Video Baseball Rules in Plain English

Baseball Rules Video - Order Page

This video can be used in training clinics, or for experienced umpires who want further explanations of the rules.

This video provides live action views of the "real world" application and intent of the rules.

It is 94 minutes long and covers many topics. (Listed below)

To view samples of the video click the links below;

  Pitching Rules video sample

  Infield Fly Rule video sample

  Fair or Foul Ball video sample

  Runner hit by a batted ball video sample

  Runner Interference video sample

The purpose of this video is to present the rules of baseball in a plain and simple, real life manner. It is intended to take the viewer through each type of action that occurs during a game so it can be witnessed and simply state what the ruling is. It is also intended to present the "unwritten" rules, or in other words, the way the call is made in the real world versus the letter of the rule. These "unwritten" rules are actually written in umpire manuals and casebooks, but are not written in the actual rulebook. It is assumed that the reader has played the game and at least knows the basics of the game.  This video should be used in conjunction with the Official Rules of Baseball. It does not contain every rule that is in the official rulebook.

Rules were made for a purpose and one needs to understand the purpose of a rule and make judgments according to that purpose and not necessarily according to the letter or exact wording of a rule. An umpire's job is to make sure that one team does not get an unfair advantage over the other within the scope and intent of the rules of the game. A good umpire does not enforce every rule to the letter of the rule. There are many interpretations and judgments that are not even in the rulebook that have simply become accepted rulings or practices through time. These types of things will be presented in this video.

The Official Rules of Baseball does not contain explanations for every situation. A manual is given to professional umpires that give them guidelines and interpretations of many rules. These interpretations are not stated in the rulebook, but are stated in the N.A.P.B.L. Umpire Manual published by The Professional Baseball Umpire Corps (PBUC) of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues (N.A.P.B.L.) and the MLB Umpire Manual. Many of these interpretations are included in this video.

Topics covered

 THE BATTER

        STEPPING IN/OUT OF THE BOX.

        SWITCHING BOXES.

        HITTING HIT BY PITCH

        A SWING

        Throwing the bat on a swing..

        Bunting

        Foul-tip.

        Touched by batted ball.

        Outside the box..

        Batted ball hits home plate.

        Dropped third strike.

        Sliding into first.

        Overrunning first base.

        Interference by the batter..

        Running Lane.

        Fair/Foul Ball.

        Bases awarded to the batter.

    The Runner.

        Entitled to a base.

        Forced to advance.

        Infield Fly affects runners.

        Missing or not retouching the bases.

        Appeals.

        Fourth out.

        Award of bases Rule 7.05.

        Out of baseline.

        Must avoid a fielder.

        Interference by the runner.

        Interference by coaches or other players.

        Hit by batted ball.

        Passes another runner.

  The Fielders.

        Must be in fair territory.

        Catch/No Catch - Rule 2.00.

        Legal tag of runner or base.

        Obstruction (interference on the runner by the fielder)

The Pitcher.

        Pitching positions.

        Balks.

Scoring Runs.

        Types of plays that affect scoring.