There are many ways to get on base. Types of hits include full swing, bunt, drag bunt, and slap hits. A batter can get on base through a walk, or when hit by a pitch, but these situations are not hits. Runners can only leave their bases after the pitcher releases the ball.
Both teams switch between offense and defense after the defensive team makes three outs. Outs can be made in many ways. A defensive player (a fielder) can catch a hit ball before it hits the ground, making an out. A fielder can also hold the ball while touching a base, when an offensive player (here, a base runner) is forced to advance, before the runner reaches that base. If the runner is not forced to advance, the runner must be tagged with the ball to be called out. A pitcher “strikes” out the batter, resulting in an out.
A strikeout is when the pitcher throws three strikes to the batter. A strike is given when there is a good pitch, which the batter does not hit, when the batter swings at the ball and misses it or when the batter fouls off the ball (although a foul ball cannot be strike three unless it is bunted). The batter is also given four balls. A ball is a bad pitch. If the batter receives four balls, the batter is awarded first base. This is known as a walk. Good and bad pitches are determined by the strikezone. The strike zone is a rectangular area that extends for the width of homeplate and the length runs from the knees of the batter to just below the shoulders.
Softball has a set number of innings, usually seven or nine. An inning is one series of both teams playing offense and defense. At the end of the set number of innings the team with the highest score wins.
Softball is a direct descendant of baseball, which is sometimes referred to as hardball to distinguish it from softball, but differs from it in several ways (see Comparison of baseball and softball). This article assumes no knowledge of baseball.
The International Softball Federation holds world championships, held every four years, in several categories. The ISF is the international governing body. The Amateur Softball Association is the National Governing Body of Softball for the United States pursuant to the 1976 Amateur Sports Act. Due to the popularity of the sport, there are a multitude of governing bodies such as the United States Specialty Sports Association and the National Softball Association.
Fast Pitch softball is a very defensive, pitcher-oriented game. The pitcher delivers the ball at maximum speed with little to no arc. The pitch is very similar to that of one thrown by a baseball pitcher, but the two differ primarily in their throwing styles and release points: most baseball pitchers release the ball from a point higher than the catcher’s glove (overhand), whereas fast pitch softball pitchers release at a point that is lower than or equal to the height of the catcher’s glove (underhand). Speeds of 70+ mph (110+ km/h) are common at the women’s professional level. Due to the increased difficulty in hitting the larger, less dense ball, fast pitch softball games are typically played on much smaller fields than their slow pitch counterparts (typically 200 feet [61 metres] from home plate to the center field fence).
Modified Pitch softball strikes a balance between fast and slow pitch. The speed of the pitches are limited by not allowing the pitcher to raise their arms above their shoulders.
Slow Pitch softball gives batters more dominance by making it easier for them to hit the ball. The ball type in women’s and youth competition is usually smaller and more dense than that of the fast pitch variety, making for a harder hit ball to the defense. This type of ball is often referred to as a “Green Dot”, due to the green dot on the ball that marks its size range. Men’s slow pitch ball type is very similar to that of the fast pitch ball type. Men’s slow pitch softballs are often referred to as “Blue Dot”, due to the blue dot on the ball that marks its size range. Typically, slow pitch softball fields are much larger (300 feet [90 metres] from home plate to center field) due to the slow pitch batter’s increased advantage of range and power over their fast pitch counterparts. The increased hitting advantage to the batter combined with new technology in softball bat manufacturing has forced many softball leagues to impose rules on the number of over-the-fence home runs that may be counted during a game.
Slow Pitch Chicago Style softball is popularized by the use of a large 16 inch leather bound ‘Kapok’ core ball that is caught and thrown with bare hands. No mitt is needed or required or allowed in some leagues. The ball is softened by each hitter’s strike and can carry long distances by the use of heavier bats. A 36 ounce bat is the limit in many regulation leagues. The most popular ball for the game is called a Clincher made by DeBeer Company and manufactured in Haiti. It weighs 9 ounces, 3 ounces more than a 12 inch ball which is also used in slowpitch softball, but the difference is a Clincher gets softer as the game progresses while a tightly wound 12 inch ball remains extremely hard and impossible to field with bare hands. This sport is popular in the cities of Chicago, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.
The playing field is divided into fair territory and foul territory. Fair territory is further divided into the infield, the outfield, and the territory beyond the outfield fence.
