Soft Ball
Soft Ball is a quite popular in many countries. A regular game will consist of seven innings. If the game be a tie at the end of seven innings, the game shall be continued until one side has scored more runs than the other in an equal number of innings.
Bat
The bat used by the batter can be made of metal, wood, or composite materials (carbon fiber, etc.). Sizes may vary but they may be no more than 86 cm in length, 6 cm in diameter, or 38 oz. in weight
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". The first baseman and the catcher may wear mitts; mitts are distinguished from gloves in that they have extra padding, and no fingers..
Uniform
Each team wears distinctive uniforms. The uniform includes a cap, visor, a shirt (usually no sleeves), an undershirt, tight sliding under shorts, socks, and shorts or pants; these are the components for which standards are set.
Rules of Soft Ball
There are nine players out on the field at one time. Although the pitcher and catcher have the ball the most, each person has a specific job. In the infield there is the pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, shortstop, and third baseman. In the outfield there is left fielder, center fielder, and right fielder. In slow pitch softball there is an extra outfielder in the out field, who is specified as a roamer. Normally, the defensive team will play with four outfielders, meaning there is a left fielder, left-center fielder, right-center fielder, and right fielder.
Pitcher
The pitcher is the individual who throws the ball from the center of the diamond or the pitcher's mound. In baseball, the mound is elevated, but in softball the mound is not elevated. The pitcher usually throws the ball in the strike zone. In softball, the pitcher uses an underarm motion to pitch the ball towards the strike zone. As soon as the pitcher makes a throw, the fielders are ready to field balls that are hit in the middle of the diamond. Pitchers usually tend to be tall, very flexible and have good upper body strength.
Catcher
The catcher is always behind the hitter in semi-crouched position at home plate. The catcher recovers pitches from the pitcher. The catcher also throws balls to other bases to throw out runners. At home plate, the catcher is responsible for making all the outs. In most games, catchers provide a visual or finger clue as to what the next pitch should be. Catchers are usually very strong, agile, think fast and possess fast reflexes. Catchers need a lot of muscle to make powerful and fast throws. They are one of the most important players in the game. Catcher rules the field; they control the plays and tell everyone where to be and when to be there. They are most likely the team captain or share the responsibility with the pitcher.
First baseman
The first baseman is the position to the right of the first base. The major role of the first baseman is to make fielding plays on all balls hit towards first base. The first baseman also helps prevent steals from first to second base. The first base is usually involved in every hit that occurs on the playing field. Individuals at first base have quick hands and are always on the lookout to catch the player off base.
Second baseman
The second baseman plays in between the first baseman and the gap at second. If the ball is hit to the left side of the field, second covers second base. If the ball is hit on their side of the field, they back up the fielder cover first, or field the ball depending on where it is hit. The second baseman also is the cut off on balls hit to the right side of the outfield. The second baseman also throws directly to the catcher to prevent runners from scoring.
Shortstop
The shortstop fields all balls hit to the infield between the second and third bases. This individual also helps cover second base and is frequently involved in force plays, double plays and frequently throws the ball to the catcher to throw out runners at home plate. Most short stops are very quick, agile and think fast. Shortstops may play in a restricted zone but are faced with many types of hits and interact closely with the 2nd base, 3rd base and home plate. Often double plays are due to quick thinking by the short stop.
Third baseman
The third baseman covers all hits to the third base and receives balls from the outfield. The third base person also frequently throws the ball to the catcher trying to run out the runner at home plate. The individual at third base usually thinks fast because of the types of hits that commonly occur in that zone. Quick thinking can often stop runners scoring or can result in double plays.
Outfielders
The Outfielders are players that cover the grass behind the infield and usually back up the plays made by the infielders and makes plays when the ball is hit past or over the infield. All players need to have a good throwing arm but especially outfielders because their position is a much larger range. They also need to know what’s going on at all times so when the ball is hit to the outfield, the outfielders can field it and get it in quick to stop the runner from advancing to another base. They also have specific names, usually called Right Fielder, Center Fielder and Left Fielder. For example, Left Field would throw the ball to second base for them to throw in to the specific play, and so on for Right Field and Center Field.
Soft Ball is a quite popular in many countries. A regular game will consist of seven innings. If the game be a tie at the end of seven innings, the game shall be continued until one side has scored more runs than the other in an equal number of innings.
Bat
The bat used by the batter can be made of metal, wood, or composite materials (carbon fiber, etc.). Sizes may vary but they may be no more than 86 cm in length, 6 cm in diameter, or 38 oz. in weight
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". The first baseman and the catcher may wear mitts; mitts are distinguished from gloves in that they have extra padding, and no fingers..
