Softball

History
 The game of softball originated in Chicago on
Thanksgiving Day, 1887. A group of about twenty young
men had gathered in the gymnasium of the Farragut Boat
Club in order to hear the outcome of the Harvard-Yale
football game. After Yale's victory was announced and
bets were paid off, a man picked up a stray boxing glove
and threw it at someone, who hit it with a pole.

 George Hancock, the inventor of softball, shouted, "Let's

play ball!" He tied the boxing glove so that it resembled a
ball, chalked out a diamond on the floor and broke off a
broom handle to serve as a bat. What proceeded was an
odd, smaller version of baseball. That game is now, 111
years later, known as the first softball game.
Fast Pitch Softball
 Players and Positions:
Pitcher – 1
Catcher – 2
First Base – 3
Second Base – 4
Third Base – 5
Shortstop – 6
Left Field – 7
Center Field – 8
Right Field – 9
 As an example if you heard
someone say, “it was a 4 to 3
play.” You would take the
numbers above to find out who
made the play. 4-Second Base
to 3-First base out.
 The bat used by the batter is
made of metal or composite
materials. It may be no more
than 34 in long, 2.25 in
diameter.
 A softball game can last
anywhere from 3 to 9 innings,
depending on the league, rules,
and type of softball; however 7
innings is the most common.
 In fast pitch softball the ball
MUST be pitched underhand. It
also has to be thrown by the
pitcher using the “windmill”
pitch.
Slow Pitch Softball
 All player positions are the
same with the exception of
ONE! Slow pitch has an extra  Bases will be 65 feet apart
player: # 10. They are deemed in the men and women's.
as the “short fielder” and they
play in the outfield to help fill  Games are still 7 innings, or
gaps. longer if in a tie.
 There is NO base stealing!
Players and Numbered Position  The pitch must be thrown
 Pitcher – 1 underhand (slingshot) and
Catcher – 2 have a minimum arc of 6 ft.
First Base – 3 from the ground. The
Second Base – 4 maximum allowable arc is
12 ft. from the ground. If the
Third Base – 5 pitch does not meet these
Shortstop – 6 requirements, an illegal
Left Field – 7 pitch shall be called.
Center Field – 8
Right Field – 9
Short Field – 10
Field of Play (fast pitch)

 The pitcher's circle is a a circular area

with an 8 foot radius measured from the
center of the front edge of the pitcher's
plate (rubber).
 The distance between all of the bases is
60 feet.
 The distance from home plate to the
pitching rubber is 43 feet (College and
Pro) 40 feet for most high schools.
Softball Field
Safe or Out? You be the judge!
 Vocabulary
Batting Average: Percentage of times a player gets a base hit.
Diamond: Nickname for the infield, sometimes used to describe entire field.
Double Play: When two outs are made on a single batted ball.
Earned run: A run that is scored without the aid of an error.
Hit-and-run play: First base runner tries for second base when the pitcher throws the ball. This is used to get infielders moving in the hope that a hit
would allow the runner on first to reach third.
Sacrifice: When a batter bunts a ball and is put out, but the play allows a runner to take a base.
Squeeze play: The batter bunts the ball, allowing the runner from third base to score.
Triple play: When three outs are made on a single batted ball.
Dead Ball: Is not considered in play again, until the pitcher is stationed within the 16-foot circle and the umpire calls play ball.
Foul Tip: Is a batted ball, which goes directly and speedily from the bat to the catcher’s mitt or hand not higher than the batters head and is legally
caught by the catcher, ball remains alive.
Crow Hop: Is the replanting of the pivot foot prior to delivery of the pitch.
Strike Zone: Is that space over home plate, which is between the batters forward armpit and the top of the knees when the batter assumes a natural
batting stance. Any part of the ball passing through the strike zone in flight shall be considered a strike; the umpire shall determine the batter’s
strike zone according to the batter’s usual stance.
Bunt: Is a fair ball, which occurs when the batter does not swing to hit the ball, but holds the bat in the path of the ball to tap it slowly to the infield.
Drag Bunt: Is a bunt where the batter attempts to bunt the ball by running forward in the batter box, carrying the bat with her. The movement of the bat
is in conjunction with the batters forward movement.
Attempted Bunt: Is any movement of the bat toward the ball when the ball is over or near the plate area. The mere holding of the bat in the strike
zone is not an attempt to bunt. If an attempted bunt results in a foul ball, it is treated as any other foul ball, if the batter has two strikes and this
happens, he is out.
Slap Hit: Occurs when the batter gives the appearance of bunting, using a modified swing or slap at the ball as it approaches home plate. If an attempt
to "SLAP" is a foul ball, it is treated the same as any other foul ball including an attempt by the batter with two strikes.
Wild Pitch: A wild pitch is a pitch that cannot be handled by the catcher with ordinary effort.
Passed Ball: A passed ball is a pitch which the catcher fails to stop or control with ordinary effort and which enables a runner to advance.
Catch: Is the act of a fielder getting secure possession in a hand or glove of a live ball in flight and firmly holding it, provided a cap, protector, mask,
pocket or other part of the uniform is not used to trap the ball. It is considered a catch. If a fielder catches a fair or foul ball and then leaves live-
ball area with both feet by stepping or falling into a beach, dugout, stand, bleacher or over any boundary or barrier, such as a fence, rope, chalk
line, or a pre-game determined imaginary boundary line of the field of play. Falling into does not include merely running against such object. It
is not a catch when a fielder touches a batted ball in flight and the ball then contacts a member of the offensive team or an umpire and is then
caught by a defensive player.
On-Deck Circle: For each team is a circle 5 feet in diameter located a safe distance to the side and away from home plate, at least 30 feet if space
allows.
Throw out: Is a putout caused by a throw to first base to retire a batter-runner, or to any other base to which a runner is forced or is required to
retouch.
Strikeout: Is the result of the pitcher getting a third strike charged to a batter. In fast pitch, this usually results in the batter being out. Anytime first base
is unoccupied, or there are two outs, and the third strike is not caught, the batter-runner is entitled to advance.
Slide: Can be either feet first or head first. If a runner slides feet first, at least one leg and buttock shall be on the ground. If a runner slides, the runner
shall be within reach of the base with either a hand or a foot when the slide is completed.
"Time" is the command of the umpire to suspend play. The ball becomes dead when it is given.
Worksheet
THE GAME OF SOFTBALL WAS INVENTED IN WHAT YEAR?
WHERE WAS THE GAME OF SOFTBALL INVENTED?
WHO INVENTED THE GAME OF SOFTBALL?
ONE PITCH SOFTBALL MEANS YOU GET HOW MANY PITCHES?
HOW MANY INNINGS ARE IN A SOFTBALL GAME?
WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR SLOW-PITCH SOFTBALL?
THE MAXIMUM LENGTH FOR A SOFTBALL BAT IS?
IN SLOW-PITCH AND FAST-PITCH HOW MUST THE BALL BE
PITCHED?
WHAT PLAYER POSITIONS ARE INVOLVED IN A 6-4-3 DOUBLE
PLAY?
Draw and label Softball field, include lines bases,
fielders by position and numbered positions.
Define 15 of the 24 Softball vocabulary terms.
Work sited
 Information:
Keene State College Softball hand Book-
Charlie Beach
http://www.campusrec.uiuc.edu/intramurals/ima
ges/sport_rules/softball.pdf
http://www.softballsearch.com/softballrules.html
http://www.dudleysports.com/tips/terms.html

 Pictures:
www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/5312444.
stm
www.wiaa.com/athletics/softball/