The field is defined by foul lines that meet at a right angle at home plate. The minimum length of the baselines varies classification of play (see below for official measurements). A fence running between the baselines defines the limits of the field; this fence is equidistant from home plate at all points.
Behind home plate is a backstop. It must be between 25 and 30 feet (7.62 and 9.14 meters) behind home plate.
Home Plate is a five-sided figure, a combination of a rectangle and triangle, 17 in (43 cm) wide. The sides are 8.5 in (22 cm) long. The triangle fits into the right angle formed by the baselines.
Home plate is one corner of a diamond with bases at each corner. The bases other than home plate are 15 in (38 cm) square, of canvas or a similar material, and not more than 5 in (13 cm) thick. The bases are usually securely fastened to the ground. The bases are numbered counter clockwise as first base, second base, and third base. Often, but not always, outside first base (that is, in foul territory) and adjacent and connected to it there is a contrast-colored “double base” or “safety base”. It is intended to prevent collisions between the first baseman and the runner. The runner runs for the foul portion of the double base after hitting the ball while the fielding team tries to throw the ball to the regular first base before the runner reaches the safety base. However, not all softball diamonds have these safety bases and they are much more common in women’s softball than in men’s. The double base is required in ISF championships.
The infield consists of the diamond and the adjacent space in which the infielders (see below) normally play. The outfield is the remaining space between the baselines and between the outfield fence and the infield. The infield is usually “skinned” (dirt), while the outfield has grass in regulation competitions.
Near the centre of the diamond is the pitching plate. In fast pitch, a skinned circle 8 feet (2.44 meters) in diameter known as the pitching circle is around the pitching plate.
A field is officially supposed to have a warning track between 15 and 12 feet (5 and 4 meters) from the outfield fence. However, if the game is being played on a field larger than required, no warning track is required before the temporary outfield fencing.
Located in foul territory outside both baselines are two Coach’s Boxes. Each box is behind a line 15 feet (5 meters) long located 12 feet (3 meters) from each baseline.
Equipment required in softball includes a ball, a bat, gloves, uniforms and protective gear, including helmets for the offensive team and a helmet and chest protector for the defensive catcher.
Despite the sport’s name, the ball itself is not soft. The size of the ball varies according to the classification of play; the permitted circumferences in international play are 12 in (30 cm) and 11 in (28 cm). The ball is most often covered in white leather in two pieces roughly the shape of a figure 8 and sewn together with red thread, although other coverings are permitted. The core of the ball may be made of long fibre kapok, or a mixture of cork and rubber, or a polyurethane mixture, or another approved material. In 2002, high-visibility yellow “optic” softballs were introduced. Yellow is the color of official NCAA and NAIA softballs. Yellow softballs are fast becoming the standard for all levels of play.White balls are also allowed use, but rarely will you use them in games.
In Chicago, where softball was invented, it remains traditional to play with a ball 16 inches in circumference. This larger ball is generally softer (sometimes called a mush ball). When using a 16-inch ball, the fielders do not wear gloves or mitts.
All defensive players wear fielding gloves, made of leather or similar material. Gloves have webbing between the thumb and forefinger. The first baseman and the catcher may wear mitts; mitts are distinguished from gloves in that they have extra padding, and no fingers. Except for the pitcher, whose glove cannot be white or gray (this confuses the batter), gloves and mitts can be any color. Gloves used in softball are generally larger than the ones used in baseball.
In 16 inch softball, gloves are generally not worn. It will be determined by league whether gloves are permissible or not.
Each team wears distinctive uniforms. The uniform includes a cap, a shirt, an undershirt, tight sliding undershorts, and shorts or pants; these are the components for which standards are set. Sliding kneepads are also optional.
Caps must be alike and are mandatory for male players. Caps, visors, and headbands are optional for female players, and must be the same color if more than one is worn. A fielder who chooses to wear a helmet (see below) is not required to wear a cap.
Including for softball players, most players use “sliding shorts” otherwise known as compression short for other sports like soccer, football etc. These shorts help, and protect the upper thigh when sliding towards second, third, or home plate.
At the back of the uniform an Arabic number from 1-99 must be visible. Numbers like 02 and 2 are considered identical. Players’ names are optional.
Jewelry, except for medic-alert-style bracelets and necklaces, cannot be worn during a game.
All players are required to wear shoes. They may have cleats or spikes. The spikes must extend less than 3/4 inch (19 millimeters) away from the sole. Rounded metal spikes are illegal, as are ones made from hard plastic or other synthetic materials. Detachable metal cleats are forbidden at any level of play.
