It's gratifying to support and encourage your child as they play a sport they enjoy. However, if you're a parent of a baseball player, you may have caught onto some terms you're unfamiliar with during their practices. Taking an interest in your young one's sport shows your full support of their athletic goals, so here are some phrases to learn to help you get more involved.

What Are Easy Baseball Terms for Parents to Remember?

1. Behind in the Count

This term explains what happens while a player is up to bat, conveying a negative situation. If the batter is behind in the count, they have more strikes than balls left. Consequently, they're close to being struck out. On the other hand, the term gets applied to the pitcher if the number of balls remaining is higher than the strikes recorded. 

2. Strike

This situation happens when a player doesn't swing at a ball that passes through the strike zone, extending from the batter's knees to their upper torso. Many parents often confuse this with a foul, which entails an athlete hitting a ball that ends up landing outside fair territory. 

Although a player can get many fouls, they are only allowed three strikes before being declared "out." When that occurs, the next athlete comes up to bat.

3. Hit-and-Run

A hit-and-run is a risky strategy where a runner steps away from the base before the batter makes a move. This technique can give them a head start if the ball gets successfully hit. However, it also leaves the runner more vulnerable since they are away from their previous base. They are not considered "safe" while drifting toward their next destination.

Help your young athlete excel in their favorite sport by taking them to the indoor batting cages at Line Drive Indoor Batting in Jupiter, FL. This sports center offers baseball training for all ages and hosts baseball parties throughout its facilities. They also use HitTrax® technology that tracks how your child plays to help them improve. Call (561) 283-6614 up to three days in advance to reserve a space, and visit their website to learn more about their cage options.