Pitch facts for kids

Pitch is a word with many different meanings! It can describe sounds, sports fields, a sticky substance, or even how you try to convince someone about an idea.

What Does 'Pitch' Mean?

The word "pitch" is used in many ways. It can be about how high or low a sound is, like in music. It can also refer to a playing field for sports. Sometimes, it's a sticky material from trees or oil. You might even hear it when someone is trying to sell you something or share an idea.

Pitch in Music

In music, pitch means how high or low a sound is. Think of a piano: the keys on the left make low-pitched sounds, and the keys on the right make high-pitched sounds. It's like the difference between a deep rumble and a tiny squeak! Pitch is measured by how fast something vibrates. Faster vibrations mean a higher pitch, and slower vibrations mean a lower pitch.

Pitch in Sports

In sports, "pitch" has a few meanings, mostly related to throwing or playing fields.

Baseball Pitch

In baseball, a pitch is when the pitcher throws the ball towards the catcher. The goal is for the batter to hit the ball. Pitchers try to throw the ball in many different ways, like fastballs or curveballs, to make it hard for the batter to hit.

Sports Fields

A pitch can also be the name for a playing field, especially in sports like football (soccer), cricket, and rugby.

• Football pitch: This is the field where soccer is played. It's usually a large grassy area with goals at each end.
• Cricket pitch: In cricket, the "pitch" is the central strip of the field between the two sets of wickets. This is where the bowler bowls the ball and the batter tries to hit it.
• Rugby pitch: This is the field where rugby is played. It's similar to a football pitch but often has different markings and goalposts.

Pitch as a Substance

Pitch can also be a thick, sticky, dark substance. It can come from plants, like the resin from pine trees. This type of pitch has been used for a long time to seal things, like boats, because it's waterproof. Pitch can also come from petroleum, which is used to make things like asphalt for roads.

Pitch as a Sales Idea

A sales pitch is when someone tries to convince you to buy something or agree with an idea. For example, if you have a great idea for a school project, you might "pitch" it to your teacher to get them excited about it. It's all about presenting your idea in a way that makes others want to say "yes"!