1-
History & Object
2- The Essentials
(Offense, Scoring, Etc.)
3-
Field Diagram and Positions
4-
Glossary of Softball Terms
The Essentials
Game length
Softball games are played
in units called innings.
There are seven scheduled
innings in a softball
game, during which each
team has the opportunity
to bat. The visiting team
bats in the first half
of each inning, called
the top of the inning;
the home team bats in
the second half of each
inning, called the bottom
of the inning. There
is no set time that an
inning lasts; each half
of the inning continues
until the defense accumulates
three outs.
If the game is tied after
the last inning, the game
goes into extra
innings, and continues
until one team holds a
lead at the end of an
inning.
Offense & Defense
The primary objective
of the offense is to score
runs and avoid outs. The
primary objective of the
defense is to prevent
runs and create outs.
Offensive strategy
A run
is scored every time
a base runner touches
all four bases, in the
sequence of 1st, 2nd,
3rd, and home. To score
a run, a batter must hit
the ball into play and
then run to circle the
bases, counterclockwise.
On offense, each time
a player is at-bat,
she attempts to get on
base via hit or walk.
A hit
occurs when she hits
the ball into the field
of play and reaches 1st
base before the defense
throws the ball to the
base, or gets an extra
base (2nd, 3rd, or home)
before being tagged
out. A walk
occurs when the pitcher
throws four balls.
It is rare that a hitter
can round all the bases
during her own at-bat;
therefore, her strategy
is often to get on
base and advance
during the next at-bat.
Defensive strategy
On defense, each time
a player is at-bat, the
pitcher has an opportunity
to get her out by throwing
three strikes,
called a strikeout.
If the batter hits a pitch,
the defense has many ways
to get the batter out.
The defense can create
a force
out by throwing
the ball to 1st base before
the batter can reach the
base, tag
out by tagging
the base runner while
she is not standing on
a base, or fly-out
by catching the ball
in the air before it has
touched the ground. Once
the defense creates three
outs, it swithces to be
on offense.
Base running
The ultimate goal for
base runners is to reach
home plate and score a
run. They attempt to avoid
getting out
by following the rules
of the game. Runners are
safe as long as they touch
a base, and only one runner
is allowed on a base at
a time. If a runner is
on 1st base and the batter
hits the ball into play,
the base runner is forced
to run to 2nd base because
the batter is attempting
to occupy 1st base. In
this scenario, a fielder
can throw to 2nd base
to get a force
out.
However if there is
a runner on 2nd base and
no runner on 1st base,
the runner may remain
on 2nd base when the ball
is hit into play because
she is not forced
to advance—there
is room for the batter
to occupy 1st base and
the base runner to occupy
2nd base. More advanced
base running strategies
include: stealing,
tagging
up, and hit-and-run.
Major differences
from baseball
Fast pitch softball
is similar to baseball;
however, there are notable
differences. For example,
the pitch is delivered
underhand, the ball is
larger, the field is smaller,
and base runners cannot
leave a base until the
pitcher releases the pitch.
Common Umpire Signals
Several referees, called
umpires, govern the game
to ensure fair and safe
play. Umpires use hand
gestures and verbal calls
to signal their rulings
on the field. The two
most important signals
in softball are safe and
out. A player is safe
when she reaches a
base before being thrown
out during a force
out (tie goes
to the runner) or avoids
being tagged
out. The umpire
crosses her arms parallel
to the ground and then
extends both arms out
to the sides to signal
safe. An out is called
when a player strikes
out, is tagged
out, or is thrown
out for a force
out. The umpire
makes a fist and motions
as if to punch the air
to signal an out. The
umpire stationed behind
home plate will call each
pitch a ball
or a strike.
The umpire verbally calls
ball for a
ball and a combination
of calling strike
and using the same signal
for out (fist and punching
motion) for a strike.
Umpires also signal for
hit balls that are close
to being fair
or foul.
The umpire points in the
direction of foul ground
for a foul ball and in
the direction of fair
ground for a fair ball.
Equipment
Equipment differs for
offensive and defensive
positions. On offense,
batters have a wooden
or aluminum bat, batting
gloves for grip, and batting
helmets for protection.
On defense, fielders use
a leather glove. The catcher
has special protective
equipment, including a
face mask, chest protector,
and shin/leg guards. All
players wear shoes with
cleats. The uniform consists
of a jersey; pants, shorts,
or skirt; and a baseball
cap, visor, or headband.
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