Softball Basics for Dummies!

SOFTBALL BASICS PART I

Did You Know That?
Dispute exists over the origin of softball. Some argue that the game was invented as an
indoor version of baseball in Chicago in the 1880’s. Others claim that a lieutenant
fireman in Chicago created the game in a vacant lot adjoining his fire station in the
1890's. A multitude of names labeled the game in its earliest form, such as kitten ball, mush ball, and big ball. Today, softball is one of the most popular participation sports in the United States.

The Basics!
Softball players advance around bases by batting and running in an effort to score. Points, called runs, are scored when a player on the batting team touches all the bases (including home plate) without being tagged “out” by a player in the field. The team scoring the greater number of runs in the allotted number of innings wins the game.

What's Needed?
A softball glove, a softball (made of rubber and cork), softball bat (made aluminum), cleats or sneakers, matching uniform, baseball cap, and batting helmet with face guard and strap. For the catcher: a face mask, leg protectors and chest protector.

How Long Does A Game Last?
A fast pitch softball game is generally seven innings long. (Some youth leagues may play shorter games.) Each inning is divided into two halves: a top and a bottom.  Both teams are allowed three outs per half inning. Usually, if a game ends in a tie, extra innings are played until
one team outscores the other. The team batting in the bottom half of the inning, if trailing, always gets a final at bat.

The Batter!
Batting takes place at home plate in a “batter’s box.” The batter stands at the plate and swings his or her bat in an attempt to hit the pitched ball into fair play. Batters must swing at the ball when it is pitched in the strike zone or else it may be called a “strike.”
When a batter hits a fair ball he or she becomes a base runner and sprints to first base.

What Does It Mean!
Base Hit - Occurs when a batting player hits the ball in fair play and is able to “safely”
reach a base. It is called a single if the batter reaches first base; a double if the batter makes it to second; a triple if he or she gets to third; and a “home run” if the batter crosses home plate.

Home Run (“Homer” or “Four Bagger”) - When a batter hits a fair ball far enough for
him or her to reach all four bases without being tagged out. In some softball parks a fence encloses the outfield. It is an automatic home run when the ball is hit over this fence on the fly. A home run scores one run for the batter and a run for each player on base at the time of the hit.

Fair Ball - A batted ball that is hit within the foul lines.

Foul Ball - A batted ball that lands outside fair territory or touches fair ground, but rolls out-of-bounds before reaching first or third base. A foul ball counts as a strike, unless there are already two strikes; in this case, the player continues to bat.

Strike - Called when a player swings and misses a pitch; swings and fouls off a pitch; or does not swing when a pitch is in the strike zone. A batter strikes out when he or she gets three strikes in one turn at bat (so long as the third strike is caught by the catcher); “foul tips” a third strike that is caught by the catcher; or “bunts” the ball foul when there are two strikes.

Ball - Called by the umpire when the batter does not swing at a pitch that is outside the strike zone.

Out!
The objective for teams playing in the field is to get three players on the batting team out in each inning. A batter is out when he or she 1) hits a softball fair or foul, that is caught by a fielder before it touches the ground, 2) is tagged or first base is touched by a fielder with the ball before the batter gets there, or 3) strikes out. A base runner is out when he or she 1) is between bases and is tagged by a fielder holding the ball, or 2) is forced out.

Softball Is Different From Baseball!
Although the two games are very similar, several nuances exist between baseball and
softball that set them apart. In softball the ball is larger and softer; pitching is done underhand; the dimensions of the playing field are smaller; the bases are closer together; and the pitcher throws at a distance closer to home plate. There is no base leading or stealing allowed (runners may not move off a base until the pitched ball either crosses home plate or is hit by the batter); and if a pitcher balks, illegally moving his or her feet
off the pitching plate while a runner is on base, a runner is not awarded a free base - the pitch is deemed a ball instead.

SOFTBALL BASICS PART II

Two teams of nine players compete in a fast pitch softball game. (In the MWGSL
games, teams use ten players, with the tenth player acting as an extra outfielder.)
Softball games are played on a field divided between an infield and an outfield. The
infield, called the “diamond,” is where the four bases are located. Players in the field
include three outfielders, four infielders, one pitcher, and one catcher.

Substitutions may take place anytime that the ball is not in play. Once substituted,
however, a player may not reenter the game.