Many recreational leagues prohibit the use of metal cleats or spikes in order to reduce the possible severity of injuries when a runner slides feet-first into a fielder. At all youth (under 15) levels, in co-ed (the official terminology for mixed teams) slow pitch, and in modified pitch, metal spikes are not allowed.
All batters are required to wear batting helmets. Batting helmets must have two ear flaps, one on each side, and a protective cage. Cages are required at most age levels except the youngest level but are mandatory at higher levels of youth softball. The cage prevents balls from hitting the batter’s face. Helmets and cages that are damaged or altered are forbidden.
In fast pitch, the catcher must wear a protective helmet with a facemask and throat protector. A female catcher must wear a body protector at any level of play. At the youth level, shin guards are required. Shin guards also protect the kneecap. Also, some third base players or players in other positions may be required to wear a face mask. This is to prevent damage to the face.[citation needed]
In slow pitch, the catcher must wear a helmet and mask at youth levels. At adult levels, there is no formal requirement for the catcher to wear a mask, although the official rules recommend it.
Protective gear of any kind is generally not worn in 16 inch softball.
A softball game can last anywhere from 3 to 9 innings, depending on the league, rules, and type of softball; however 7 innings is the most common. In each inning, each team bats until three batters have been put out (see below). The teams take turns batting. Officially, which team bats first is decided by a coin toss,[1] although a league may decide otherwise at its discretion. The most common rule is that the home team bats second. Batting second is advantageous.
In the event of a tie, extra innings are usually played until the tie is broken except in certain tournaments and championships. If the home team is leading and the road team has just finished its half of the seventh inning, the game ends because it is not necessary for the home team to bat again.
In all forms of softball, the defensive team is the fielding team; the offensive team is at bat or batting and is trying to score runs.
The Play begins with the umpire saying “Play Ball”. After the batter is ready and all fielders (except the catcher) are in fair territory, the pitcher stands at the pitching plate and attempts to throw the ball past the batter to the catcher behind home plate. The throw, or pitch, must be made with an underarm often called “windmill” motion: the ball must be released below the hip when the hand is no farther from the hip than the elbow.
a windmill motion is done by extending your throwing hand around your body backwards and releasing the ball at about hip level at maximum speeds. 12u pitchers usually throw in the 30’s, 14u is about in the 40’s or low 50’s, 16u is when the speeds may top out at 70 mph.
The pitcher tries to throw the ball so that it passes through the strike zone. However, in advance play a highly-skilled pitcher may deliberately pitch a ball outside the strike zone if she believes the batter is likely to swing. In other instances, such as when an extremely powerful hitter comes up to bat and they are followed by a weaker hitter, a pitcher may deliberately walk the first batter based on the calculation that the next batter will be an easy out. The strike zone is slightly different in different forms of softball. A pitch that passes through that zone is a strike. A pitch that the batter swings at is also a strike, as is any hit ball that lands in foul territory (unless it is fast pitch and two strikes have already been called).
A pitch which is not a strike and which the batter does not swing at is a ball. The number of balls and strikes is called the count. The number of balls is always given first, as 2 and 1, 2 and 2, and so on. A count of 3 and 2 is a full count, since the next ball or strike will end the batter’s turn at the plate, unless the ball goes foul.
If the ball lands foul, it is a dead ball and no plays may be made until the pitcher receives the ball again, and the home plate umpire says, “Play ball.”
Various illegal acts done by the pitcher, such as leaping or crow-hopping result in a ball being awarded to the batter, and any runners on base advancing to the next base.
In 16-inch softball, the pitch is lobbed. It must be thrown higher than the batter’s head and pass through the strike zone. Umpires often will make calls based on where the ball lands behind the plate. A pitch in “the well” is considered a perfect pitch.
The offensive team sends one batter at a time to home plate to use the bat to try to hit the pitch forward into fair territory. The order the players bat in, known as the batting order, must stay the same throughout the game. Substitutes and replacements must bat in the same position as the player they are replacing. In co-ed, male and female batters must alternate.
The batter stands facing the pitcher inside a batter’s box (there is one on each side of the plate). The bat is held with both hands, over the shoulder away from the pitcher. The ball is usually hit with a full swinging motion in which the bat may move through more than 360 degrees. The batter usually steps forward with the front foot and swings the bat.