Uniform
Each team wears distinctive uniforms. The uniform includes a cap, visor, a shirt (usually no sleeves), an undershirt, tight sliding under shorts, socks, and shorts or pants; these are the components for which standards are set.
Rules of Soft Ball
- The playing field, the area, within which the ball may be legally played or fielded, should have a clear area within a radius of 200 feet from the home plate. Between the home plate and the backstop there should be an area of 25 feet in width.
- The official diamond shall have 60 base lines within a pitching distance of 46 feet. For the women the official pitching distance shall be 35 feet.
- To determine the position of the home plate, draw line in the direction it is desired to lay the diamond. Drive a stake at the corner of the home plate nearest the catcher. fasten a cord to this stake and tie knots, or otherwise mark the cord, at 46 feet, 60 feet, 84 feet 101/4 inches and at 120 feet.
- To check the diamond, place the home plate end or the cord at the first base stake and the 120 foot marker at third base. The 60 foot marker should now check at home plate and second base.
- The bat should be rounded, not more than 34 inches in length and not more than 2 inches in diameter at its largest part.
- The official soft ball shall be a regular, smooth-seem concealed stitch of flat surfaced ball of any type.
There are nine players out on the field at one time. Although the pitcher and catcher have the ball the most, each person has a specific job. In the infield there is the pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, shortstop, and third baseman. In the outfield there is left fielder, center fielder, and right fielder. In slow pitch softball there is an extra outfielder in the out field, who is specified as a roamer. Normally, the defensive team will play with four outfielders, meaning there is a left fielder, left-center fielder, right-center fielder, and right fielder.
Pitcher
The pitcher is the individual who throws the ball from the center of the diamond or the pitcher's mound. In baseball, the mound is elevated, but in softball the mound is not elevated. The pitcher usually throws the ball in the strike zone. In softball, the pitcher uses an underarm motion to pitch the ball towards the strike zone. As soon as the pitcher makes a throw, the fielders are ready to field balls that are hit in the middle of the diamond. Pitchers usually tend to be tall, very flexible and have good upper body strength.
Catcher
The catcher is always behind the hitter in semi-crouched position at home plate. The catcher recovers pitches from the pitcher. The catcher also throws balls to other bases to throw out runners. At home plate, the catcher is responsible for making all the outs. In most games, catchers provide a visual or finger clue as to what the next pitch should be. Catchers are usually very strong, agile, think fast and possess fast reflexes. Catchers need a lot of muscle to make powerful and fast throws. They are one of the most important players in the game. Catcher rules the field; they control the plays and tell everyone where to be and when to be there. They are most likely the team captain or share the responsibility with the pitcher.
First baseman
The first baseman is the position to the right of the first base. The major role of the first baseman is to make fielding plays on all balls hit towards first base. The first baseman also helps prevent steals from first to second base. The first base is usually involved in every hit that occurs on the playing field. Individuals at first base have quick hands and are always on the lookout to catch the player off base.
Second baseman
The second baseman plays in between the first baseman and the gap at second. If the ball is hit to the left side of the field, second covers second base. If the ball is hit on their side of the field, they back up the fielder cover first, or field the ball depending on where it is hit. The second baseman also is the cut off on balls hit to the right side of the outfield. The second baseman also throws directly to the catcher to prevent runners from scoring.
Shortstop
The shortstop fields all balls hit to the infield between the second and third bases. This individual also helps cover second base and is frequently involved in force plays, double plays and frequently throws the ball to the catcher to throw out runners at home plate. Most short stops are very quick, agile and think fast. Shortstops may play in a restricted zone but are faced with many types of hits and interact closely with the 2nd base, 3rd base and home plate. Often double plays are due to quick thinking by the short stop.
Third baseman
The third baseman covers all hits to the third base and receives balls from the outfield. The third base person also frequently throws the ball to the catcher trying to run out the runner at home plate. The individual at third base usually thinks fast because of the types of hits that commonly occur in that zone. Quick thinking can often stop runners scoring or can result in double plays.
Outfielders
The Outfielders are players that cover the grass behind the infield and usually back up the plays made by the infielders and makes plays when the ball is hit past or over the infield. All players need to have a good throwing arm but especially outfielders because their position is a much larger range. They also need to know what’s going on at all times so when the ball is hit to the outfield, the outfielders can field it and get it in quick to stop the runner from advancing to another base. They also have specific names, usually called Right Fielder, Center Fielder and Left Fielder. For example, Left Field would throw the ball to second base for them to throw in to the specific play, and so on for Right Field and Center Field.