Softball Guide for beginner's
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Introduction
First of all Softball is a fun sport! It is one of the few sports
that allow men and women to play alongside and against each other on an
equal basis. It is a 'social' version of Baseball and if that means
nothing to you then it might help if we say it comes from the same
sporting family as Rounders. Below are some details of how Softball is
played but we assure you it is a lot easier to pick up playing it!
1: The Basic Game
Softball is played by two teams of ten players each. The teams take
it in turns to bat and field. The batting team is called the OFFENSIVE
team and the fielding team is called the DEFENSIVE team.
The basics of Softball are very simple. One player, the PITCHER, pitches
the ball to a BATTER who hits it and runs around as many bases as
possible before the ball is retrieved and returned under control by the
defensive team. The aim of the game is to score more RUNS than the
opposition, and a run is scored when a player on the batting team
advances successfully around all three bases and back to the home base
(called HOME PLATE) from whence he/she started. Unless you hit the ball
so far that you can run around all the bases before it's returned (a
HOME RUN), you will have to stop at one or more bases on your way around
and wait for the next batter to hit the ball so you can advance further.
Meanwhile, the defensive team is trying to get batters and base
runners OUT, either by catching balls hit in the air, or in various
other ways we'll get to later. As soon as three players on the offensive
team have made outs, the two teams switch: The defensive team comes in
to bat and the batting team goes out to the field to defend.
An inning is completed when each team has batted, and a full game
consists of seven innings, usually taking between 60 and 90 minutes to
play. Players bat in a prearranged order. After the last batter in the
order has hit, the first batter comes up again. If the final out in an
inning is made by, say, the fourth batter in the order, then the fifth
batter will be the first to hit when the team comes in to bat again.
Batters keep their place in the batting order even if they were out last
time they batted.
2: The Playing Area
A Softball playing area is contained within a 90-degree angle, and is
usually called a DIAMOND, because the central part of the playing field
- the INFIELD - is diamond-shaped. The OUTFIELD extends outward from the
infield to a boundary, either actual or notional. From above, the
playing area looks like the illustration following. Everything inside
the thick black lines is known as FAIR TERRITORY and is where most of
the action takes place. The area outside these lines is called FOUL
TERRITORY, where some action can take place. Everything beyond this is
called DEAD BALL TERRITORY because if this ball goes into this area, all
action stops. As a basic rule, the batter must hit the ball into fair
territory.
You will often hear people referring to LEFT FIELD, CENTER FIELD and
RIGHT FIELD. These terms mean exactly what they say. Left field is that
part of the outfield which is to the left as you look at the field
diagram; center field is the outfield area behind second base; and right
field is the outfield area to the right on the diagram. The pitcher
stands on a rectangular piece of heavy rubber, the PITCHER'S PLATE (P),
and tries to pitch the ball across HOME PLATE (H), a five-sided piece of
heavy rubber, guarded by the batter, 50 feet away. Each BASE (First
Base, Second Base and Third Base) is marked by plastic bag filled with
foam. The distance between each base is 65 feet (quite a long way!). For
safety reasons, FIRST BASE often consists of a double base, half white
and half orange, with the orange section in foul territory and the white
section in fair territory. The batter heads for the orange part, the
fielder uses the white part, and collisions are avoided.
3: The Defensive Team
The defensive team, (the FIELDERS), try to catch or stop any balls
hit, in order to prevent offensive players advancing around the bases
and scoring runs. Good fielders think about the game situation BEFORE
each pitch, so when the ball is pitched they know: 1. What will I do if
the ball is hit to me ? 2. What will I do if the ball is hit to someone
else ? Each fielder has specific duties and also a number, (used for
score-keeping.) When the ball is pitched each fielder must be ready to
field batted balls hit towards them on the ground or in the air.
PITCHER (1): The pitcher starts play by pitching the ball to
the batter, then becomes another infielder ready to field the ball. The
pitcher is well placed to cover any other infielder and back up play.
CATCHER (2): The catcher kneels or squats behind home plate,
returning the ball to the pitcher if it is not hit. The catcher also
takes throws to home plate and tries to get base-runners out before they
reach the base and score a run.