Once the ball is hit into fair territory the runner must try to advance to first base or beyond. While running to first base, the batter is a batter-runner. When she safely reached first (see below) she becomes a base-runner or runner.
If four balls are called, then it is a walk. The batter gets to walk to first and if there is a runner on first the runner gets to advance to second.
A batted ball hit high in the air is a fly ball. A fly ball hit upward at an angle greater than 45 degrees is a pop fly. A batted ball driven in the air through the infield at a height at which an infielder could play it if in the right position is a line drive. A batted ball which hits the ground within the diamond is a ground ball. If a batted ball hits a player or a base it is considered to have hit the ground.
The batter is out if: three strikes are called (a strikeout); a ball hit by the batter is caught before touching the ground (a flyout); the batter is touched by the ball or by a glove holding the ball while the batter is away from a base (tagged); a fielder holding the ball touches a base which is the only base towards which the batter may run before the batter arrives there (a force out or force play); or in certain special circumstances. Unlike in baseball, where the batter is allowed unlimited foul balls, in many slow pitch softball leagues only one foul ball is allowed and additional foul balls are considered a strike.
The most common type of force play is made at first base. A batter that drives a ball forward into fair territory must run to first base. If the ball is thrown to first base (that is, to a fielder standing on first base and is holding the ball) before the batter can reach it, the batter is out. A double play is when two runners are put out during a single continuous action; a triple play is when three runners are put out.
In co-ed slow pitch, teams must alternate male and female batters. If a team is, for whatever reason, unable to do this, an out is recorded wherever two players of the same gender bat back-to-back. The missing player is recorded as being “put out.”
If the player hits the ball and advances to a base without a fielding error or an out being recorded, then that is called a base hit. The bases must be reached in order counterclockwise, starting with first base. After hitting the ball the batter may advance as many bases as possible. An advance to first base on the one hit is a single, to second base is a double, to third base is a triple, and to home plate is a home run. Home runs are usually scored by hitting the ball over the outfield fence, but may be scored on a hit which does not go over the fence. A home run includes any ball that bounces off a fielder and goes over the fence in fair-territory or that hits the foul pole. If a batted ball bounces off a fielder and goes over the fence in foul territory, hits the fence, a fielder, and then goes over, or if it goes over the fence at a location that is closer than the official distance, the batter is awarded a double instead.
If a runner becomes entitled to the base where another runner is standing, the latter runner must advance to the next base. For example, if a player hits the ball and there is a runner on first, the runner on first must try to advance to second because the batter-runner is entitled to first base. If the batter reaches first base without being put out, then that player can then be forced to run towards second base the next time a ball is driven into fair territory. That is because the player must vacate first base to allow the next batter to reach it, and consequently can only go to second base, where a force out may be recorded.
Runners may advance at risk to be put out: on a hit by another player; after a fly ball has been caught, provided the player was touching a base at the time the ball was caught or after; or automatically, when a pitch is delivered illegally; or on an error by a fielder.
Runners advance without liability to be put out: when a walk advances another player to the runner’s current base; or automatically in certain special circumstances described below.
If there is a wild throw in which the ball goes out of the designated play area, each runner is awarded the base they were going to, plus one extra base.
In fast pitch, runners may try to get a stolen base by running to the next base on the pitch and reaching it before being tagged with the ball. Until recently, stealing was forbidden in slow pitch because a runner would get a huge head start while the slow pitch is making its way to the batter. As a result of rule changes initiated by the Independent Softball Association which later made its way to the Amateur Softball Association and the International Softball Federation in the 21st century, most levels of slow pitch permit stealing bases, provided the runner starts when the ball either touches the ground or crosses the plate. This rule encourages pitchers to be more responsible with the pitch and catchers to play defense, as balls which miss the catcher are now grounds to have stolen bases.
No matter what level of play, all baserunners must keep one foot on a base until the pitcher throws the ball.
In fast pitch, if the catcher drops strike three (a passed ball) with less than two outs, the batter can attempt to run to first base if first base is unoccupied. The catcher must then attempt to throw the ball to first base ahead of the runner. If he or she cannot, the runner is safe. With two outs, the batter can attempt to run to first whether or not it is already occupied.
Depending on the league in slow pitch only a foul ball with two strikes on the batter means the batter is out. In some leagues they allow 1 foul ball even when the batter has 2 strikes.
Stealing in 16-inch softball is severely restricted, as a runner may only steal the base in front of them if it is open, and if they are thrown at,
