Sports Study Music Kids Site and Search Games Movies Fun Kids

Kids Sports

Baseball: Rules for Making an Out and Running the Bases

Kids Sports >> Baseball >> Baseball Rules

Running the Bases


Making an Out


The offensive team gets to keep batting until they make three outs in an inning. Here are some ways that outs are made:
  • Striking out - If you get three strikes before you get a hit or get four balls, you are out.
  • Flying out - If you hit the ball in the air and the defense catches it, you are out.
  • Force out - If the player is forced to run to a base (like the hitter to first base or when another player is running to the base behind him), then you can get a force out by touching the base while holding the ball before the base runner does.
  • Tag out - Anytime the ball is live and the runner is not on the base, he may be tagged out by touching the player with the ball or with the hand or glove holding the ball.
  • Running outside the baseline - You may not run outside the baseline to avoid a tag. You must stay within the first base lane when running to first base.
  • Interference - when a base runner purposely disrupts the defensive play. Like running in the way of a throw or bumping into a player.

Running the Bases


Overrunning first base - When running to first base, a player can overrun first base and still be safe. They must not make an attempt to run to second. Once they make the attempt to run to second, they can be tagged upon returning to first base. This is to be determined by the umpire.

Touching the bases - A player must touch each of the bases. If a base is missed and the player has to go back to touch a base, the player must touch each of the bases on the way back as well. So if you missed second and had already touched third, you need to retouch third on your way back to second base.

Only one runner per base - Two runners may not be on the same base at the same time. If they are tagged then the lead runner is safe and the other runner is out.

Tagging up - After a ball is caught, the base runner may advance, however, they need to have contact with their current base after the ball is caught. This is called tagging up because runners often run back to their base and tag it right when the ball is caught. Then they take off for the next base. It is often used to score from third base on a pop up to the outfield. If they score, the hit is called a sacrifice fly and the batter is credited with an RBI.

Other


Infield fly rule - The rule is to stop the defense from intentionally dropping an infield pop-up in order to make a double play. The umpire will call the rule while the ball is in the air and the hitter will be out regardless of whether the ball is caught or not. The rule is only called when there are less than two outs and there is a force play at third base.

More Kids Baseball Links:

Rules
Baseball Rules
Baseball Field
Equipment
Umpires and Signals
Fair and Foul Balls
Hitting and Pitching Rules
Making an Out
Strikes, Balls, and the Strike Zone
Substitution Rules
Positions
Player Positions
Catcher
Pitcher
First Baseman
Second Baseman
Shortstop
Third Baseman
Outfielders
Strategy
Baseball Strategy
Fielding
Throwing
Hitting
Bunting
Types of Pitches and Grips
Pitching Windup and Stretch
Running the Bases

Biographies
Derek Jeter
Albert Pujols
Jackie Robinson
Joe Mauer
Tim Lincecum

Professional Baseball
MLB (Major League Baseball)
List of MLB Teams

Other
Baseball Glossary
Keeping Score
Statistics

Back to Baseball

Back to Sports for Kids

Kid's Poll

Which of these cities would you most like to visit on vacation?
New York City
Paris
London
Tokyo
Rome




Vote on more Kids Polls!


Joke of the Day

Q: Knock, knock----Who's There?----Ashe----Ashe who?

A: Bless you!


Today In History

Who was born on this day:
1952 Mr. T (Actor)
1981 Josh Hamilton (Baseball player)

What happened today in history:
1881 The American Red Cross is established by Clara Barton.
1927 Charles Lindbergh completes the first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean.