MAPEH 108

Team Sports
(Volleyball, Basketball, Softball)

SOFTBALL

Submitted by:

Bir Anthony Sernicula

Jan Jason Alayon

Submitted to:

Mr. Henson Banaylo

Softball is a variant of baseball played with a larger ball (11 in. to 12 in. sized ball)
on a smaller field. It was invented in 1887 in Chicago, Illinois, United States as an
indoor game. The game moves at a faster pace than traditional baseball. There is
less time for the base runner to get to first while the opponent fields the ball; yet,
the fielder has less time to field the ball while the opponent is running down to first
base. The name softball was given to the game in 1926, because the ball used to
be soft.
A tournament held in 1933 at the Chicago World's Fair spurred interest in the
game. The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America (founded 1933)
governs the game in the United States and sponsors annual sectional and World
Series championships. The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)
regulates rules of play in more than 110 countries, including the United States and
Canada; before the WBSC was formed in 2013, the International Softball
Federation filled this role. Women's fast pitch softball became a Summer Olympic
sport in 1996, but it and baseball were dropped from the 2012 Games; they will be
reinstated for the 2020 Games.
There are three types of softball. In the most common type, slow-pitch softball,
the ball, which can measure either 11 or 12 inches in circumference depending
on gender and league, must arch on its path to the batter, and there are 10
players on the field at once.
In fastpitch softball, the pitch is fast, there are nine players on the field at one
time, and bunting and stealing bases are permitted.
Modified softball restricts the "windmill" wind-up usually used by
fastpitch pitchers, although the pitcher is allowed to throw as hard as possible with
the restricted back swing.
Softball rules vary somewhat from those of baseball. Two major differences are
that the ball must be pitched underhand—from 46 ft (14 m) for men or 43 ft
(13.1 m)[1] for women as compared with 60.5 ft (18.4 m) in baseball—and that
seven innings instead of nine constitute a regulation game.[2]
Despite the name, the ball used in softball is not soft. It is about 12 in (30.5 cm) in
circumference (11 or 12 in for slow-pitch), which is 3 in (8 cm) larger than
a baseball. Softball recreational leagues for children use 11-inch balls until they
participate in travel ball around age 12 and adjust to a 12-inch sized ball. The
infield in softball is smaller than on an adult or high school baseball diamond but
identical to that used by Little League Baseball; each base is 60 ft (18 m) from the
next, as opposed to baseball's 90 ft (27 m). In fast pitch softball the entire infield is
dirt, whereas the infield in baseball is grass except at the bases and on the
pitcher's mound which are dirt.

