What is Slow Pitch Softball?
Softball was first played inside and called indoor baseball. It was introduced in 1887 by G.W. Handcock of Chicago. A 17 inch ball was used. An outdoor versionof the game using a 12-inch ball with a standard baseball cover appeared in Minneapolis in 1895. The game was standardized in 1923 and the Amateur Softball Association was organized 10n years later.
Major differences from baseball include a smaller field, a larger ball, underhand pitching and seven-inning games. Participation is widespread as a recreation and as a competitive sport in schools and leagues.
Glossary of Slow Pitch Softball Terms
Strike: A legally pitched ball that is struck at and missed or one that passes over home plate between the batter’s knees and highest shoulder.
Ball: A legally pitched ball that does not enter the strike zone or touches the ground before it reaches home plate and is not struck at.
Walk: A base given the batter after four balls have been called.
Fair Ball: A legally batted ball that settles or is touched on or inside the base lines, which touches 1st or 3rd base, or touches fair ground beyond 1st or 3rd base. All other hits are foul balls.
Forced Out: A play in which the runner must advance to the next base or return to the original base.
Inning: The portion of a required time for both teams to have an equal turn at bat and one in the field.
Battery: The pitcher and the catcher.
Single: A one base hit.
Double: A two base hit.
Triple: A three base hit.
Home Run: A four base hit.
Double Play: A play in which two members of a team at bat are put out before the ball is returned to the pitcher’s box.
Backing Up: Playing behind a teammate so as to get the ball in case the fielder misses it.
Grounder: A batted ball which rolls or bounces along the ground.
Fly: A batted ball which goes up in the air.
Strikeout: Batter obtains three strikes.
Fair Territory: Area of the field inside the base lines.
Foul Territory: Area of the field outside the base lines.
Basic Rules of Slow Pitch Softball
The object of the game is for two teams to compete to score runs (points) by players safely moving around four bases on a diamond-shaped field. The highest score wins. The 3 common versions of softball are fast pitch, slow pitch and 16-inch slow pitch.
The Playing Field:
1. The official diamond shall have 60 foot baselines with a pitching distance of 40 feet.
2. The INFIELD is that portion of the field included within the diamond made by the baselines.
3. The OUTFIELD is that portion which is outside the diamond and between the foul lines beyond first and third base.
The Game:
A regulation game shall consist of seven innings unless the team coming to bat in the last half of the seventh inning is ahead or the score is tied at the end of seven innings.
Pitching:
1. The ball must be pitched underhand
2. The pitch must have an arc of at least 6 feet but not to exceed 12 feet-measured from the point of release.
Batting:
A batter shall be out if:
1. Three strikes are made or called.
2. Any fair or foul fly ball is caught.
3. A foul occurs after the second strike.
Baserunning:
1. A batter shall become a baserunner when:
a. the batter makes a fair hit.
b. four balls have been called on the batter.
2. A baserunner must touch the bases in correct order.
3. A runner may overrun a base only at first without liability of being put out.
4. A runner may not lead off the base.
5. A runner shall return and retouch the base when a fly ball, fair or foul, is caught before the runner may advance to the next base. (Tagging Up)
6. A runner shall not pass a preceding runner.
7. A runner may take only one base when the ball is over thrown into foul territory.
8. A base runner is out:
a. when a runner is tagged by a player in possession of the ball before the runner reaches base.
b. if a fielder in possession of the ball tags the base before the baserunner gets there on a force out.
c. if a runner leads off.
d. when the ball is thrown to a base which the runner failed to touch.
e. if struck by a batted ball which has not been touched by a fielder.
Safety Rules:
Students should be safety conscious at all times.
1. Play your position properly, use good basic teamwork and cal for the ball.
2. Swing bats only in designated areas.
3. Players waiting their turn to bat must remain behind the backstop or on the bench.
