Do you want to learn how to play softball? The two primary types of softball are fastpitch and slowpitch. While fastpitch softball is a highly competitive game usually associated with young female athletes, slowpitch is a game played by by all ages and genders. This page will introduce you to the fundamentals of fastpitch, as well as the differences you'll need to know if you're looking to play slowpitch.

1. Keep the ball in front of you when fielding
2. Don't look at the ball when base running
3. See the ball all the way through when batting

• Softball is a team sport closely resembling baseball. As in baseball, softball players advance around bases by batting and running in an effort to score runs. The balls, bats and fields are different sizes, however, and there are a few variations in both rules and strategy.International Softball Federation: Official Rules of Softball (64 KB)

• Softball and baseball have many of similarities, but the differences go beyond the size of the ball.

1. The ball is always pitched underarm, while in baseball the ball is usually thrown overarm or sidearm.Pitchsoftball.com: Correct Mechanics...Grip, Stride, Rotation, Release University of Dublin: What is Softball? Saskatchewan Education: Sidearm Throwing
2. A softball is larger, less dense and heavier than a baseball.University of Dublin: What is Softball?
3. Softball bats are generally shorter and thicker than baseball bats.Kettering University: Physics and Acoustics of Baseball & Softball Bats
4. The fields used for softball are normally smaller.University of Dublin: What is Softball?
5. The game is seven innings long, as opposed to nine in professional baseball.International Softball Federation: Official Rules of Softball, Rule 5, sec 3 (64 KB) Expert Village Video: Innings

• The object of the game of softball, is to score the most runs.Pitchsoftball.com: Scoring Rules - What Constitutes an Earned Run?
  • A run is scored when a player on the offensive (batting) team advances around all four bases, touching each in turn, without being "put out" by a player on the defensive (fielding) team.

• The game of softball is played between two teams. Although each team can have more players on their roster, only 9 will be playing at any given time. Substitutions can be made, pursuant to certain rules, so that each team has players "on the bench" who may be called into play at some point in the game.NBC Olympics: Softball rules - Player Substitutions

• A softball field consists of an infield, with exposed dirt, and a grassy outfield.Markers, Inc: Fast Pitch College/High School Softball Field Dimensions

1. The infield, sometimes referred to as the diamond, is laid out in a square.
   • Most fastpitch softball fields have 60 feet between each base.SportsKnowHow.com: Softball Field Dimensions
   1. The starting and ending base is called "home".
   2. The other corners, going counter clockwise from home are first base, second base and third base.
2. In the middle of the infield is the pitcher's mound, where the pitcher stands to pitch the ball to the batter.
3. The area beyond the infield, bordered by the first and third baselines, is called the outfield.

• An inning consists of two halves, called the "top" and the "bottom".

1. The top of the inning comes first. During the top, the players on the visiting team attempt to hit the ball and score runs. At the same time, the team who is hosting the game is "in the field", and is trying to prevent the visiting team from scoring.
2. In the bottom of the inning, which is the second half, the roles are switched, with the visiting team in the field, and the home team at bat.
3. Games usually consist of seven innings, although youth leagues may play fewer.International Softball Federation: Official Rules of Softball, Rule 5, sec 3 (64 KB)
4. At the end of the top of the last inning, if the home game is ahead, the game will end.

• After seven innings, if the game is tied, one of several things may happen depending on the local rules that are in effect.

1. The game may end in a tie.
2. Play may continue by playing extra innings.
3. The international tie-breaker may be utilized.Varsity Club: The International Tie-Breaker? (May 10, 2007)

• The international tie-breaker is implemented in the 10th inning in pro games, but may come into effect earlier, depending on local rules.National Pro Fastpitch: Denso Japan Needs 10 Innings, International Tie-Breaker... (July 14, 2007)

1. The batter to make the last out begins the inning on second base.
2. Play proceeds as normal.
3. A full inning is played.
4. If the score is tied at the end of the inning, another international tie-breaker inning can be played.

1. Pitcher: Throws the ball to the catcher, past the batter, in attempt to prevent it from being hit.
2. Catcher: Determines what pitch will be thrown, receives the ball and attempts to prevent runners from advancing.
3. Infielders: First Base, Second Base, Third Base, Short Stop: Field balls that are hit in the infield.
4. Outfielders: Left Field, Center Field, Right Field: Field balls that are hit in the outfield, as well as provide a back-up for balls that get past the infielders.