HISTORY

The earliest known softball game was played in Chicago, Illinois

on Thanksgiving Day, 1887. It took place at the Farragut Boat Club at a gathering
to hear the outcome of the Yale University and Harvard
University football game. When the score was announced and bets were settled,
a Yale alumnus threw a boxing glove at a Harvard supporter. The Harvard fan
grabbed a stick and swung at the rolled up glove. George Hancock, a reporter
there, called out "Play ball!" and the game began, with the boxing glove tightened
into a ball, a broom handle serving as a bat. This first contest ended with a score of
41–40. The ball, being soft, was fielded barehanded.
George Hancock is credited as the game's inventor for his development of ball
and an undersized bat in the next week. The Farragut Club soon set rules for the
game, which spread quickly to outsiders. Envisioned as a way for baseball players
to maintain their skills during the winter, the sport was called "Indoor
Baseball". Under the name of "Indoor-Outdoor", the game moved outside in the
next year, and the first rules were published in 1889.
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. Rober's version of the game used a ball 12 inches
(30 cm) in circumference, rather than the 16-inch (41 cm) ball used by the
Farragut club, and eventually the Minneapolis ball prevailed, although the
dimensions of the Minneapolis diamond were passed over in favor of the
dimensions of the Chicago one. Rober may not have been familiar with the
Farragut Club rules. Fire Station No. 19 in Minneapolis, Rober's post from 1896 to
1906, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in part for its
association with the sport's development. The first softball league outside the
United States was organized in Toronto in 1897.
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. (In
addition to "indoor baseball", "kitten ball", and "diamond ball", names for the game
included "mush ball", and "pumpkin ball") The name softball had spread across
the United States by 1930. By the 1930s, similar sports with different rules and
names were being played all over the United States and Canada. By 1936, the
Joint Rules Committee on Softball had standardized the rules and naming
throughout the United States.
Sixteen-inch softball, also sometimes referred to as "mush ball" or "super-slow
pitch", is a direct descendant of Hancock's original game. Defensive players are
not allowed to wear fielding gloves. Sixteen-inch softball is played extensively in
Chicago, where devotees such as the late Mike Royko consider it the "real"
game, and New Orleans. In New Orleans, sixteen-inch softball is called "Cabbage
Ball" and is a popular team sport in area elementary and high schools.
By the 1940s, fastpitch began to dominate the game. Although slow pitch was
present at the 1933 World's Fair, the main course of action taken was to lengthen
the pitching distance. Slow pitch achieved formal recognition in 1953 when it was
added to the program of the Amateur Softball Association, and within a decade
had surpassed fastpitch in popularity.
The first British women's softball league was established in 1953.
In 1991, women's fastpitch softball was selected to debut at the 1996 Summer
Olympics. The 1996 Olympics also marked a key era in the introduction of
technology in softball. The IOC funded a landmark biomechanical study on
pitching during the games.
In 2002, sixteen-inch slow pitch was written out of the ISF official rules, although it
is still played extensively in the United States under The Amateur Softball
Association of America, or ASA rules.
The 117th meeting of the International Olympic Committee, held in Singapore in
July 2005, voted to drop softball and baseball as Olympic sports for the 2012
Summer Olympic Games, but will be back in the 2020 Summer Olympics in
Tokyo.
Other sanctioning bodies of softball are AAU, NSA, PONY, ASA, ISC, USSSA,
Triple Crown and ISA.

OVERVIEW

Fastpitch softball is played between two teams on a large field, with nine players
from one team on the field at a time. Slow-pitch softball is played with ten fielders.
The field is usually composed of a dirt or brick-dust infield that contains the
quadrilateral shape, and running areas, of a diamond, and a grass outfield.
However, the field can consist of other solid and dry surfaces such as artificial turf
or asphalt. There are four baseson the infield (first base, second base, third base,
and home plate); the bases are arranged in a square and are typically 45 to 65
feet (14 to 20 m) apart. Near the center of this square is the pitcher's circle, and
within the circle is the "rubber", a small flat rectangular piece of rubber about a foot
and a half in length. The rubber can be 40 or 43 feet away from home plate,
depending on age level and the league one is playing in.
The object of the game is to score more runs (points) than the other team
by batting (hitting) a ball into play and running around the bases, touching each
one in succession. The ball is a sphere of light material, covered with leather or
synthetic material. It is 10 to 12 inches (25–30 cm) (or, rarely, 16 in or 41 cm) in
circumference. The game is officiated by one or more neutral umpires. Players
and umpires are generally free to ask for a brief stoppage at any time when the
ball is not in play (called a time out), or immediately following a play once its
outcome is clear.
The game is played in usually seven innings. Each inning is divided into a top half,
in which the away team bats and tries to score runs, while the home team
occupies the field and tries to record three outs; then a bottom half, when the
teams' roles are reversed. Some leagues play with a reduced number of innings or
with a time limit, rather than the traditional seven innings.
To start play, the offense sends a batter to home plate. The batting order must be
fixed at the start of the game, and players may not bat out of turn. The
defense's pitcher stands atop the rubber and throws ("pitches") the ball towards
home plate using an underhanded motion. In fastpitch, the pitcher must have both
feet in contact with the pitching rubber at all times. In slow-pitch, the pitcher is
allowed to take one step back prior to releasing the ball during the forward
movement. The batter attempts to hit the pitched ball with a bat, a long, round,
smooth stick made of wood, metal or composite. If the pitcher throws
three strikesagainst a batter, then the batter is out and the next batter in the order
comes up to bat. A strike is recorded any time a batter swings at and misses a
pitch or when a batter hits a ball foul (out of play). A strike is also recorded any
time the batter does not swing at a pitch that crosses home plate within an area
known as the strike zone. To be within the strike zone, the pitch must cross over
home plate, and as it crosses it must be above the knees and slightly below the
shoulders (roughly the armpit or the shirt logo). The strike zone therefore varies
from batter to batter. A pitch outside the strike zone is a ball. If the batter reaches
four balls, the batter is awarded the first base in what is known as a "walk". The
umpire behind home plate is the sole arbiter of balls and strikes. A foul ball may or
may not result in a strikeout dependent upon what association and local league
rules. However, bunting a foul ball does result in a strikeout. In some associations
and leagues, bunting is not allowed and results in an out. Also, if a player has two
strikes, swinging and partially hitting the ball can result in an out if the catcher
manages to catch the tipped ball.
The batter attempts to swing the bat and hit the ball fair (into the field of play). After
a successful hit the batter becomes a baserunner (or runner) and must run to first
base. The defense attempts to field the ball and may throw the ball freely between
players, so one player can field the ball while another moves to a position to put
out the runner. The defense can tag the runner, by touching the runner with the
ball while the runner is not on a base. The defense can also touch first base while
in possession of the ball; in this case it is sufficient to beat the batter to first base
and an actual tag of the batter is unnecessary. A runner is said to be "thrown out"
when the play involves two or more defensive players. Runners generally cannot
be put out when touching a base, but only one runner may occupy a base at any
time and runners may not pass each other. When a ball is batted into play, runners
generally must attempt to advance if there are no open bases behind them; for
example, a runner on first base must run to second base if the batter puts the ball
in play. In such a situation, the defense can throw to the base that the lead runner
is attempting to take (a force out), and the defense can then also throw to the
previous base. This can result in a multiple-out play: a double play is two outs,
while a triple play, a very rare occurrence, is three outs. Runners with an open
base behind them are not forced to advance and do so at their own risk; the
defense must tag such runners directly to put them out rather than tagging the
base.
A ball hit in the air and caught before hitting the ground, in fair or foul territory, puts
the batter out. A fly ball is a ball hit high and deep, a pop fly is a ball hit high but
short, and a line drive is a ball hit close to the horizontal. After the catch, runners
must return to their original bases; if the defense throws the ball to that base
before the runner returns, the runner is out as well, resulting in a double play. A
runner who remains on the base until the ball is touched, or returns to the base
(tags up) after the catch, may try to advance to the next base, at the risk of being
tagged out between bases. As in baseball, the infield fly rule applies in some
game situations to prevent the defense from recording multiple force outs by
deliberately dropping an easy catch.
Offensive strategy is mostly just to hit the ball skillfully to let the batter reach base
and advance other runners around the bases to score runs. The count of balls and
strikes indicates how aggressive the batter should be. The offense may try
to sacrifice, with the batter deliberately making an out in order to advance runners.
Defensive strategy is more complex, as particular situations (number of outs and
positions of baserunners) and particular batters call for different positioning of
fielders and different tactical decisions. The defense may decide to allow a run if it
can achieve one or multiple outs.

PLAYING FIELD

The playing field is divided into 'fair territory' and 'foul territory'. Fair territory is
further divided into the 'infield', and the 'outfield', and the territory beyond the
outfield fence.
The field is defined by 'foul lines' that meet at a right angle at 'home plate'. The
minimum length of the baselines varies classification of play (see below for official
measurements). A fence running between the baselines defines the limits of the
field; distance from home plate to the fence varies by field.
Behind home plate is a 'backstop'. It must be between 25 and 30 feet (7.62 and
9.14 meters) behind home plate depending on the type of division that is playing.
'Home Plate' is one corner of a diamond with 'bases' at each corner. The bases
other than home plate are 15 in (38 cm) square, of canvas or a similar material,
and not more than 5 in (13 cm) thick. The bases are usually securely fastened to
the ground. The bases are numbered counter clockwise as first base, second
base, and third base. Often, but not always, outside first base (that is, in foul
territory) and adjacent and connected to it, there is a contrast-colored "double
base" or "safety base". It is intended to prevent collisions between the first
baseman and the runner. The runner runs for the foul portion of the double base
after hitting the ball while the fielding team tries to throw the ball to the regular first
base before the runner reaches the safety base. However, not all softball
diamonds have these safety bases and they are much more common in women's
softball than in men's. The double base is required in ISF championships.
The infield consists of the diamond and the adjacent space in which the infielders
(see below) normally play. The outfield is the remaining space between the
baselines and between the outfield fence and the infield. The infield is usually
"skinned" (dirt), while the outfield has grass in regulation competitions.
Near the center of the diamond is the pitching plate. In fastpitch, a skinned circle
16 feet (4.88 meters) in diameter known as the pitching circle is around the
pitching plate.
A field is officially required to have a warning track between 15 and 12 feet (5 and
4 meters) from the outfield fence. However, if the game is being played on a field
larger than required, no warning track is required before the temporary outfield
fencing.
Located in foul territory outside both baselines are two 'Coach's Boxes'. Each box
is behind a line 15 feet (5 meters) long located 12 feet (3 meters) from each
baseline.
 There are four bases (first base, second base, third base and home plate) on
the field of play
 The lines between the bases are generally 45ft to 60ft (approximately 12m to
18m) apart and when joined they form a diamond
 Inside the diamond is the infield which contains the pitcher’s plate from which
the pitcher throws the ball underarm; outside the baseline is the outfield
 Any ball going outside the first or third base line is a foul ball (runners are not
allowed to advance and the batter gets another try unless the ball was caught
int the air, in which case they are out)
Official baseline dimensions
Fast pitch Slow pitch Wheelchair

60 feet 70 feet (21.34 m) or 65 feet (19.81 m) or more 50 feet

(18.29 m) depending on the association and level of play (15.24 m)

Fastpitch pitching distances

 Under 18 girls /
8 and under is coach
pitch.
 10 and under is
35' kid pitch distance.
College and adult 12 and under is Under 16
40' kid pitch distance.
 14 and older is
43' kid pitch distance.
 High school
distance is 43' pitch
distance.
Female Male Female Male Female Male

43 feet (13.11 m)

43 feet There is a little

43 feet 46 feet 43 feet 43 feet (13.11 m) league distance
(13.11 m) (14.02 m) (13.11 m) (13.11 m) or 30 feet also: 35 feet for
(9.14 m) minors, 38 feet for
majors, 43 feet for
middle school.

Slow pitch pitching distances

Slow pitch pitching distances

Adult[19] Youth Kids Wheelchair

15–16
14–19 12–14
years < 12 years
years years
(female)

50 feet 50 feet 46 feet 40 feet 35 feet 28 feet

(15.24 m) (15.24 m) (14.02 m) (12.19 m) (10.67 m) (8.53 m)
EQUIPMENT

Equipment required in softball includes a ball, a bat (composite, 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. Also
cleats, sliding shorts, face masks and knee sliders may be worn for softball.

