1. Wiffle Ball/ Softball

2. Wiffle ball  Variation of the sport of baseball  Designed for indoor or outdoor play in confined areas  Played using a perforated, light-weight, rubbery plastic ball and a long, plastic (typically yellow) bat

3.  The ball used in the game was invented by David N. Mullany at his home in Fairfield, Connecticut in 1953 when he designed a ball that curved easily for his 12-year-old son.  It was named when his son and his friends would refer to a strikeout as a "whiff”.

4. Wiffle Ball  A classic Wiffle ball is about the same size as a regulation baseball, but is hollow plastic no more than 1/8 inch thick.  One half is perforated with eight.75-inch (19 mm) oblong holes, with a solid second half.

5. Tournaments  Tournaments are the driving force of modern Wiffle ball and have been held in America and Canada since the mid- 1970s  With the explosion of the Internet in the 1990s, there are now hundreds of Wiffle ball tournaments every year in the United States and Canada.

6. History of Softball  Variant of baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field  Invented in 1887 in Chicago as an indoor game  It was at various times called indoor baseball, mush ball, playground, softbund ball, kitten ball, and, because it was also played by women, ladies' baseball.  The name "softball" dates back to 1926. The name was coined by Walter Hakanson of the YMCA at a meeting of the National Recreation Congress

7. History cont.  The name softball was given to the game in 1926.  A tournament held in 1933 at the Chicago World’s Fair spurred interest in the game.  Women's fast-pitch softball became a Summer Olympic sport in 1996, but it (and baseball) were dropped in 2005 from the 2012 games. Summer Olympic sport

8. Earliest Known Softball Game Played in Chicago, Illinois on Thanksgiving Day, 1887. It took place at the Farragut Boat Club

9. Game’s Inventor  George Hancock is credited as the game's inventor for his development of ball and an undersized bat  The Farragut Club soon set rules for the game, which spread quickly to outsiders  In 1895 Lewis Rober, Sr. of Minneapolis organized outdoor games as exercise for firefighters; this game was known as kitten ball (after the first team to play it), lemon ball, or diamond ball. [ [

10. Two Types of Softball  slow-pitch softball  the ball, sometimes larger than the standard 12 in, must arch on its path to the batter, 10 players make up a team, and bunting and stealing are prohibited  Fastpitch softball  the pitch is fast, there are 9 players on the field at one time, and bunting and stealing are permitted

11. Major differences: Baseball vs. Softball  ball must be pitched underhand—from 46 ft. (14 m) for men or 43 ft. (12 m) for women as compared with 60.5 ft. (18.4 m) in  seven innings instead of nine constitute a regulation game

12. Equipment  Ball, a bat (metal or wooden), gloves, uniforms and protective gear: for example, helmets for the offensive team and a helmet, shin guards and chest protector for the defensive catcher  Cleats, sliding shorts, face masks and knee sliders may be worn for softball

13. 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 (86 cm) long, 2.25 inches (6 cm) in diameter, or 38 oz. (1.2 kilograms) in weight.  The standard bat barrel diameter for both slowpitch and fastpitch softball is 2 1 ⁄ 4 inches.  Many players prefer a smaller barrel, which reduces weight and allows higher swing speed.

14. Gloves  All defensive players wear fielding gloves, made of leather or similar material.  The first baseman and the catcher may wear mitts; mitts are distinguished from gloves in that they have extra padding, and no fingers.  No part of the glove is allowed to be the same color as that of the ball, including that of its seams.  Gloves used in softball are usually larger than the ones used in baseball. No glove larger than 14" (36 cm) can be used in ASA sanctioned play.

15. Protective equipment  helmet must have two ear flaps, one on each side.  Helmets and cages that are damaged or altered are forbidden.  Helmets must be worn by batters and runners in fastpitch. Helmets are optional in slowpitch. I  NCAA fastpitch softball you have the option to wear a helmet with or without a face mask.  Most female travel ball teams for fast pitch softball require the batter to wear a helmet with a face mask.  In male fastpitch masks are generally only used for medical reasons.  In fast pitch, the catcher must wear a protective helmet with a face-mask and throat protector, shin guards and body protector.  Shin guards also protect the kneecap  A

16. Size of Softball & Field  Softball is not very soft  About 12 in. (30 cm) in circumference (sometimes larger for slow-pitch)  3 in. (8 cm) larger than a baseball  The infield in softball is smaller than on a baseball diamond  Each base is 60 ft (18 m) from the next, as opposed to baseball's 90 ft. (27 m).

