If you have ever seen a New York Yankees or a San Francisco Giants game in Major League Baseball, you know just how seriously people take their baseball. Baseball fans are high-octane, charged with loyalty and fervor. And to them, the most enjoyable pastime on a warm summer’s day is to head out to a local field and hit a ball around themselves.

Regardless of your level of skill in the sport—beginner or professional—baseball is one of the most popular and well-loved sporting activities internationally.

That said, it’s hard to imagine a baseball game without potentially dangerous moments. If you’re planning to play the sport while on vacation, you should be well prepared to deal with the risks. Getting handy baseball travel insurance would be a wise choice.

Travel Insurance for Playing Baseball

Playing safely is crucial, but accidents can always happen. It is best that you have travel insurance for baseball to save on huge medical bills and a lot of undue hassle. Some extreme sports travel insurance plans cover baseball, but not all of them. Before you purchase, make sure that you read through the policy’s certificate wording carefully. So pack those gloves and helmets, but remember to stay safe and train in the correct manner.

Basics of Baseball

Baseball is a two-team game, with nine players from each side on the field at a time. The field is marked by four white plates laid out in a diamond shape. Teams alternate between batting (offense) and fielding (defense), and the batting team’s objective is to hit the ball out of the reach of the fielders arranged throughout the diamond.

Once the batter hits the ball, he or she must run around all four bases in order to score a point, called a “run”. The batter’s goal is to hit the ball as far as he or she can, complete the circuit, and reach home plate. The game is divided into nine innings, in which each team gets a turn at the bat. At the end of the nine innings, the team that scores the highest number of runs wins the game.

What equipment do you need? Basic baseball items include a baseball bat, a ball, helmets, and baseball gloves.

Sounds easy? It definitely isn’t. Baseball requires a great amount of agility, coordination, precision, and stamina. Whether you’re trying to hit the ball out of the park or chase down a batter between two bases, you need to have the right combination of skill and training.

Playing the sport correctly means playing it safely. That’s why you must take special note of the hazards and risks involved—and if you’re playing it on your vacation, then think about purchasing travel insurance for baseball to keep yourself covered.

Risks of Playing Baseball

Most accidents in baseball are caused by contact injuries. Getting hit by a baseball or bat flying at a hundred miles an hour can be extremely dangerous, potentially casing the following:

• Cuts
• Contusions or bruises
• Muscle or tissue damage
• Fractures or bone damage

If you play a friendly game while on holiday and end up with an injury like this, the medical bills are not going to be pretty. To protect yourself from that unfortunate experience, especially in a foreign country, be prepared with an adventure sports travel insurance plan.

If you are already an intermediate or professional player, you are no stranger to pitching- or batting-related injuries in baseball. The repetitive action of throwing the ball with all your strength and speed can put a serious strain on your shoulders. This often results in muscle pain or even dislocation of the joint. On the other side of the pitch, the repetitive action of swinging the bat can also affect your shoulders and elbows.

You must remember to warm up before playing, and don’t overexert yourself. While playing abroad, get a baseball travel insurance plan that will cover the medical bills for any injuries or accidents that may occur.

DISCLAIMER: The information within this article is intended as a broad summary of benefits and services and is meant for informational purposes only. The information does not describe all scenarios, coverages or exclusions of any insurance plan. The benefits and services of an insurance plan are subject to change. This is not your policy/certificate of insurance. If there is any discrepancy between the information in this article and the language of your policy/certificate wording, the language of the policy/certificate wording will prevail.