Pitcher - Throws the softball from the center of the diamond. Facing the batter, with both feet on the “pitching plate,” and both hands on the ball, The pitcher uses an underarm motion to fast pitch the ball toward the “strike zone.” While releasing the softball toward home plate, he or she may step forward off the pitching plate, but must keep his or her back foot on the pitching plate until the ball has left her hand. After making the pitch, the pitcher gets ready to field balls hit up the middle of the infield.

Catcher - Plays in a semi-crouched position directly behind home plate and catches the
ball thrown by the pitcher. He or she also covers home plate on fielding plays when
runners try to score.

First Baseman - Positioned just to the left of the first base bag. His or her main roles are to make fielding plays on balls hit toward first base and to cover the base on “force plays” when batters approach.

Second Baseman - Plays in the gap between the bag at second and the first baseman. He
or she fields “grounders” and “pop ups” hit to this side of the infield, covers second when runners approach, and relays throws from the outfielders.

Shortstop-Plays between second and third base and fields the balls hit to this area of the infield. He or she covers second base (along with the second baseman) and is often
involved in force plays and “double plays” with the second baseman.

Third Baseman - Plays to the left of third base and covers any plays there. He or she is
responsible for fielding softballs hit down the third base line.

Outfielders (Left, Right, and Center) - Positioned beyond the infield, they catch and field “fly balls,” line drives, and ground balls hit into the outfield. They usually have strong throwing arms to quickly get the ball back to the infield and prevent runners from advancing.

SOFTBALL BASICS PART III

What Does It Mean!

Bases Loaded - Term for when there are runners on first, second, and third base.

Batter's Box - The rectangular areas on either side of home plate where players stand
when batting.

Beaned - When a batter is hit in the head by a pitch. Anytime a batter is hit by a pitch, he or she advances to first base.

Bunt - A batter uses a partial swing to gently hit the ball into the infield in an attempt to outrun a throw to first base and/or advance a base runner.

The Count - The number of balls and strikes against a batter. Three balls and two strikes
is called a “full count.”

Diamond - Another name for the infield, derived from the diamond shape formed by the
three bases and home plate.

Double Play - Occurs when the fielding team puts out two base runners in one play.
Error - When a fielder misplays or makes a poor throw on a batted ball, allowing a batter or runners to advance on the bases.

Force Play - Occurs when a batter hits a fair ball and runs to first base forcing a base runner directly ahead of him or her to run to the next base. In this situation, an infielder holding the softball need only tag the base ahead of a runner in order to get him or her out.

Foul Tip - A foul ball that is lightly tipped.

Fly Ball - A ball hit high in the air past the infield.

Grand Slam - A home run with the bases loaded. Four runs are scored.

Ground Rule Double - When a fair ball either bounces over a home run fence or rolls out
of play. The batter gets an automatic double.

Grounder - A ball batted on the ground.

Infield Fly Rule - A batter is automatically called out if he or she pops the ball up in the infield when base runners are on first and second with fewer than two outs. It is enforced regardless of whether or not the ball is caught.

Lineup - The order in which players bat.

On Deck - The batting player next up to the plate in the batting lineup.

Pitching Plate - The rubber plate in the center of the diamond. The pitcher must stand
with both feet on the pitching plate when starting his or her wind-up.

Pop-up - A ball hit straight up in the air.

Run Down - Happens when fielders, throwing the ball to one another, trap a base runner
between two bases and chase him or her down for the tag out.

Runs Batted In (or RBI) - Credited to the player who brings home a base runner as a
result of his or her turn at bat. It can occur with a hit, a walk with the bases loaded, a “sacrifice,” and sometimes an out - if the out leads to a run.

Sacrifice - Describes when a batter manages to advance a base runner to the next base
with a bunt attempt or a fly ball. Though he or she is out, the batter has put his or her
teammate in a better scoring position for the next batter.

Safe - Called by the umpire when a runner successfully reaches a base.

Slide - To avoid being tagged out on close fielding plays, the runner will often dive
headfirst or feet first into the base.

Strike Zone - The area above home plate from under the batter’s shoulders to the top of
his or her knees.

Tagging Up - Once a fly ball has been caught by an outfielder, a runner may tag his or her
base and try to run to the next base before the ball is thrown there.

Walk (or Base-on-Balls) - If a batter is pitched four balls in his or her turn at bat he or she advances to first base.