FIRST BASE (3): This is a busy position, with many balls thrown
to first base in an attempt to put batters out who are running from home
to first. So this fielder needs "safe hands": i.e., he/she needs to be
able to hold on safely to thrown balls.
SECOND BASE (4): The second base player will guard much of the
right side of the infield. He/she will often catch throws made to second
base, though the short stop (see below) can do this as well.
THIRD BASE (5): The third base player will usually take throws
made to third. This player needs good reflexes (since the ball is often
hit hard in his/her direction) and a good throwing arm, since it's a
long throw from third to first base.
SHORT STOP (6): The short stop tries to stop or catch any ball
hit towards left field. The short stop is also in a good position to
take throws at second base or, occasionally, at third.
LEFT FIELDER (7) will play in left field.
LEFT CENTER FIELDER (8) will play to the left of the center field
area.
RIGHT CENTER FIELDER (9) will play to the right of the center
field area.
RIGHT FIELDER (10) will play in right field.
TIP: See how the infielders are positioned on the diagram to
cover as much of the infield area as possible. It is a common fault for
inexperienced infield players to stand on their base at all times. This
isn't necessary and means that they're not covering as much of the field
as they could be. It only becomes necessary to touch your base if you
are trying to get someone out there. Outfielders positions are not quite
so rigidly defined as infield positions. The team captain or possibly
the catcher may position the outfielders, sometimes differently for each
batter. For example, if a hard-hitting batter is up, the outfielders may
all move back, or if a left-handed batter comes up, the outfielders may
all swing around towards right field.
Each defensive player, including the pitcher, wears a fielder's glove
to stop and catch balls. These gloves may seem cumbersome at first and
even a bit cissy but gloves are essential because:
the size and weight of a softball makes it painful and dangerous to
catch without a glove (it's not soft!)
a glove will allow you to make catches you could never make barehanded
(your hand is smaller!)
a glove will allow you to control the ball quickly in order to throw
it, which is an essential part of the game. Practice using the glove,
catching the ball in the webbing rather than the palm and remembering
not to rely on the glove to do everything. Close your fingers on the
ball once it goes into the glove and cover the gloved hand with your
bare hand to stop the ball popping out. Another reason to practice with
the glove is that it's worn on your weaker hand (i.e., if you're
right-handed you'll wear a glove on your left hand), and you're probably
not used to catching with this hand. The reason for this arrangement is
so that your stronger hand is free for throwing.
Part 4: Pitching
In Fast pitch Softball, the pitcher must start with both feet in
contact with the pitching plate. Prior to starting the delivery, the
pitcher shall take a position with: (1) the pivot foot on or partially
on the top surface of the pitchers plate (2) the non-pivot foot also in
contact with the pitchers plate. Both feet must touch the pitches
plate prior to start of pitch. Movement must be in a forward direction.
More on Fast Pitch Basics.
Strikes and Balls
A pitched ball will be described (by the umpire) as either a STRIKE
or a BALL. Basically, a strike is a good pitch and a ball is a bad one.
A GOOD PITCH must:
be pitched from the pitching plate.
pass between the height of the batter's knees and back shoulder as he
/ she stands at home plate in a normal batting stance (you can't make it
harder by crouching down!).
pass across some part of the Strike Zone.
Putting speed on the pitch, or a curve or drop, makes it harder to hit.
Some definitions:
THE STRIKE ZONE is an imaginary three-dimensional column of space with
depth, width and corners corresponding to the shape of home plate. A
ball needs to pass through ANY part of this zone to be called a strike.
A STRIKE is a pitched ball which fulfills all of the above conditions.
In all other cases, the pitch is a BALL, unless the batter swings at it.
A STRIKE OUT occurs if three strikes are called against the batter and
the batter hasn't managed to hit the ball into Fair Territory.
A STRIKE is called if:
a pitch is good and the batter fails to swing, or swings and misses,
or swings and hits the ball into Foul Territory (without it being
caught) or into Dead Ball Territory
a pitch is bad (would be deemed a BALL) but the batter swings and
misses it
A BATTER ON BASE or a WALK occurs if:
A pitcher pitches four BALLS - bad pitches which the batter makes no
attempt to hit. In this case the batter will walk to first base.