1. The batter gets up to three strikes, while attempting to hit the ball. After three strikes she is charged with an out, and the at bat ends.International Softball Federation: Official Rules of Softball, Rule 7, sec 6 (64 KB) There are several different ways to incur a strike:
   1. Hitting the the ball into foul territory (unless the batter already has two strikes)
   2. Swinging without making contact with the ball
   3. Not swinging on a pitch that the umpire decides was inside the strike zone
2. The pitcher is required to throw pitches inside the strike zone.Girls Fastpitch Softball: Framing the Pitch A pitch outside the strike zone, that a batter refused to swing at, is called a "ball".International Softball Federation: Official Rules of Softball, Rule 7, sec 5 (64 KB) After the fourth "ball" in an at bat, the batter is entitled to walk to first base.

1. There are softball gloves designed for specialized positions on the field, but a general all purpose fielder's glove is all that most players need.

2. Softball, eleven to twelve inches in circumferenceHypertext Book: Mass of a Softball

3. Softball bats vary by size and weight.Dicks Sporting Goods: Baseball/Softball Bat FAQ A bat that's too long or too heavy will be difficult to swing effectively; a bat that's too short or too light won't allow the hitter to use all her power.

4. Softball cleats give better traction on the field than sneakers do.

5. A batting helmet is essential for safety.NOCSAE: NOCSAE Standard Documents Balls can be pitched with a lot of speed, and can do serious damage if they hit a batter.

1. Face mask

2. Chest protector

3. Shin guards

4. Catcher's mitt

The goal of the offensive team is to get around the bases. The first step in doing this is to get on base.

• When play begins, all nine members of the defensive team take their positions on the field, and the member of the offensive team who is at bat approaches home plate, and takes a position in the batter's box.ASA: ASA Rescinds Rule Change Regarding Batters Box in SP (March 27, 2007)

1. The pitcher throws the ball towards the batter.
2. The batter attempts to hit the ball with the bat to a location that is within the field of play, but out of the reach of the defensive players.
   1. If she is able to hit the ball, she starts to run around the bases.
   2. If she successfully reaches first base without being called out, she can stop or attempt to continue to run around the bases.
   3. If the ball is caught, or can be thrown to first base before she gets there, she is out.
   4. If she continues to run and the ball can be thrown to the next base before she safely gets there, she is out.
3. After the first batter is either safely on base, or out, the next batter takes a turn at bat.
4. The first batter will attempt to reach additional bases safely during the next batter's turn at bat.
5. The offensive and defensive roles are switched after three offensive players are out.

• Players bat in a fixed order.International Softball Federation: Official Rules of Softball, Rule 7, sec 2 (64 KB) The order can change from game to game, but once it is set for a game, it's fixed for that game. After the last batter in the order has hit, the first batter comes up again. For example, if the final out in an inning is made by the fifth batter in the order, then the sixth batter will be the first to hit when the team has its next turn at bat. When a player is substituted for during the game, the substitute takes his place in the batting order.

Small ball refers to the use of techniques such as bunting or slap-hitting to get on base and to advance the runners.

1. These are common hitting techniques in softball, where a coach may have a lead off hitter slap a ball to get on base, and have the second batter sacrifice bunt to get the lead off batter in scoring position.
2. Slap hitting is a technique where the batter starts to move towards first before making contact with the ball. This enables a hitter to get a head start, increasing the chances that she will reach base safely.

• A detailed glossary of softball definitions can be found in the International Softball federation's rulebook.International Softball Federation: Official Rules of Softball, Rule 1 (64 KB) Some of the most commonly used terms are:

1. Base Hit: A ball hit in fair territory that allows the batter to reach first base safely.
2. Bunt: A ground ball in the infield fair territory, placed as close to home plate as possible. A player bunts by holding the bat in front of them and tapping the ball, rather than swinging.YouTube Video: Softball for Beginners - How to Bunt (Time 1:28)
3. Home Run: A fair ball hit far enough that a batter can run around all four bases without an out being made by the defensive team.
4. Fair Ball: A ball hit within the parameters of the first base line on the right, and the third base line on the left.
5. Foul Ball: A ball hit that lands outside of fair territory, or that initially lands within fair territory, but rolls into foul territory in the infield before being touched by a fielder.
6. Strike Zone: The area over home plate, bounded by the players knees and shoulders.
7. Ball: This is the term for a pitch that the umpire determines has crossed the plate outside of the strike zone.
8. Walk: A pitcher is permitted 3 balls for each batter; when the umpire determines that the pitcher has thrown four balls to a single batter in one at bat, the batter earns a walk, becoming a base runner eligible to advance to first base. a walk is also referred to as earning a "base on balls".International Softball Federation: Official Rules of Softball, Rule 1, sec 6 (64 KB)

