How to Play Baseball in the Rain

Baseball is not commonly played in the rain, but it does sometimes happen. While umpires will nearly always "call" (delay, then cancel, if necessary) a game when it begins to rain hard, some games are played longer into the rain because of scheduling. Early in a team's season, a game may be postponed during a light rainfall because league officials know the game can be rescheduled later in the season. Toward the end of the season, however, a game that cannot easily be rescheduled may be played in a rainfall.

Instructions

    • 1

      Inform both teams' coaches/managers, if you're the umpire, that you plan to keep the game going as long as is safe and practical. Because the managers and players may not wish to play in the game, inform them that the game must be continued because of scheduling difficulties if it were postponed. You may be under an edict from the league to get the game completed. If so, inform the managers of this, too.

    • 2

      Inform both managers what weather conditions will make you delay the game. Thunder and lightning should delay the game immediately, but there may be other factors why you will delay the game. These could be related to effects of heavy rainfall on the field, such as an indentation around one of the bases that fills with water and is deemed unsafe.

    • 3

      Tell both pitchers to adopt a sense of urgency to their play to keep the game moving quickly. Pitchers can help speed the pace of the game by not delaying between pitches. Depending on the league, games typically must reach the fifth inning to be considered official. After the fifth, a game can be canceled without needing to be rescheduled.

    • 4

      Use several game balls and switch from a wet ball to a dry one after every play in which the ball hits the ground. Dry the ball quickly, or replace it with a new one immediately to keep the game progressing. You may wish to assign a player or coach on either team to help dry extra balls during play.

    • 5

      Dry balls between pitches, if necessary, with a towel. Most umpires carry towels in their bags. If you don't have one handy, obtain a towel from either team and place it in your ball pouch.