SOFTBALL Softball is a variant of baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field.

HISTORY First played on Chicago Illinois on 1887 George Hancock is credited as the games inventor Walter Hakanson was the one who coined the name softball on 1926 Before its present name, softball was called indoor baseball, kitten ball, diamond ball, mush ball and pumpkin ball The first rules were published on 1889 The formation of the Joint Rules Committee on Softball in 1934 standardized the rules and naming throughout the United States. By the 1940s, fast pitching began to dominate the game. Slow pitch achieved formal recognition in 1953 when it was added to the program of the Amateur Softball Association In 1991, women's fast-pitch softball was selected to debut at the 1996 Summer Olympics. In 2002, sixteen-inch slow pitch was written out of the ISF official rules, although it is still played extensively in the United States under The Amateur Softball Association of America, or ASA rules. EQUIPMENT Ball Despite the sport's name, softballs are not especially soft. The size of the ball varies according to the classification of play The permitted circumferences in international play are 120.125 in, in weight between 6.25 oz. and 7.0 oz. in fast pitch; 110.125 in, weight between 5.875 oz. and 6.125 oz. in slow pitch. A 12-inch circumference ball is generally used in slow pitch. The ball is most often covered in white or yellow leather in two pieces roughly the shape of a figure-8 and sewn together with red thread. Bat The bat used by the batter can be made of wood, aluminum, or composite materials such as carbon fiber. Sizes may vary but they may be no more than 34 inches long, 2.25 inches in diameter, or 38 oz. in weight. In fast pitch softball, wooden bats are not allowed. The standard bat barrel diameter for both slow-pitch and fast pitch softball is 214 inches. Gloves All defensive players wear fielding gloves, made of leather or similar material. Gloves have webbing between the thumb and forefinger, known as the "pocket". Gloves used in softball are usually larger than the ones used in baseball. No glove larger than 14" or 36 cm can be used. Uniform The uniform includes a cap or visor, a shirt, tight sliding undershorts (optional), socks, and shorts or pants; these are the components for which standards are set. Caps, visors, and headbands are optional for female players, and have to be the same color. Caps are mandatory for male players. A fielder who chooses to wear a helmet is not required to wear a cap. At the back of the uniform, an Arabic numeral from numbers 1 through 99 must be visible. On the back of the uniforms players' names are optional. Jewelry cannot be worn during a game. All players are required to wear shoes and may have cleats or spikes. The spikes must extend less than 0.75 inch away from the sole.

Protective equipment A helmet must have two earflaps, one on each side. Helmets and cages that are damaged or altered are forbidden. Batters and runners in fast pitch must wear helmets. Helmets are optional in slow-pitch. In fast pitch, the catcher must wear a protective helmet with a facemask and throat protector, shin guards and body protector. Shin guards also protect the kneecap. In slow pitch, the catcher must wear a helmet and mask at youth levels. RULES 1. The pitcher must deliver the softball to home plate using an underhand motion, as opposed to an overhand motion, and the delivery must be made with one hand. 2. According to the International Softball Federation, a pitcher is forbidden, after placing the ball in both hands in a set position, to remove "one hand from the ball, take a backward and forward swing, and return the ball to both hands in front of the body." Once the ball is in one hand, it must remain in one hand before being thrown. 3. The pitcher is allowed to use a windmill motion during the windup before releasing the softball underhanded to home plate. However, it is forbidden to use more than one windmill motion in the windup. 4. A play cannot start until all of the defensive fielders, excluding the catcher, are positioned in fair territory on the inside of the foul lines. Only then can a pitch be legally made. 5. Defensive players in the field are not allowed to distract the batter intentionally or attempt to obstruct the batter's field of vision. This includes the catcher, who must remain behind the batter and within the batter's box before a pitch can be made. 6. The batter must be positioned within the batter's box before a pitch can be made, and cannot step outside of the batter's box during a pitch or during an offensive swing. Batters must position themselves within the batter's box within 10 seconds of the umpire saying "Play ball." 7. The umpire calls a strike when the softball enters the strike zone above the ground and crosses the plate, when a batter swings and misses and when a batter swings and hits the ball out of play in foul territory. If three strikes are called, a batter is out, though the third strike cannot be called on a foul ball. 8. The umpire calls a ball when a pitched softball reaches the catcher outside of the strike zone or hits the ground without the batter swinging in either circumstance. If the pitcher throws four balls out of the strike zone, the batter advances to first base. 9. A batter who hits the ball in play and reaches base before a fielder throws the ball to the first baseman becomes a base runner. If a batter hits a ball into the field of play such that he can advance past first base, a fielder must physically tag the runner with the ball, or the ball within a glove, to force the base runner out. 10. Any base runner that crosses home plate scores a run for their team. If a batter hits the ball over the outfield fence in fair territory, it is a home run, and both the batter and any runners on base advance to home plate, with each one scoring a run. MECHANICS OF PERFORMING THE BASIC SKILLS The Game There are 9 players on a softball team The playing field is divided in to the infield and outfield The lines between the bases are 60 apart and when joined they form a diamond inside the baseline known as infield Outside the baseline but inside the playing field is called the outfield. Any ball going outside the 1st or 3rd base line is a foul ball An official game is 7 innings Pitching The pitcher must have both feet on the pitchers rubber and can only take one step forward while pitching. Batting Batters must follow the same order throughout the whole game The batter is out if and when:

