# Law 6: Definition of Terms (Official Baseball Rules)

Baseball · Law 6: Definition of Terms · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/baseball/laws/law-6-definition-of-terms/)

The words the rules are written in: balls, strikes and the strike zone, the pitcher's terms, fair and foul balls, catches and the infield fly, double plays, interference, obstruction, substitutes and the run difference rule.

## 6.61 Pitches, Strikes and Balls

The strike zone, balls and strikes, the half swing, and the pitcher's terms from the balk to the set position.

### Test 1: Balls, strikes and the strike zone

- A pitch that touches the ground and bounces through the strike zone is a ball. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.3)
- The zone runs from the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the pants down to the bottom of the kneecaps. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.78)
- Unlike MLB's pure judgement, the WBSC rule sets a test: a half swing is a strike if the barrel head passes the front hip. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.38)
- If the batter swings at a pitch that struck the ground in front of him, it is a strike if he misses and in play if he hits it. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.77.2)
- A foul not caught counts as a strike only while the batter has fewer than two strikes. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.77.3)
- An attempted bunt that goes foul and is not legally caught is a strike, whatever the count, so here it is strike three. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.77.4)
- A pitch in the zone that touches the batter is a strike; the ball is dead, no runner advances and he does not take first. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.77.5)
- Shoulders first; the upper edge of the zone next; then the waistband of the pants; the kneecaps lowest. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.78)
- A base on balls is also awarded when the opposing manager signals the plate umpire for an intentional walk; no pitches are needed. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.6)
- Any part of the ball passing over the plate between the bottom of the kneecaps and the top of the zone is a strike, judged as it crosses the plate. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.77.2, 6.78)

### Test 2: The pitcher's terms

- A balk is an illegal act by the pitcher while there are runners on base. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.2)
- On a balk every runner moves up one base. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.2)
- The battery is the pitcher and the catcher. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.10)
- The pivot foot is the one on the rubber as the pitch is delivered: the left foot for a left-hander, the right for a right-hander. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.66)
- A quick pitch is an illegal pitch with the obvious intent of catching the batter off balance. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.68)
- A pitch without the pivot foot on the rubber is an illegal pitch, and with runners on base an illegal pitch is a balk. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.41)
- A wild pitch is so high, low or wide that the catcher cannot handle it with ordinary effort; a catchable ball he misses is not one. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.88)
- In the set position the time of pitch is when he begins his natural motion after coming set with both hands together. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.75, 6.85.2)
- Within an at-bat a pitcher may notify the umpire of a switch to the windup only after a runner advances or an offensive substitution. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.75)
- With runners on, a pitcher standing like this is presumed to be in the set position unless he told the umpire he would use the windup. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.75)

## 6.62 Batted Balls and Catches

Fair and foul balls, kinds of batted ball, in flight, the catch and the infield fly.

### Test 1: Fair balls, foul balls and batted balls

- A ball that first falls on fair ground on or beyond first or third base is fair, wherever it rolls afterwards. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.26.3)
- A batted ball off the pitcher's rubber that rebounds untouched into foul territory between home and first or third is foul. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.34.6)
- A fly is judged by the position of the ball relative to the foul line, not by whether the fielder is on fair or foul ground. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.26.4)
- A ball that hits the top of the fence in fair territory and bounces over is a home run. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.26.6)
- A batted ball that hits the ground or plate and then the batter in the box is foul. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.34.5)
- A line drive goes sharp and direct from the bat to a fielder without touching the ground. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.51)
- A ball is in flight until it touches the ground or an object other than a player; an umpire is not a player. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.43)
- From U-15 up, the three-foot lane covers the last 45 feet to first base; the foul pole stands at the fence beyond it. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 2.1)
- A foul tip goes sharp and direct from the bat to the catcher and is legally caught; it is a strike and the ball stays alive. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.36)
- A ball that settles on foul ground between home plate and first base is foul, even if it bounced in fair territory first. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.34.1)

### Test 2: Catches and the infield fly

- A catch requires the fielder to hold the ball long enough to show complete control. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.15)
- A catch stands when a fielder ends up with secure possession, even after another fielder touched or juggled it, if no offensive player or umpire touched it. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.15)
- It is not a catch if the fielder is touching dead-ball territory when he makes it. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.15)
- An infield fly needs runners on first and second, or the bases loaded, before two are out. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.45)
- The infield fly rule covers a fair fly, not including a line drive or an attempted bunt. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.45)
- If the ball is near the baselines the umpire adds 'If Fair', because its status depends on where it ends up. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.45)
- Ordinary effort is what a fielder of average skill at that position should do, allowing for field and weather conditions. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.57)
- A declared infield fly that falls outside the base line but bounces fair before passing first or third base is an infield fly. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.45)
- The ball stays alive; as on any fly, runners may retouch and advance once the ball has been touched. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.45)
- If a fielder catches the ball and drops it while attempting a throw, it is still a catch. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.15)

## 6.63 Plays and People

Double and triple plays, the fielder's choice, interference and obstruction, substitutes and the run difference rule.

### Test 1: Plays and the people in them

- A double play puts two offensive players out as a result of continuous action, with no error between the putouts. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.23)
- In a force double play both putouts are force outs; in a reverse one the first is a force and the second a tag. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.23.1)
- A fielder's choice is playing a fair grounder to retire another runner rather than throwing to first for the batter-runner. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.29)
- Defensive interference is a fielder, usually the catcher, hindering or preventing the batter from hitting a pitch. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.48.2)
- A pinch runner is an eligible substitute, not in the line-up, who runs for a player listed in it. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.63)
- A disqualified player is no longer eligible but has not been ejected, for example an injured or a substituted player. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.22)
- A team losing by ten or more runs after batting at least five innings ends the game; U-12 also has fifteen after four. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.71.2)
- A run down can end with no out, a force out is one, a double play two and a triple play three. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.72, 6.23, 6.87)
- The first out is a force at third; that removes the force at home, so the second out needs a tag: a reverse double play. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.23.2)
- Obstruction is a fielder who, not holding the ball and not fielding it, impedes the progress of a runner. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 6.54)

Sources: WBSC Official Rules of Baseball 2025-2026, Rule 6 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

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