Baseball is a sport with very specific rules and an internal logic that takes a while to understand, so casual fans are often left wondering about some of its basic tenets. One question that often confuses observers is whether baseball is a contact sport or not. To correctly answer this and accurately place baseball on this scale, we need to take a closer look at the definition of contact sport and check how it applies to baseball. In other words, we need to compare the amount of physical contact in baseball with that typical for other sports and consider the impact of the style of play on the frequency of injuries that result from direct contact between players, or between players and equipment.
What is a contact sport and which sports qualify?
While there are differing definitions of what a contact sport is, the general rule is that any competition in which the rules allow (and in some cases require) direct application of physical force on other players is a contact sport. The type of impact can vary and can originate from actions such as striking, blocking, tackling, etc., which are an integral part of the game. The contact may be between the players’ bodies or can be transferred through a piece of equipment, such as a stick or a ball. Athletes in contact sports frequently wear some kind of protective equipment to shield them from impact, i.e. helmets, pads, or mouthguards, which is a clear admission that some hits will have to be endured.
The clearest examples of contact sports include fighting disciplines such as boxing, wrestling, or mixed martial arts, as well as full-body tackling sports such as rugby and American football. Such competitions are sometimes described as collision sports to accentuate the forcefulness of impact that occurs regularly. On the opposite side of the spectrum, there are sports in which practically no contact between competitors ever occurs, for example, swimming, ice skating, or long-distance running. In a typical non-contact sport, it is a violation to touch the opponent and it may result in instant disqualification. However, there are sports in which some contact is allowed, but within the limits strictly defined in advance.
What is a limited-contact sport and which sports fit into this category?
Between the two extreme groups, there are sports where minor incidental contact is tolerated, and may not be considered a violation of the rules if it doesn’t exceed a certain threshold or if it occurs at a specific location. Sports that fit into this category are far less violent than classic contact sports, yet they feature some form of physical interaction between players. They are fittingly described as limited-contact sports, as forceful impact is not essential for fulfilling the objective of the game but is frequent enough that it can be viewed as part of the playing experience.
For example, when examining whether soccer is a contact sport, we need to take into account how players move on the field and what is considered a foul. While some pushing and shoving during a free kick in soccer may go without a whistle, tacking the opponent’s leg instead of a ball or holding his arm will be called as a foul. Other sports that can be described as limited-contact are basketball and hockey, where players jostling for a position may use their bodies to shield their space. According to the broad consensus, baseball is a contact sport in this sense, even if the amount of contact is smaller than in some other limited-contact sports.
Can there be legal contact between two players in baseball?
Is baseball a contact sport?
For the most part, baseball players maintain their distance from other competitors on the field and only have contact with the ball. One exception to this principle is the tag rule – a defensive player holding the ball can touch the runner with his hand or the ball before he reaches the base, and tag him out of the play. This physical contact is completely within the rules and represents a key part of the game, which affects the answer to the question – ‘is baseball a contact sport?’.
However, the amount of contact during tagging is minute, at least when compared to basketball and soccer. The player only needs to gently touch an opponent rather than physically stop him from continuing on his path, and the contact is typically very brief. There are other instances when players come in contact with each other, although the rules prevent violent collisions or intentional impeding of runners. This makes baseball relatively safe to play, but it doesn’t completely eliminate the possibility of a contact injury occurring.
How often do contact injuries happen in baseball?
Most injuries in baseball are not a result of intense contact with another player and often happen during routine actions. A runner could slip on the turf or a batter might pull a muscle while swinging for the ball. Injuries from overuse of certain parts of the body are common as well, especially for pitchers. This leaves only a small portion of baseball injuries that can be qualified as contact-induced.
Collisions at the home plate (or another base plate) are an especially dangerous part of baseball. They involve a runner approaching at full speed and a base protector awaiting the arrival of the ball or running back to the base after catching it. Since the outcome of the race to the plate is relevant to the score of the game, players sometimes disregard personal safety in an attempt to get an advantage. In case of a big collision, both players are liable to end up with concussions, broken bones, or worse.
It’s also possible for a player (or spectator) to be hit by a high-speed line drive, potentially causing significant injuries. Such situations are rare in the modern era, as most baseball stadia have protective fencing to prevent this scenario. Other changes, like the recent enlargement of bases, are put into place to reduce the frequency of injuries resulting from accidental collisions or ball impacts.
