Softball Notes
Line Drive
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.
Fly Ball
A battered ball hit high in the air. A fly ball hit upward at an angle greater than 45 degrees is a POP FLY.
Ground Ball
A battered ball which hits the ground within the diamond.
Ball. (Game Play)
A pitch which is not a strike and which the batter does not swing at is a BALL (an uncaught foul ball with 2 strikes on the batter is neither a strike or a ball).
Player
A player on a base is called a runner. When on first, second or third base, the runner may be retired by giving forced out, by being touched with the ball while away from a base and in certain other circumstances (being hit by a batted ball, for e.g.)
Strike (Game Play)
A strike is called if the pitch crosses home plate between the batter's armpits and the top of his/her knees without being hit by the batter. A first or second strike, but not a third, is also called if the batter hits a FOUL BALL : By hitting a ball so it first falls to the ground anywhere in foul territory. By hitting a ground ball which rolls foul and stops in foul territory before passing either first or third base. By hitting a ground ball which rolls foul and is picked up by a fielder in foul territory before passing either first or third base.
Players
Fast Pitch Softball : 9 players. Left, Center, and Right fielder play in the OUTFIELD. Pitcher, Catcher, First Baseman, Second Baseman, Third Baseman, and Shortstop play in INFIELD. Baseman plays in the vicinity of their bases. While the Shortstop plays between the Second and Third Baseman (normally the second baseman plays on the first base side of second base and the shortstop on the third base side). The pitcher stands at the Pitching Point in center of the diamond; for men, the pitching point is 46ft (14m) from home plate. For women is 40ft (12m) from home plate (43ft at elite level). There is no pitcher's mound as in baseball, but the pitching area is denoted by a circle surrounding the pitching plate 8ft in diameter. The catcher plays behind home plate , squatting to receive the pitch.
George Hancock
Invented the first version of Softball in Chicago, Illinois in 1887. He is a reporter for the Chicago Board of Trade, as a winter version of Baseball. It was called indoor baseball, kitten ball, mush ball, playground ball, and also played by women ladies baseball.
Run
Is scored when a player has touched all 4 bases in order, proceeding counter clockwise around them. They need not be touched on the same play; a batter may remain safely on a base while play proceeds and attempts to advance. The runner must be on base until the pitcher releases the ball. The runner may advance as many bases as possible.
Ball
Not soft. 12 in. (30cm) circumference, sometimes larger for slow-pitch, which is 3in. (8cm) larger than a baseball. Infield in softball is smaller than baseball. Each base is 60ft (18m) from the next as opposed to baseball's 90ft (27m). 2 types of softball are in most common is the Slow-Pitch Softball. The ball, larger than standard 12in, must arch it's path to the BATTER. 10 players makes up a team. Bunting & Stealing are prohibited. Fast-Pitch Softball - the pitch is fast, there are 9 players on a team. Bunting and Stealing are permitted. A regulation game of slow-pitch softball requires 1 more player than a game of fast pitch - usually an additional outfielder.
Physical Requirements
Speed- A softball player must posses great amounts of speed in order to run the bases, and while fielding. Strength- Particularly in the legs, arms, and back. This minimizes injuries, and makes for better hitting and throwing. Hand-Eyes Coordination- A player with poor hand eye coordination will have a tough time hitting, throwing, and catching the ball.
Softball
Team sport in which a ball, 11-12 inches, in circumference, is thrown by a PLAYER CALLED A PITCHER, & hit by an OFFENSIVE PLAYER CALLED A BATTER, with a round, smooth stick, called a BAT. The ball is also known as a Softball. Scoring can be accomplished by the batter running and touching a series of 4 markers on the ground called BASES. Softball is a direct descendant of Baseball.