Ball
Despite the sport's name, they are not soft at all. The size of the ball varies
according to the classification of play; the permitted circumferences in
international play are 12±0.125 in (30.5±0.3 cm), in mass between 6.25 and
7.0 oz (177–198 g) in fastpitch; 11±0.125 in (29.7±0.3 cm), mass between 5.875
and 6.125 oz (166.6–173.6 g) in slow pitch. For comparison, under the current
rules of Major League Baseball, a baseball has a mass between 5
and 5 1⁄4 ounces (142–149 g), and is 9 to 9 1⁄4 inches (229–235 mm) in
circumference (2 7⁄8–3 in or 73–76 mm in diameter). A 12-inch circumference ball
is generally used in slow pitch, although in rare cases some leagues (especially
recreational leagues) do use a 14-inch circumference ball. Some balls have a
raised seam, and others do not. The ball is most often covered in white or yellow
leather in two pieces roughly the shape of a figure-8 and sewn together with red
thread, although other coverings are permitted. The core of the ball may be made
of long fiber kapok, or a mixture of cork and rubber, or a polyurethane mixture, or
another approved material.
In 2004, high-visibility yellow "optic" covering, long-used for restricted flight balls
in co-ed recreational leagues, became standard for competitive play. Yellow is
the color of official NCAA and NAIA softballs. Yellow softballs are fast becoming
the standard for all levels of play for girls' and women's play in particular. White
balls are also allowed, but are very uncommon in slow pitch and fastpitch.
In Chicago, where softball was invented, it remains traditional to play with a ball
16 inches (41 centimeters) in circumference. The fielders do not wear gloves or
mitts. A 16" softball when new is rough and hard, with hand and finger injuries to
fielders frequent if they do not "give" when receiving a ball, but the ball "breaks in"
slightly during a game and continues to soften over time with continued play. A
well-broken-in ball is called a mush ball and is favoured for informal "pick-up"
games and when playing in limited space, such as a city street (because the ball
does not go as far). A 16-inch ball is also used for wheelchair softball.
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, 2.4 inches (6 cm) in diameter, or 38 ounces (1.1 kg)
in mass. The standard bat barrel diameter for both slowpitch and fastpitch softball
is 21⁄4 inches. Many players prefer a smaller barrel, which reduces mass and
allows higher swing speed. Although there are a variety of bats used, there are
several that are banned due to performance enhancement. These bats are
determined to be illegal by the Amateur Softball Association of America. Several
bats are banned because of the harm it may place upon other teams and/or
giving them an unfair advantage. For example, with a thinner wall, players are
able to swing the bat faster, which allows the ball to go faster, harder, and further.
Major League Softball, played at Recreational Parks, include a variety of teams;
Men's, Women's, Co-Ed. Each League has its own specific regulations with bats,
but most must be approved by the Amateur Softball Association. Many bats may
be "doctored" or "juiced" in a sense that they are end loaded, shaved and or
painted. End loading of a cap refers to the addition of weight manually placed at
the end of the barrel to distribute more weight at the tip. Shaving bats require
machine use in order to remove the inner walls of the bat to improve
elasticity. Lastly, painting bats is done because competitors purchase "illegal"
bats that are dangerous and hazardous to the opposing team. These three
"doctored" and "juiced" techniques are banned from Leagues, but are still done
today.
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".
No part of the glove is allowed to be the same color as that of the ball, including
that of its seams. Pitchers are also not allowed to have any white on their gloves
including the seams. It is up to the umpire's discretion if he or she believes that
any coloring on the glove interferes with or hinders the batter from seeing the ball
clearly. Gloves used in softball are usually larger than the ones used in baseball.
No glove larger than 14 in (36 cm) can be used in ASA (American Softball
Association) sanctioned play. There are different size gloves for different
positions on the field. For example, catchers and 1st baseman have what is
called a mitt, whose pockets are larger than other gloves. The catcher's glove has
extra padding in it and does not have finger holes. The 1st baseman's glove also
has extra padding, but with finger holes. An outfielder's glove is smaller than the
catcher's, typically 13 inches to 14 inches, but large enough to give extra reach in
catching a fly ball. An infielder's glove is the smallest, typically from 11 inches to
13 inches. Its small size allows faster removal of a caught ball in order to throw
with the other hand. A pitcher's glove can be of any size, but should be large
enough to cover the ball, so that the batter cannot see the pitcher's grip on the
ball.

Uniform
Each team wears a distinctive uniform. The uniform may include a cap or visor, a
shirt, tight sliding undershorts (optional), knee length socks, and pants; these are
the components for which standards are set. The team is required to have all of
its members wear the same uniform.
Caps, visors, and headbands are optional for female players, and sometimes
have to be the same color. Caps are mandatory for male players. A fielder who
chooses to wear a helmet (see below) is not required to wear a cap.
Many female players use "sliding shorts", otherwise known as compression
shorts in other sports. These shorts help to protect the upper thigh when sliding
into a base. "Sliders" may also be worn for similar protection. These are
somewhat padded shinguards that extend usually from the ankle to the knee of
the wearer and wrap all the way around the leg(s). They protect the shin, calf, etc.
from getting bruised or damaged while sliding into homeplate and make it much
more comfortable to slide into the plate. Most male players use long,
baseball-style pants. However, some female players now wear a shorter version
of baseball pants.
At the back of the uniform, an Arabic numeral from numbers 0 through 99 must
be visible. Numbers such as 02 and 2 are considered identical. Also, on the back
of the uniforms players' names are optional.
All players are required to wear shoes. They may have cleats or spikes. The
spikes must extend less than 0.75 in (19 mm) away from the sole. Rounded metal
spikes are illegal, as are ones made from hard plastic or other synthetic materials.
High school athletes are sometimes permitted to wear metal cleats, such as in
Ohio.
Many recreational leagues prohibit the use of metal cleats or spikes to reduce the
possible severity of injuries when a runner slides feet-first into a fielder. At all
youth (under 15) levels, in co-ed (the official terminology for mixed teams) slow
pitch, and in modified pitch, metal spikes are usually not allowed.

