Baseball Overview and Rules

Baseball

• Definition: A team sport combining physical and mental skills, often called the "National Pastime" in the U.S.
• History: Rules established in 1845 by Alexander Cartwright; 20th century saw a rise in strategic play and home runs, significantly influenced by Babe Ruth.
• Gameplay Objective: To score more runs by hitting the ball and running around the bases (diamond shape).
• Key Positions: Pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, outfielders.
• Essential Skills: Throwing (grip, wind-up, delivery, follow-through), Pitching (wind-up and stretch positions), Hitting/Batting (grip, stance, stride, swing), Catching (glove control, ball tracking), and Base Running (speed, agility for effective base advancement).
• Rules: Nine innings per game; home team begins on defense, strike zone (from batter's knees to chest), outs recorded via catches, tags, or missed opportunities, reaches base via hits, walks, or errors.

Softball

• Definition: Similar to baseball; larger ball used, smaller field, underhand pitches.
• History: Term coined in 1926; Women's fast-pitch included in the Olympics in 1996 and reinstated in 2020.
• Types: Slowpitch (recreational) and Fastpitch (competitive, 9 players).
• Gameplay: Positions (pitcher, catcher, basemen, shortstop, outfielders), batting (sacrifice and slap bunts), terms (fly ball, pop fly, ground ball).
• Safety: Emphasis on proper gear and techniques for avoiding injuries.

Volleyball

• Definition: A team sport where players rally to send the ball over the net.
• History: Invented as "Mintonette" in 1895 by William Morgan; renamed Volleyball in 1896.
• Skills: Serve (underhand, topspin, float, jump serve), Pass (underhand "bump" or overhand), Set (preparing ball for attack), Spike/Attack (scoring by hitting ball over net), Block (offensive/defensive), Dig (preventing ball from hitting the ground after an attack).
• Rules: Court dimensions (18m x 9m), net height (2.43m men, 2.24m women), rally point system, scoring (first to 25 points, best of 5 sets), libero (defensive specialist).

Folk Dance

• Definition: Reflects cultural life, not including ritual dances.
• Classifications: Spanish-influenced, Cordillera, Muslim, Tribal, Rural styles.
• Examples: Pangalay (Tausug wedding dance), Sakuting (Cordillera stick dance), Tiklos (peasant cooperative dance).
• Common Terms: Saludo, stamp, clockwise, cut, hop.
• Benefits: Improves cardiovascular fitness, balance and coordination, and reduces stress.

Basketball

• Definition: A team sport where the goal is to score by shooting a ball into a basket.
• History: Invented in 1891 by James Naismith; NBA formed in 1949 from the NBL and BAA merger.
• Skills: Shooting (primary for points), Dribbling (advancing and controlling the ball), Passing (key to team play), Rebounding (gaining possession after missed shots), Running (essential for offense & defense).
• Rules & Equipment: Court dimensions, key areas, 3-point line, foul line, officials (referee, umpire, scorer, timer).
• Terms: Assist, dunk shot, goaltending, shuffle.

Test your knowledge about baseball, the National Pastime of the U.S. This quiz covers the history, gameplay, key positions, essential skills, and fundamental rules of the sport. Challenge yourself to see how well you understand the game of baseball!