Baseball

Lead-up games such as tee-ball develop the basic skills for baseball. Safety rules and procedures are important because of the type of equipment used.

As part of the process of safety self-regulation, all persons engaging in this activity should identify the hazards, assess their significance and manage the potential risks including any additional hazards not mentioned here

Hazards that may be encountered in baseball include:

• equipment (bats, balls, bases); and
• collisions between players/officials.

The categorisation of these conditions is subjective and offered as a starting point for risk management planning. The actual degree of risk is best ascertained by persons with intimate local knowledge present at the site of the activity.

Participation in this activity involves medium risk (level 2).

One adult present should have knowledge of, and an ability to perform, first aid procedures.

If an adult other than a registered teacher is engaged for instruction, a registered teacher should be present to take overall responsibility.

The qualifications listed in this section are minimums for each type of situation. Leaders are encouraged to seek training to raise their qualification level above the minimum listed.

The leader should be:

• registered teacher with experience (previous involvement in the activity) in the teaching of baseball; or
• an adult who has Level 1 coaching qualifications from the Australian Baseball Federation, when a teacher as described above is not available.

A first aid kit should be available at all venues where lessons and competitions are conducted.

Initial introduction of the activity should include:

• appropriate warm-up and warm-down activities
• rules, safety procedures and prerequisite skills before students play the game
• progressive and sequential skill development
• modified games that match skill and fitness levels of students.

Activities should be sited away from buildings, pedestrians and other activities.

Teachers should ensure students cut or tape long fingernails to prevent injury to any participants.

Activities should be spaced sufficiently to prevent any equipment entering another playing area.

The playing area should be level and free from obstacles and loose objects.

It is recommended that a minimum clear space of 10 metres be allowed outside the foul lines.
Avoid practice situations where the catcher's vision is impaired by the sun.

It is recommended that pitches be sited in a north-south direction to limit visual interference from the sun.

Leather baseballs should be used in games for secondary age-groups. Rubber balls are suitable for practice for all age-groups and game play for primary groups. Vinyl balls should not be used.

Regulation bats should be used. Bats without taping or bats that have been altered in any way should not be used. Uni-body bats are recommended.

Batters and base runners should wear helmets.

It is recommended that male batters wear a protector.

Catchers should wear helmets, face masks, throat and chest protectors and leg guards.

Male catchers should also wear a protector.
It is recommended that a netting backstop, if available, be placed at a safe distance from the catcher.

Gloves should be maintained and stored carefully to keep their shape.

The teacher should know the rules relating to diamond dimensions and pitching/rest limits for the various age-groups.

The batting team should be positioned at least 10 metres back from either the first or third base line and well clear of the catching area.

The warm-up batter should practise in the designated area, preferably 10 metres from the catcher.

The rules regarding physical contact to prevent rough play should be enforced.

Batters should be instructed to drop, not throw, the bat before running. The dropped bat should be removed as soon as possible.

Fielders should be instructed to watch the ball in play.

Students should be instructed regarding sliding. It is recommended that students not slide into first base but overrun the base on a single hit.

The umpire standing behind the catcher should wear protective equipment, as prescribed for the catcher. If this equipment is not worn, the umpire should stand behind the pitcher.

Students with open cuts and abrasions should be removed from the field of play and treated immediately. If bleeding cannot be controlled completely, the player should not be allowed to return to the field of play. All clothing, equipment and surfaces contaminated by blood should be treated as potentially infectious.

• Queensland School Sport
• HLS-PR-013: Developing a Sun Safety Strategy
• SCM-PR-002: School Excursions
• HLS-PR-005: Injury, Illness and Dangerous Event Recording and Reporting
• HLS-PR-003: First Aid for Schools and Non-school Locations