Protective Equipment
A 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. In NCAA fastpitch softball you
have the option to wear a helmet with or without a face mask. Most female travel
ball teams for fastpitch softball require the batter to wear a helmet with a face
mask. In male fastpitch masks are generally only used for medical reasons. In
fastpitch, 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.
In slow pitch, the catcher must wear a helmet and mask at youth levels. At adult
levels, there is no formal requirement for the catcher to wear a mask, although
the official rules recommend it. A female catcher may optionally wear a body
protector in slow pitch.
There is an option to wear a face mask on the field. It is recommended in lower
age groups.
In any form of softball, any player (other than fastpitch catchers on defense) can
wear a protective face mask or face guard. As usual, it must be in proper
condition and not damaged, altered, or the like. This is intended to prevent facial
injuries.
UMPIRES

Decisions about plays are made by umpires, similar to a referee in American

football. The number of umpires on a given game can range from a minimum of
one to a maximum of seven. There is never more than one "plate umpire"; there
can be up to three "base umpires", and up to a further three umpires positioned in
the outfield. Most fastpitch games use a crew of two umpires (one plate umpire,
one base umpire).
Official umpires are often nicknamed "blue", because of their uniforms – in many
jurisdictions, most significantly ISF, NCAA and ASA games, umpires wear navy
blue slacks, a light powder blue shirt, and a navy baseball cap. Some umpires
wear a variant of the uniform: some umpires in ASA wear heather gray slacks and
may also wear a navy blue shirt; umpires from the USSSA wear red shirts with
grey slacks; National Softball Association (NSA) umpires wear an official NSA
white-colored umpire shirt with black pants or black shorts; NSA fastpitch umpires
wear the white NSA umpires shirt and heather gray slacks.
Decisions are usually indicated by both the use of hand signals, and by vocalizing
the call. Safe calls are made by signaling with flat hands facing down moving
away from each other, and a verbal call of "safe". Out calls are made by raising
the right hand in a clenched fist, with a verbal call of "out". Strikes are called by
the plate umpire, who uses the same motion as the out call with a verbal call of
"strike". Balls are only called verbally, with no hand gesture. The umpire also has
the option of not saying anything on a ball. It is understood that when he stands
up, the pitch was not a strike. Foul balls are called by extending both arms up in
the air with a verbal call of "foul ball", while fair balls are indicated only by pointing
towards fair territory with no verbal call. No signal is given for balls that are
obviously foul and for closer calls that are not borderline; a mere
acknowledgement signal is given.
All decisions made by the umpire(s) are considered to be final. Only decisions
where a rule might have been misinterpreted are considered to be protestable. At
some tournaments there might be a rules interpreter or Tournament Chief Umpire
(TCU) (also known as the Umpire In Chief, or UIC) available to pass judgment on
such protests, but it is usually up to the league or association involved to decide if
the protest would be upheld. Protests are never allowed on what are considered
"judgment calls" – balls, strikes, and fouls.

GAMEPLAY
A softball game can last anywhere from 3 to 7 innings, or 1–2 hours depending
on the league, rules, and type of softball; however 7 innings is the most common.
In each inning, each team bats until three batters have been put out (see
below). The teams take turns batting. Officially, which team bats first is decided
by a coin toss, although a league may decide otherwise at its discretion. The
most common rule is that the home team bats second. Batting second is also
called "last at-bat". Many softball players prefer to bat second because they feel
they have more control in the last inning, since they have the last at-bat.
In the event of a tie, extra innings are usually played until the tie is broken except
in certain tournaments and championships. If the home team is leading and the
road team has just finished its half of the seventh inning, the game ends because
it is not necessary for the home team to bat again. In all forms of softball, the
defensive team is the fielding team; the offensive team is at bat or batting and is
trying to score runs.

