# Law 7: Game: Beginning and Ending (Official Baseball Rules)

Baseball · Law 7: Game: Beginning and Ending · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/baseball/laws/law-7-game-beginning-and-ending/)

How a game starts, the batting order, interference by people outside the play, base coaches, the positions of the fielders, substitutions, regulation, called, suspended and tied games, forfeits, protests and the fight rule.

## 7.71 Starting the Game

'Play', the batting order from inning to inning, outside interference, base coaches and fielders' positions.

### Test 1: Starting the game, the batting team, positions and base coaches

- The game begins when the plate umpire, the umpire-in-chief, calls 'Play'; from then the ball is alive. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.1)
- Each inning after the first opens with the player listed after the last one who legally completed his time at bat. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.2.2)
- A kick or push by anyone other than players, coaches or umpires is intentional interference: the ball is dead and the umpire awards what would have happened. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.3.1)
- That is unintentional interference: the ball remains alive and in play. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.3.2)
- The team at bat stations two base coaches in uniform, one in each coach's box, at first and third base. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.4.1)
- All fielders except the catcher must be in fair territory when the ball is put in play. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.5)
- The catcher keeps both feet within the lines of his box until the pitch is released; otherwise it is a balk and runners advance. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.5.1)
- Upon complaint the rule is enforced strictly: a warning, an order back into the box, and removal if the coach will not go. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.4.2)
- With the defence in position and the first batter in the box, the umpire-in-chief calls 'Play' and the ball comes alive. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7)
- On complaint the umpire first warns the coach and tells him to return to the box; only a coach who refuses is removed. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.4.2)

## 7.72 Substitutions

Nine players, replacing a pitcher, courtesy runners, unannounced substitutes and re-entry.

### Test 1: Substitutions

- Each team must always have nine eligible players in the game. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.6.1)
- A pitcher must face the batter at bat until that batter is out or reaches first base, or the side is retired, unless he is hurt or ill. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.6.2)
- WBSC asks a substitute pitcher to finish only the current batter's time at bat (or the inning), unless he is injured or ill. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.6.2)
- A runner may not be replaced by a player who is or has been in that game's batting order; courtesy runners are out. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.6.6)
- A player substituting for an injured team-mate, other than the pitcher, is allowed five warm-up throws. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.6.8)
- A player once removed from a game shall not re-enter it in any capacity. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.6.10)
- A withdrawn player may sit on the bench, warm up pitchers and act as a base coach. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.6.9)
- With a multiple substitution the manager names each player's batting spot at once; the umpire records and announces the changes. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.6.5, 7.6.7)
- The umpire-in-chief directs the manager to take the player out as soon as he notices or is informed. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.6.10)
- An unannounced substitute pitcher becomes a legal player when he engages the rubber; plays made by or on him are legal. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.6.7.2)

## 7.73 Regulation, Called and Suspended Games

How long a game is, extra innings, called and suspended games and how a game ends.

### Test 1: Regulation games and called games

- A regulation game is six, seven or nine innings; Appendix 1 sets the number for each WBSC event. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.7.1)
- Play goes on until the visitors lead at the end of a completed inning, or the home team scores the winning run. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.7.2)
- A called nine-inning game is regulation once five innings are complete. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.7.3.1)
- For six- and seven-inning games, four completed innings make a called game regulation. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.7.3.1)
- If a regulation game is called with the score tied, it becomes a suspended game. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.7.4)
- A game called before it is regulation is declared 'No Game', unless Rule 7.8 makes it a suspended game. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.7.5)
- If the home team is ahead when the visitors complete the last inning, the game is over without the home half. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.7.6.1)
- Four, five, six and nine. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.7.1, 7.7.3)
- Umpires wait at least 30 minutes before calling a game; a called game ends at the moment play is terminated. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 5.1, 7.7.7)
- A called nine-inning game is regulation if the home team, in four and a fraction half-innings, has more runs than the visitors in five. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.7.3.2)

### Test 2: Suspended games and the end of the game

- A curfew imposed by law is one of the reasons a game is suspended and finished later. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.8.1.1)
- A light failure or a fault in field equipment under the home team's control makes the game a suspended game. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.8.1.3)
- A suspended game resumes at the exact point of suspension; its completion is a continuation of the original game. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.8.2)
- The line-up and batting order of both teams are as they stood at the moment of suspension. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.8.2)
- All individual and team averages from a tie game are incorporated into the official playing record. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.9)
- The score of a regulation game is the total runs each team has scored at the moment the game ends. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.7.6)
- Darkness, when a law prevents the lights from being turned on, is one of the reasons for a suspended game. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.8.1.4)
- A suspended game is completed later, starting where it stopped, as a continuation of the same game. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.8.1, 7.8.2)
- The game ends when the visitors are ahead at the end of a completed inning. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.7.2.1)
- When the home team scores the winning run in its half of an extra inning, the game ends immediately. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.7.6.3)

## 7.74 Forfeits, Protests and Fights

When a game is forfeited, how a protest works, and the WBSC fight rule.

### Test 1: Forfeits, protests and the fight rule

- A team that refuses to take the field within five minutes of 'Play' forfeits, unless the delay is unavoidable. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.11.1)
- A game is forfeited to the opponents when a team cannot or will not put nine players on the field. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.11.6)
- If both teams are equally to blame, or neither has enough players, a double forfeit is declared. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.11.7)
- Protests are for decisions said to break the rules; no protest is allowed on a judgement call. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.12)
- A protest must be made at the time of the play that caused it and before any play is resumed. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.12.1)
- If the play did not affect the outcome, no part of the game is replayed even when the protest is upheld. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.12.3)
- Fighting is an 'A' level infraction: a suspension of at least three games and up to two years, and a fine. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.13)
- The umpire-in-chief allows the protest, announces the game is under protest to managers, scorer and announcer, and records the situation. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.12.1, 7.12.2)
- A forfeit is a last resort, for a team that wilfully continues to violate the rules after a warning. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.11.4)
- Team personnel leaving their position, a base included, to take part in a confrontation commit an infraction under the fight rule. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 7.13.3)

Sources: WBSC Official Rules of Baseball 2025-2026, Rule 7 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

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