• A batter becomes a baserunner once she gets on base.All About Fastpitch.com: Softball Baserunning Tips In order to score a run, a baserunner must move around all the bases, touching each in turn. There are many rules and strategies for baserunning, but a few of the key points are:
  • Only one runner can occupy a base at a time.
  • Runners must stay on the base paths
  • Baserunners must advance in orderWestlake High School: Rules of Softball Simplified
• Stealing is legal in softball!YouTube Video: Softball for Beginners : How to Steal a Base (Time 0:40) If a base runner is able to reach the next base during another player's at bat, before the ball is hit fairly, she is said to have stolen the base.

The objective for the team who is playing in the field is to get three players on the batting team out. The most common ways this happens are:

1. The batter hits a ball that is caught by a fielder before it touches the ground.
2. First base is touched by a fielder holding a ball that she hit, before she gets there.
3. She strikes out.

• A base runner is out when:

1. She is between bases and is tagged by a fielder holding the ball
2. A fielder holding the ball has touched the base in front of her, and the base she previously occupied is now occupied by another base runner. This is called a force play.International Softball Federation: Official Rules of Softball, Rule 8, sec 2 (64 KB)

• The single most important thing to remember when fielding in softball is this--keep the ball in front of you.Girls Fastpitch Softball Drills, Tips, and Advice: Top Softball Drills It's much better to have to run towards a ball, than to have to chase it if it goes past you.

• A ground ball is hit (no surprise here) on the ground. They are usually fielded by the infield. In order to successfully field a ground ball, an infielder should:

1. Know where you are going to throw the ball before you get it.
   • Are you trying to get an out at first? Or are you looking to throw a base-runner out at home?
2. Get into your ready position when the batter comes up to the plate.
3. Keep your eye on the ball as you move towards it.
4. Keep your glove down
5. Guide the ball into your mitt.
6. Pivot, point your shoulder at your target and throw the ball.Liberty Mutual: Fielding A Ground Ball sportskool Video: Fielding Ground Balls

• A pop-up, otherwise known as a fly ball, is a ball hit high enough that a fielder can get underneath it before she catches it.FastpitchSoftball.com: Catching Fly Balls

1. Know where all the base runners are, so you have a chance to make an out in addition to catching the pop-up.
2. Stay back until the ball is hit, moving forward as you make the catch.

• The pitcher's primary responsibility is to throw a pitch in the strike zone that the batter can't hit.All Star Activities: Softball Positions Pitchers usually throw a variety of pitches, such as a fastball, a curveball, a rise, a drop or a change-up.PitchSoftball.com:What Pitches to Develop Next She is also responsible for backing up the fielders, particularly in the case of a bunt or a passed ball that results in a play at home plate.

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  photo by Susan MacDowell

The catcher is a pivotal position on a softball team.softball performance.com:How to Develop a Softball Catcher She determines which pitch will be thrown, and where it will be targeted. The catcher receives the ball, and helps to keep base runners from advancing by throwing the ball to fielders who can make an out. She is also the fielder generally responsible for making outs at home plate.

• Most competitive softball is fast pitch. That's the type of softball played in the Olympics, the NCAA, high school, and youth leagues. Coed leagues, older men's leagues, and recreational players sometimes play slow pitch softball.

1. Slowpitch requires that the pitch arc between 6 and 12 feet off the ground when thrown.Third Option Media: Malach's Slow Pitch Softball Pitching Primer
2. Slowpitch bats are usually heavier than fastpitch bats.Kettering University: Physics and Acoustics of Baseball & Softball Bats
3. Slowpitch softball is played by two teams of ten players each.
4. In mixed gender games with a 5:5 ratio, men and women usually bat alternately
5. Slowpitch fields are larger, having 65 feet between the bases.LR: Softball
6. The technical rule differences can be found here.

• Take every opportunity you can to watch the game, whether by attending a National Pro Fastpitch game in a ball park, or watching the College World Series on TV.Official Site: National Pro Fastpitch ASA: NCAA Women's College World Series You can practice hitting and fielding skills by yourself, or with a friend, in between games. Pick-up games are also a fun way to learn the game, before you put your skills to the test in a formal league. Most importantly --have fun, and remember, its only a game!