Pitching
Play begins with the umpire saying "Play Ball". After the batter is ready and all
fielders (except the catcher) are in fair territory, the pitcher stands at the pitching
plate and attempts to throw the ball past the batter to the catcher behind home
plate. The throw, or pitch, must be made with an underarm motion: the ball must
be released below the hip when the hand is no farther from the hip than the elbow
to get it in the strike zone.
For fastpitch softball, the traditional pitching style is a "windmill" motion,
extending the arm over the body and releasing the ball at about hip level at
maximum speeds. Strength acquired in the underhand windmill motion is based
from the open to close hip motion. Without correct form and hip movement,
pitches can be inaccurate and can lose strength and speed. In girls' fastpitch, 12u
up to 18u level can throw between 30 mph and 65 mph, or more. Speed is not
always the most important factor in fastpitch softball. Pitchers can throw balls that
curve inwards (screwball) and outwards (curveball) on right-handed batters.
Curves may be thrown on the outside or off of the plate or inside off the plate
moving into the strikezone. There are also riseballs that break upwards frequently
starting in the strikezone and ending above it. Riseballs may be thrown low in the
zone and move higher in the zone or even below the zone and move into it. Drop
balls and drop curves (to cause the batter to miss or hit groundballs; this is
important at the higher levels where strikeouts occur less often). The other
common pitches are change-up and fastballs. A change of pace (off-speed) is
also very important, good pitchers will be able to throw all their pitches at varying
speeds and possibly even different pitching motions. Pitchers use deception as a
primary tactic for getting batters out as the reaction times are approximately half a
second or less.
The pitcher throws the ball in or around the "strike zone". However, in advanced
play pitcher and catcher play a psychological game trying to get the batter to
guess where the next pitch is going and if it will be a strike. In other instances,
such as when an extremely powerful hitter comes up to bat and they are followed
by a weaker hitter, a pitcher may deliberately walk the first batter based on the
calculation that the next batter will be an easy out. The strike zone is slightly
different in different forms of softball. A pitch that passes through that zone is a
"strike". A pitch that the batter swings at is also a strike, as is any hit ball that
lands in foul territory.
A pitch which is not a strike and which the batter does not swing at is known as a
"ball". The number of balls and strikes is called the "count". The number of balls is
always given first, as 2 and 1, 2 and 2, and so on. A count of 3 and 2 is a "full
count", since the next ball or strike will end the batter's turn at the plate, unless
the ball goes foul.
There is also an illegal form of pitching known as "crow-hopping". A "crow hop"
occurs when the pitcher pushes with the pivot foot from somewhere other than
the pitching plate. This often involves jumping from the pitching plate and
replanting somewhere in front of the pitching plate. The umpire sticks his left arm
out straight to the side and clenches his fist. This results in a ball being awarded
to the batter, and any runners on base advancing to the next base. If the batter
swings at the pitch that is deemed illegal and puts the ball in play, the defense is
given the option to accept the results of the play or accept the penalty listed
previously. Image to the right demonstrates a legal pitch as the push-off foot has
not left the ground. The ball must be released simultaneously with the lead leg
step.
In fastpitch softball, there are various types of pitches. Some are: the fastball,
changeup, dropball, riseball, screwball, curveball, dropcurve, dropchange.
In 16-inch softball, as well as a number of varieties of slow pitch, the pitch is
lobbed so that the ball rises above the batter's head and lands on either the plate
itself or a small rectangular area on the ground behind the plate. (These
restrictions make it much easier to put the ball into play and extremely difficult to
use pitching as a defensive strategy, as the physics of projectile motion limit how
fast a ball can be thrown under such conditions and still be called a strike to a
speed much slower than a traditionally thrown ball.) Umpires will make calls
based on where the ball lands behind the plate. A pitch in "the well" (pictured) is
considered a perfect pitch. In other varieties of slow pitch (sometimes known as
"modified"), the only restriction is that the windmill cannot be used; thus the
pitching arm cannot be raised above the shoulder and both the wind-up and the
release must be underhand, still allowing for moderate speed and control in
pitching.
At higher levels of play, pitchers aim for the inner and outer corners of the plate
when throwing fastballs and moving pitches. Pitchers also vary the location of the
pitch by height to make hitting the ball even harder for the individual up at bat.
Similarly, both the dropball and the riseball are pitches that change heights. To
the batter, the dropball appears to be coming in level but then as the ball reaches
the plate, the pitch drops, trying to force the batter to hit the top of the ball. This
should result in the batter missing or hitting a groundball. When pitchers throw
riseballs, batters see the ball coming in straight, but as the ball approaches the
plate, it rises. Frequently the purpose of the riseball is to have the batter attempt
to chase a ball which ends up out of the strikezone and is either missed entirely
or hit as an easy pop-fly. Another pitch that breaks at the last minute is the
curveball. When pitchers throw curveballs they snap their wrist and follow their
arm across their body, making the ball curve to the outside of the plate. There is
also something called the inside curve where ball start off the plate on the inside
and curves into the strikezone. The inside curve is frequently thrown at the
batters hands so as to jam them forcing a foul hit. Pitchers can also make the ball
curve or screw to the inside of the plate. The one pitch that drastically changes
speed is the changeup, disrupting the batter's timing. Pitchers also throw knuckle
balls which are generally slower and move erratically.
Fastpitch pitches may reach high speeds; At the 1996 Summer Olympics one
pitch reached 73.3 miles per hour (118 kilometers per hour). Male pitching can
reach speeds around 85 miles per hour (137 kilometers per hour).
Scoring Runs
A "run" is scored when a player has touched all four bases in order, proceeding
counterclockwise around them. They need not be touched on the same play; a
batter may remain safely on a base while play proceeds and attempt to advance
on a later play.
A run is not scored if the last out is a force out or occurs during the same play that
the runner crosses home plate. For instance, if a runner is on third base prior to a
hit, and he or she crosses home plate after an out is made, either on the batter or
another runner, the run is not counted.

