory.

It's not possible to say any one person invented the game. Modern baseball evolved out of a number of earlier bat-and-ball games.

It's really similar. The difference is that tee ball uses a tee when you bat, while baseball doesn't.

You can't play baseball by yourself, but if you want to get better at it, get somebody to throw you some baseballs and improve your batting and catching.

Check sites with listings of local amateur leagues, such as Sportsvite.

Because baseball is divided into innings, not quarters or halves, there is no "half-time." However, there are breaks that occur between inning halves, and much shorter breaks between each batter and each individual pitch.

Only one batter stands at home plate at any given time. A team typically has nine batters actively involved in a game (ten in some leagues or in lower-level play).