Putting batters on base is dangerous since it 'loads the bases' with
runners who can score if a big hitter gets a ball into Fair Territory.
The basic job of a pitcher is to throw strikes!
5: Batting
A right-handed batter will stand to the right side of home plate
(from the pitcher's point of view) and a left-handed batter to the left
of home plate. Once a batter hits the ball into fair territory, he/she
advances counter-clockwise around the bases.
Basic batting techniques:
Start with your weight mostly on the back foot and the bat drawn back.
Watch the ball all the way to the point of contact with the bat.
Begin the swing by stepping towards the pitcher with the front foot.
Twist the body to open the hips, then the shoulders, which pulls the
bat through to meet the ball.
It's important to have a full follow-through on the swing
If and when you hit the ball into Fair Territory, you must run. You have
no choice. You must drop (never throw!) the bat down into Foul Territory
and run as fast as possible to first base (and on to further bases if
you think you can make them safely - i.e., before the fielders can get
the ball to a player on that base). Remember that you must touch every
base with your foot as you run past it, and when you decide to stop at a
base (apart from first base and home plate), you must stop on it, not
run past it. If you run past, you're liable to be tagged out.
Fair and Foul balls
A ball is considered to be FAIR if:
it lands in the outfield (i.e. in Fair Territory), and then rolls foul
it is hit into Foul Territory, but then rolls into Fair Territory
before it passes first or third base.
it hits either first or third base, no matter where it goes
afterwards!
A ball is considered to be FOUL if:
it is hit into the infield (i.e. in Fair Territory) but then rolls
foul before it passes first or third base
it is hit into Foul Territory outside the outfield and then rolls into
Fair Territory
NOTE: A ball touched by a fielder standing in fair territory is FAIR, a
ball touched by a fielder in foul territory is FOUL.
6: Running the Bases
So you've hit the ball, it's not been caught in the air by a fielder,
it lands fair and you're forced to run. You have now become a
BATTER-RUNNER until you reach first base, and a BASE RUNNER thereafter.
You are not considered safe - i.e. you can't become a base runner -
until you reach first base without being put out. If any defensive
player is holding the ball and touches first base with any part of her
body, or the ball itself, before you get there, you are OUT.
A typical example would be this:
You hit the ball along the ground (called a GROUND BALL) to the short
stop. You set off for first base. The short stop picks it up and throws
to the first base player, who catches the ball in his glove while his
foot is in contact with the base. The ball gets to her before you can
reach the base. You're out! You can be put out in the same way at all
bases to which you are FORCED to run (we'll explain when you're forced
to run and when you're not in a moment).
As a base runner you are never safe until you are touching a base. If at
any point you are touched with the ball (whether in or out of the glove)
by a fielder and you are not safely in contact with a base, you are out.
This is called a TAG.
There are two exceptions to the TAG rule:
Overrunning first base. As a batter-runner, you don't have to stop dead
on first base. You are allowed to make contact with the base and then
run on beyond it in a straight line (so you don't lose speed and
momentum) after which you can safely walk back to first without the
danger of being tagged out. However, if you pass first base and turn
into the field of play with the intent to run on towards second, you can
be tagged out. When running to second or third base, however, you must
stay in contact with the base once you reach it. Incidentally: you can
also overrun home plate when scoring a run.
A dead ball situation. An example of a dead ball situation is when the
batter swings and hits the ball into Foul Territory. The ball is now
considered dead and no play can take place, so if you had left your base
on the swing, you are allowed to walk back to it in safety prior to the
next pitch. Another common example of a dead ball situation is an
OVERTHROW. This is where a ball thrown inaccurately or missed by one of
the fielders ends up in Dead Ball Territory. At this point, the umpire
will call the play dead. Any base-runners are then allowed to walk
safely to the base they were attempting to reach at the point when the
throw was made, plus one more. Even if a base runner was standing on a
base, he will be awarded the next base he might have advanced to.
Inexperienced players often dispute the award of bases in this
situation, but that's the rule!
Now we'll look more closely at when base runners are forced to run
and when they're not, and what fielders have to do in these situations
to put runners out:
Force Outs
Let's suppose that you have made it to first base safely and now the
next batter comes up to bat. Remember that you can only advance to
second base or beyond if the next batter hits the ball or receives a
walk.