o 3 strikes has been called o a fly ball is caught o the batter does not stand in the batters box Base Running Runners must touch each base in order Runners may overrun 1st base only, all other bases the runner may be tagged and called out if they are off the base. Runners can not lead off a base, they must be on base until the ball as left the pitchers hand After a fly ball has been caught the base runner must tag the occupied base before advancing to the next base One base runner can not pass another base runner that is ahead of them. Stealing a base is not permitted A runner is out if: o they are tagged with the ball before reaching a base o the ball gets to the bases before the runner o they run more than 3 feet out of the baseline to avoid being tagged TERMS Ball A pitch outside the strike zone that the batter does not try to hit. Base One of the three safe stations for the batter or base runner. Baseline The direct line between each base, along which the base runner must generally run. Base-runner A batter who has reached base safely. Bases loaded Bases are said to be loaded when there is a base runner on each base. Batter The player trying to hit the pitch. Batters box A rectangular area beside home plate where the batter must stand to hit the pitch. Batting order The official list giving the order in which members of the team must come to bat. Bunt An attempt by the batter to tap the ball instead of swinging at it. Catcher The fielder positioned behind home plate who catches the pitches. Centerfielder The fielder positioned in center field. Changeup A pitch thrown deceptively slowly to surprise the batter. Curveball A pitch thrown with a rotation that makes the ball curve. Defense The fielding team. Designated hitter A player who bats in place of a designated team-mate in the batting line-up. Double A hit that allows a batter to reach second base. Double play A play in which two outs are made as the result of continuous action. Dugout The semi-enclosed area beside the playing field where players sit when they are not actively involved in the game. Error A mistake by a fielder that lets a batter or base-runner advance to a base. Fair ball A ball hit into the field of play. Fastball A pitcher's fastest pitch. First baseman The fielder stationed near first base. Fly-ball A ball hit in the air. Forced out An out made when a base runner, forced to run because another team-mate must run to the base being occupied, cannot reach the next base safely. Foul ball A ball hit outside the foul lines. Foul lines The two straight lines, extending from home plate past the outside edges of first and third bases to the outfield fence. Foul tip A ball that barely touches the bat before continuing sharply to the catcher with little deviance. Grand slam A home run with a base-runner on each base, scoring four runs. Groundball A ball hit along the ground.

Hit A ball struck by a batter that enables the batter to reach base safely. Home plate The five-sided piece of whitened rubber the batter stands beside to hit the pitch. Home run A hit by a batter, which usually goes over the outfield fence, that enables the batter to run around all the bases safely. Infield The diamond-shaped area formed by the three bases and home plate. Inning A turn at batting and fielding for each team. Left fielder The outfielder stationed in left field Line drive A ball hit sharply in a straight line roughly parallel to the ground. Live ball A ball in play. On deck Waiting to bat next. Outfield The playing area inside the foul lines and beyond the infield. Outfielder A fielder in any of the three outfield positions. Passed ball A catcher's failed attempt to catch a good pitch, allowing a base-runner to advance to the next base. Pinch hitter A player who bats in place of a teammate one time in a game. Pinch runner A player who runs the bases in place of a team-mate one time in a game. Pitcher The player who delivers the ball to the batter. Pitcher's plate The rubber slat on which the pitcher must stand, prior to delivering a pitch. Pop-fly A ball hit in the air to the infield. Relief pitcher A pitcher coming into a game in progress. Right fielder The outfielder stationed in right field. Run The point scored when a batter or base-runner advances to home plate. Run batted in The credit a batter receives for a turn at bat that enables a team-mate to score a run. Sacrifice fly A fly ball hit far enough to enable a base runner on third base to score a run after the ball is caught. Scoring position A good position for scoring a run on most hits, referring specifically to a base-runner standing on second base or third base. Second baseman The fielder stationed near second base. Shortstop The fielder normally positioned between the second and third basemen. Single A hit that allows a batter to reach first base safely. Slide A base-running maneuver in which the player slides into a base to avoid overrunning it, or to make it difficult for the fielder to tag the runner with the ball. Squeeze play An offensive play in which the batter bunts to try to let the base-runner on third base score a run. Starting pitcher The pitcher for each team at the start of the game. Steal A base runner's successful advance from one base to the next during a pitch that is not hit. Strike 1. A pitch judged by the umpire to have passed over home plate between the batter's armpits and the top of the knees. 2. a pitch that the batter swings at and misses. 3. a foul ball when the batter has fewer than two strikes. Strike zone The area over home plate between the batter's armpits and the top of the knees, where a pitch is called a strike even if the batter does not swing the bat. Strikeout An out where the batter has three strikes. Tag A base runner who is off base is touched with the ball by a fielder. Third baseman The fielder stationed near third base. Triple A hit that allows a batter to reach third base. Triple play A play in which three outs are made with one pitch ... continuous play. Walk An automatic advance to first base for the batter after the pitcher delivers four balls. Wild pitch A pitch thrown so wildly that the catcher cannot easily handle it.