17. PLAYERS AND POSITIONS Infield Positions: Outfield Positions: 1. Pitcher 7. Left fielder 2. Catcher 8. Left Centerfield 3. 1st Baseman 9. Right Centerfield 4. 2nd Baseman 10. Right fielder 5. 3 rd Baseman 6. Shortstop

19. Glossary:  Baseline –is the direct route—a straight line— between two adjacent bases. (Imaginary line ) The basepath is the region within three feet (0.9 m) of the baseline.  Running baseline - established as a direct line from his current position to the base which he is trying for. A runner straying more than three feet away from his baseline in an attempt to avoid a tag may be called out  Batter’s Box – area in which the batter must stand when batting.  Batting Order – order in which the players take their turn batting.  Count – the number of balls and strikes on a batter.  Dead ball – the ball is not in play until the pitcher has pitched the ball

20.  Defensive Team – the team positioned in the field.  Double Play – a defensive play which results in 2 outs.  Fair Ball – any legally batted ball which is touched or which stops in fair territory.  Fly Ball – any ball batted high into the air.  Fly Out – any ball hit into the air and caught before it touches the ground.  Force Out – when the runner has to run on a ground ball because there are no open bases.  Foul Ball – any ball settling outside the fair area, or touching in the fair area and then rolling out, without being touched by a fielder before going past 1st or 3 rd.  Full Count – the batter has 3 balls and 2 strikes.

21.  Inning – the portion of a game in which the teams both are on defense and offense once. An inning is a complete turn at bat for both teams. There are 3 outs for each team per inning. Bunting or stealing bases is not allowed. A run will not score if the third out is a force out. A base runner cannot score ahead of the base runner preceding her/him.

22.  Offensive Team – The team at bat.  Strike – a pitched ball which is within the strike zone of the batter, or when the batter swings at and misses the ball, or fouls off.  Strikes and balls:  1. The pitcher must pitch the ball underhand.  2. The strike zone is between the batter’s armpits and knees and over the plate.  3. If the pitched ball does not cross the strike zone it is called a ball.  4. 3 strikes is an out. Or four foul balls is an out.  5. A foul ball is considered a strike except on the third strike.  6. A batter must be in the batter’s box when they hit the ball. If you step on the plate, you are out.  7. When a batter swings and totally misses the ball, it is called a strike

23. Fair and foul balls:  1. A ball is foul if it is hit in the infield and is not touched until the ball is in foul territory.  2. A ball is foul if it lands in the outfield in foul territory. It also counts as a strike.  3. A ball is fair if it hits 1st or 3rd base.  4. A ball is fair if it lands in fair territory in the outfield then rolls foul.  5. A ball is fair if it is touched in fair territory.  6. A fly ball in foul territory, that is caught, is an out

24. Base Runners:  1. A base runner is not allowed to interfere with a player fielding a ball. The base runner will be called out.  2. The base runner is safe if a player on the other team interferes with him/her.  3. Base runner is out if they leave the base before the batter hits the ball.  4. Base runner is out if they do not “tag up” when a fly ball is caught (foul or fair) and the team throws the ball back to the base before the runner gets back.  5. If a batted ball hits a base runner they are out.  6. When an overthrow at 1st or 3rd base occurs, and the ball goes out of play, the runner is awarded one base.

25.  7. The base runner may overrun 1st base, without jeopardy of being put out, if no attempt is made to advance to 2 nd.  8. An overthrow at 2nd base occurs, and the ball goes to the outfield, the runner may advance as many bases as he/she can.  9. During a force out, the fielder can tag the base or the runner.  10. If the base runner chooses to advance, he/she must be tagged with the ball to be put out.  11. A base runner may advance after a fly ball is caught.