However, if the next batter hits the ball into Fair Territory without it
being caught in the air, you are forced to run towards second base
because the batter-runner is coming to occupy first base and no more
than one runner per base is allowed. In any situation where you as a
base runner are forced to advance, the defensive team can put you out
simply by throwing the ball to a player standing on the base to which
you're advancing. This is called a FORCE OUT (or Force Play). No tag is
necessary, although the fielder can choose to tag you while you're
between bases if he wishes.
Now let's suppose that you're a base runner on first and the next
batter hits a ground ball to the short stop. You are forced to run to
second, the batter-runner is forced to run to first, and the defensive
team has a choice of two possible FORCE OUTS: you or the batter-runner.
If they're feeling ambitious and there are less than two outs, they can
go for both of you. If they're successful, this is called a DOUBLE PLAY.
Typically, the short stop would throw the ball to the second base-player
standing on second (that puts you out) and the second base-player would
throw immediately on to first base. If the throw reaches the first
base-player before the batter-runner reaches the base, they too would be
out!
Force plays can apply at any base. For example, if there are base
runners on all three base's (this is called BASES LOADED), then all the
runners are forced to run on the next hit that isn't caught in the air,
and the fielders could get a FORCE OUT at any base - including home
plate.
Tag Outs
You have probably already grasped the point that fielders must TAG
OUT runners who are not forced to run; simply standing on the base with
the ball won't do.
Say you are the first batter in the inning and you hit a DOUBLE (a hit
that allows you get to second base). When the next batter hits the ball
and runs toward first, you don't have to advance if you don't want to,
because no one is corning to occupy your base. If you do choose to head
for third, you are UNFORCED and to put you out, a fielder must tag you
with the ball in hand or glove before you reach your target base. In
fact, you can turn around and run back to the base you came from if that
seems a wiser choice; no one is coming to occupy that base and it's
still yours!
There is a great deal of skill and judgment involved in base running. A
good runner can often gain an advantage by forcing the defensive team to
panic and make mistakes. So pay attention at all times, run hard and
look for chances to take extra bases when the defenders make bad throws
or simply aren't paying attention. Never give up on the possibilities
until the umpire has called "Time!" and the play is over.
Catch Outs (ball is caught in the air)
Suppose you're on first base with less than two out and the next batter
hits the ball in the air towards an outfielder (this is called a FLY
BALL, or, if it's hit on a low, hard trajectory, a LINE DRIVE). Well, as
soon as the outfielder catches the ball before it hits the ground, then
the batter is out - at which point you're no longer forced to run to
second, since there's no batter-runner coming to occupy first. The force
is off.
Instead, you can choose whether to advance to second or not, and this
means the defensive team can't get you out with a Force Play. They can
only get you out by tagging you with the ball: a TAG OUT or Tag Play.
That's why, if the ball is hit in the air towards a fielder when you're
a forced runner, you shouldn't automatically take off for the next base,
because the catch might be made and the force removed.
AND HERE'S THE KEY POINT: you cannot advance to the next base on a
caught fly ball unless your foot is in contact with the base you're
already occupying when the catch is made, or afterwards. This is called
TAGGING UP. You must tag up before you can advance after a caught fly
ball. Why? it's a rule!
Sliding
Remember that we said you can overrun first base (or home), but not
second and third, where you can be tagged out if you're not in contact
with the base. But running hard and then stopping dead on a small base
isn't easy!
One way to do this is to slide the last few feet into the base along the
ground, so that you come to rest on or in contact with the base with
minimal loss of momentum. Another reason to slide is that you will
present a smaller and more difficult target for the defensive player who
might be waiting to tag you.
TIPS FOR SLIDING
Start your slide about 10 feet from the base. Tuck one leg under the
other, lean back into a reclining position, but keep your fists clenched
and your arms up off the ground (to avoid injuries). Sliding is most fun
and least painful on wet grass; it can be a killer on Astroturf or
gravel infields!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This guide is entirely based on the BSFs IDIOTS GUIDE TO SOFTBALL
produced some years ago. |