Miss Woodward’s Classes Softball

Softball - History Softball originated in Chicago on Thanksgiving Day, A group of about twenty young men had got together in the gym.. A man picked up a stray boxing glove and threw it at someone, who hit it with a pole. The first softball game was played using a rolled up boxing glove as a ball and a broom stick as a bat.

Types of Softball There are two types of softball. Slow Pitch and Fast Pitch

Fast Pitch Players = 9 Bunting = Legal Stealing = Legal Pitching = Both feet on plate, one step allowed Illegal Pitch = Ball called on batter, all base runners advance one base Players = 10 Bunting = Illegal Stealing = Illegal Pitching = Arch not over 12 ft., one foot on plate, one step allowed Illegal Pitch = Ball called on batter, no advance of runners Fast Pitch Versus Slow Pitch Slow Pitch

Fast Pitch Strike Zone = Armpits to top of the knees Foul Tip = Ball caught is alive Ball four = Ball alive Strike Zone = Shoulders to knees Foul Tip = Ball caught is dead Ball four = Ball dead Slow Pitch Fast Pitch Versus Slow Pitch

Slow Pitch Softball All player positions are the same with the exception of ONE! Slow pitch has an extra player: # 10. They are deemed as the “short fielder” and they play in the outfield or behind the actual 2 nd base to help fill gaps. Players and Numbered Position Pitcher – 1 Catcher – 2 First Base – 3 Second Base – 4 Third Base – 5 Shortstop – 6 Left Field – 7 Center Field – 8 Right Field – 9 Short Field – 10 Bases will be 65 feet apart in the men and women's. Games are still 7 innings, or longer if in a tie. There is NO base stealing! The pitch must be thrown underhand (slingshot) and have a minimum arc of 6 ft. from the ground. The maximum allowable arc is 12 ft. from the ground. If the pitch does not meet these requirements, an illegal pitch shall be called.

Softball - Object of the Game- To score more runs than the opposing team. The team with the most runs at the end of the game wins. Slow pitch softball is an American pastime that can be enjoyed by all ages. Leagues are formed for children, men, women and co-ed teams. The rules differ for baseball, slow pitch softball, and fast pitch softball.

SOFTBALL GAME OBJECTIVES Offensive strategy- A run is scored every time a base runner touches all four bases, in the sequence of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and home. Primary Offensive objective: score runs and avoid outs. Defense objective: prevent runs and create 3 outs before runs are scored.

Softball - Game length Softball games are played in “units” called innings. There are seven scheduled innings in a softball game, during which each team has the opportunity to bat. The visiting team bats in the first half of each inning, called the “top of the inning;” the home team bats in the second half of each inning, called the “bottom of the inning.”

GAME LENGTH There is no set time that an inning lasts; each half of the inning continues until the defense accumulates three outs. If the game is tied after the last inning, the game goes into “extra innings,” and continues until one team holds a lead at the end of an inning. HOME TEAM gets to “bat last” if they are behind in the last inning of a game, or the game goes into extra innings.

Softball- Rules Batting- 3 outs are played per inning. Bases are 65 feet apart. You cannot steal bases or bunt in softball. The count includes three balls for a walk and two strikes for an out.

Softball- Defensive strategy There are 10 defensive players allowed on the field at once. On defense, when a player is at-bat, the pitcher has an opportunity to get them out by throwing three strikes, called a strikeout. If the batter hits a pitch, the defense can create a force out by throwing the ball to 1st base before the batter can reach the base, tag out by tagging the base runner, or fly-out by catching the ball in the air. Once the defense creates three outs, it switches to be on offense.

DEFENSIVE CONCEPTS Know the number of outs and position of the base runners. Think ONE BATTER ahead…if the ball is hit to you, what is the situation? Where should you throw the ball? With less then 2 outs, the play should be on the lead runner whenever possible. Do not throw the ball around. Get it to the pitcher to stop the runners.

Fielding Strategies Fielders cannot stand in the baseline, or block a base runner, unless the fielder has the ball or is attempting to field the ball. Must tag all runners on a play that is NOT a force out. Cannot stand right on top of the base. The runner is entitled to one-half of the base.

Base Running Strategies Runners cannot lead off before the ball is HIT. Cannot slide into 1 st base. Cannot over run 2 nd or 3 rd base. They can over run 1 st and home plate when scoring. Cannot run out of the baseline to avoid a tag. Must tag up on a fly ball caught, if they take off before the ball is caught.

Batting Stance When you are batting, you want to make sure your legs are a little more than shoulder width apart. You should try to keep your back elbow up and your bat off of your shoulder..

Swing You must make sure when you are batting, that you watch for the pitcher’s release point. As soon as the pitcher releases the ball, take a small step with your front foot (but must keep your back foot in one place.) toward the ball. When you are making contact with the ball, twist your foot. This is usually called “Squishing the bug.” You may not step on home plate when swinging.

Batting Concepts Foul balls are considered strikes. You start with a 1-1 count, so you only get two foul balls before you are out. Infield fly rule: automatically called an out when there are two players on base and less than 2 outs. Runners have the option to advance on a caught fly ball, but they must wait until the ball is caught to move forward.

Softball - Pitching The pitcher's mound is 50 feet from home plate. All pitches are thrown underhand. The pitcher must have contact with at least one foot and the rubber mound marker before throwing a pitch. In Slow Pitch, the pitcher has to lob the ball in the air. 6 ft minimum arc to 12 ft high arc, with slow speed. If the batter does not swing and it hits home plate, it is considered a strike..

Field & Player Positions

Glossary Double play: A play in which the defense records two outs. Fly-out: If a ball is caught by one of the ten fielders before it bounces, the batter is out. Base runners must tag-up during a fly-out. Force out: After a batter hits the ball, he/she must advance to 1st base. The defense can get them out by throwing the fielded ball to 1st base before the runner reaches the base. Additionally, other base runners must advance if they are forced by a base runner behind them. Out: The defense must create three “outs,” by strikeout, force- out, fly-out, or tag-out, before it can switch to offense.

Glossary Sacrifice: A batter strategically hits the ball into an out situation to advance or score a runner. Usually a “sacrifice fly.” Tag out: A base runner that is not on a base when she is tagged by a player with the ball is out. Tag up: A player waits for a fly ball to be caught before advancing to the next base or else the defense can throw the ball to the base that the runner was on before she can return to it and record another out.

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