Baseball has a reputation for being complicated, and the full rulebook certainly is. But the core of the game is simple enough to explain in a few minutes. This guide covers the basic rules in plain English: how a game is structured, how runs and outs work, what counts as a ball, a strike or a foul, and the handful of special situations that confuse new fans.
Rules differ by league, age group and country. Youth and recreational leagues often shorten games and simplify some rules. We describe the standard version and note where things commonly change.
The goal of the game
Two teams take turns batting and fielding. The team that bats tries to score runs by hitting the ball and running around four bases, first, second, third and home, in that order. A run counts each time a runner touches all four bases before the third out. The team with more runs at the end of the game wins.
How a game is structured
A standard game is divided into innings. In each inning, each team gets one turn to bat. The visiting team bats first, in the "top" of the inning, and the home team bats in the "bottom." A turn ends when the batting team makes three outs.
A full game is usually nine innings. If the score is tied after nine, the game goes to extra innings until one team is ahead at the end of an inning. Some youth and recreational leagues play fewer innings, and many have time limits or run-difference rules, often called a mercy rule, that end a game early. Those vary by league.
The players
The fielding team has nine players on the field.
- Pitcher: throws the ball toward home plate.
- Catcher: crouches behind home plate to receive pitches.
- Infielders: first baseman, second baseman, shortstop and third baseman.
- Outfielders: left fielder, center fielder and right fielder.
Our guides to baseball positions explained and positions by number show where each player stands and how scorekeepers label them.
The batting team sends one batter to the plate at a time, in a set order called the batting order. Players who reach base become runners.
Balls, strikes and outs
Strikes
A pitch is a strike when:
- the batter swings and misses,
- the pitch passes through the strike zone and the batter does not swing, or
- the batter hits a foul ball (but with two strikes, a foul ball does not count as strike three unless it was a bunt attempt).
The strike zone is the area over home plate, roughly between the batter's knees and the midpoint of the torso. Umpires judge it. Three strikes and the batter is out.
Balls
A pitch outside the strike zone that the batter does not swing at is a ball. After four balls, the batter walks to first base.
Other ways to get out
- Fly out: a fielder catches a batted ball before it touches the ground.
- Ground out: a fielder fields a ground ball and throws it to first base before the batter gets there.
- Force out: a runner who must advance to the next base because the batter became a runner is out if a fielder with the ball touches that base first.
- Tag out: a fielder touches a runner with the ball (or the glove holding the ball) when the runner is not on a base.
A batter can also be out if the third strike is caught, and in some cases, such as an uncaught third strike, the batter may try to run to first base.
Fair and foul balls
A batted ball that lands, or is first touched by a fielder, inside the lines that run from home plate past first and third base is a fair ball. If it lands outside those lines, it is foul. Fair balls put the ball in play, and the batter becomes a runner. Foul balls count as strikes, with the exception noted above, and do not allow runners to advance unless a fielder catches the ball in the air, in which case the batter is out and runners may tag up.
A ball that goes over the outfield fence in fair territory is a home run. The batter and all runners on base score.
Running the bases
Once the batter becomes a runner, the objective is to reach the next base safely. Runners must touch each base in order, and they can be put out if tagged or forced while not touching a base.
Tagging up
When a fielder catches a fly ball, runners must return to their base and touch it after the catch before they can advance. This is called tagging up. Leaving too early and failing to return can result in an out.
Stealing bases
A runner can try to advance to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball. This is called a steal. If the runner reaches the base before the fielder tags him, it is a stolen base.
Walks and hit by pitch
A batter who gets four balls walks to first base. A batter who is hit by a pitch without trying to avoid it is also awarded first base. Other runners advance only if they are forced.
Special rules that confuse beginners
- Infield fly rule: a protection for runners against a defense that deliberately drops an easy pop-up. See our infield fly rule explained.
- Balk: an illegal move by the pitcher when runners are on base. Read our balk rule guide.
- Designated hitter: some leagues allow a hitter to bat in place of the pitcher. Professional leagues in the United States now use the rule in both major leagues, but amateur leagues vary.
- Dropped third strike: if the catcher fails to hold on to the third strike, the batter may be able to run to first, depending on the situation and league rules.
- Ground rules: local fields may have their own ground rules for balls that hit obstacles or roll out of play.
How scoring works
Each runner who crosses home plate before the third out scores one run. Runs can score on hits, walks with the bases loaded, errors, sacrifice flies and other plays. The team's total at the end of the game decides the winner. For the vocabulary used in broadcasts and scorebooks, see our baseball terms glossary.
A simple way to follow your first game
- Watch the count (balls and strikes) and the number of outs.
- Notice which bases have runners.
- Ask whether the force is on, because it changes which plays are possible.
- Follow the ball first, then the runners.
After a few innings, the rhythm of the game becomes easier to read.
For play in your own league, always follow the rulebook your league uses, because local rules can differ.
FAQ
What are the basic rules of baseball?
Two teams alternate batting and fielding over nine innings. The batting team scores by hitting the ball and running the bases, and the fielding team tries to make three outs. The team with the most runs wins.
How many innings are in a baseball game?
A standard game has nine innings. Youth and recreational leagues often play fewer, and tied games may go to extra innings.
How many strikes and balls make an out or a walk?
Three strikes make an out, and four balls make a walk to first base.
What is a fair ball in baseball?
A fair ball lands, or is first touched by a fielder, within the lines extending from home plate past first and third base. Anything outside those lines is foul.
Do all baseball leagues follow the same rules?
No. Professional, college, high school and youth leagues have differences in details such as game length, equipment and certain rules. Use the rulebook your league follows.