Game Play
The batting team sends one batter at a time to home plate to try hit a ball thrown by the pitcher forward into fair territory. Once the ball is hit into fair territory, the runner may try to advance to first base or beyond. Once on base, the batter becomes a base runner. The teams takes turns batting. Each team bats until 3 players have been put out. An inning consists of a turn at bat by each team, with the home team batting second. 7 innings constitute a game, unless extra innings are required to break a tie. Play begins with the pitcher attempting to throw the ball to the catcher past the batter at home plate. The throw, or pitch, must be made with an underarm motion- the ball must be released below the hip when the hand is no farther from the hip than elbow.
Count (Game Play)
The number of balls and strikes. The number of balls is always given at 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. If the catcher drops the ball on the 3rd strike, the batter may try to advance to 1st base. If 4 balls are called the batter advances to first base. The batter may also advance after hitting the ball into fair territory without being put out. After hitting the ball into fair territory, the batter must run to 1st base.
Equipments
The size of the ball varies according to the classification of play;the permitted circumferences in international play are in 12 in (30cm) and 11in (28 cm). The ball is most often covered in white leather in 2 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 fiber KAPOK, or mixture of cork and rubber, or a polyurethane mixture, or another approved material. In 2002, high visibility yellow "optic"softballs were introduced as well. All players may wear FIELDING GLOVES, made of leather or similar material, but only the CATCHER, and FIRST BASEMAN may wear MITTS; mitts are distinguished from gloves in that they have extra PADDING, and NO FINGERS. Gloves have webbing between the thumb and forefinger. The bat is used by the BATTER. Is made out of HARDWOOD, METAL, or any of several other approved materials. It may be no more than 34in (86cm) long, 2.25 in (6 cm)in diameter, or 38 oz. (1kg) in weight. Each team wears distinctive uniforms. The uniform varies more than baseball uniforms, in that short pants are allowed as well as britches, It includes a PEAKED CAP, A SHIRT, AN UNDERSHIRT, & PANTS; these are the components for which standards are set. The players' shoes may have CLEATS OR SPIKES. 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-firstt into a fielder. The catcher wears protective equipmen, consisting of at least a MASK WITH GRILLE protecting the face, a THROAT PROTECTOR and a HARD HELMET.
The Batter Is Out If:
Three strikes are called. A ball hit by the batter is caught before touching the ground. The batter is touched by the ball or by a glove holding the ball while the batter is away from a base. (off base) 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) In certain other circumstances. Most common type of force play is made at 1st Base. A batter that drives a ball forward into fair territory must run to 1st base. If the ball is thrown to 1st base (that is, to a fielder standing on 1st base) before the batter can reach it, the batter is out. If the batter reaches the 1st 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. 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 counter clock wising, starting with 1 base. After hitting the ball, the batter may advance as many as possible. An advance to 1 base on the one hit is 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. The batter stands facing the pitcher inside a BATTERS BOX (there is 1 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. However, a BUNT is made by holding the bat stationary over the plate and stabbing at the ball so it strikes the ground in front of home plate. BUNTING is not allowed in SLOW-PITCH.
Softball Rules Differs.
Vary somewhat from those of baseball. Several major differences. The ball is always pitched (thrown to the batter) underarm, that is, it is released when the hand is below the hip and no further from the body than the elbow (46ft for men/ 40 ft for women). While in baseball the ball may be released in any position and is usually thrown over arm or sidearm (60.5 ft from bone plate). The ball is larger, less dense, and heavier than baseball. The playing field is normally smaller. The game is 7 innings long, as opposed to 9 in baseball. Consequently, softball games typically take between 60 minutes and 2 hours to complete, as opposed to around 3 hours for most baseball games.
Softball
Was given to the game in 1926. A tournament (1933) at Chicago Worlds Fair spurres interest in the game. The Amateur Softball Association of America (founded 1933) governs the game in the U.S.A and sponsors annuel sectional & World Series Championships. The International Softball Federation regulates rules of play in more than 110 countries, including U.S.A & Canada. Womens fast pitch softball became an Olympic sport in 1996 but it (and baseball) was dropped in 2005 from the 2012 games.