Ending the game

The team with the most runs after seven innings wins the game. The last (bottom)
half of the seventh inning or any remaining part of the seventh inning is not
played if the team batting second is leading.
If the game is tied, play usually continues until a decision is reached, by using the
international tie-breaker rule or if time is expired the score would be just tied.
Starting in the top of the last inning, the batting team starts with a base-runner on
second base, which is the player who is the last available to bat (in other words,
the batter who last took their position in the batter's box; regardless whether they
were the last out or another runner was put out).
In games where one team leads by a large margin, the run ahead rule may come
into play in order to avoid embarrassing weaker teams. In fastpitch and modified
pitch, a margin of 15 runs after three innings, 10 after four, or 7 after five is
sufficient for a win to be declared for the leading team. In slow pitch, the margin is
20 runs after four innings or 15 after five innings. In the NCAA, the required
margin after 5 innings is 8 runs. The mercy rule takes effect at the end of an
inning. Thus, if the team batting first is ahead by enough runs for the rule to come
into effect, the team batting second is given their half of the inning to try to narrow
the margin.
A game may be lost due to a "forfeit". A score of 7–0 for the team not at fault is
recorded (generally one run is awarded for each inning that would have been
played). A forfeit may be called due to any of these circumstances: if a team does
not show up to play; if one side refuses to continue play; if a team fails to resume
play after a suspension of play ends; if a team uses tactics intended to unfairly
delay or hasten the game; if a player removed from the game does not leave
within one minute of being instructed to do so; if a player that cannot play enters
the game and one pitch has been thrown; if a team does not have, for whatever
reason, enough players to continue; or if after warning by the umpire, a player
continues to intentionally break the rules of the game. This last rule is rarely
enforced as players who break rules after being warned are usually removed.
The plate umpire may suspend play because of darkness or anything that puts
players or spectators in danger. If five innings have been played, the game is
recorded as it stands. This includes ties. If fewer than four innings have been
played, the game is not considered a "regulation" game.
Games that are not regulation or are regulation ties are resumed from the point of
suspension. If it is a championship game, it is replayed from the beginning. Team
rosters may be changed.

POSITIONS

There are nine players out on the field at one time in fastpitch softball and 10
players in slow-pitch softball. 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 a left fielder, center fielder, and right fielder. In slow-pitch softball there is
an extra outfielder in the outfield, who is specified as a roamer or rover. Normally,
the defensive team will play with four outfielders, meaning there is a left fielder,
left-center fielder, right-center fielder, and right fielder. The recent trend with
tournament and league slow pitch softball play is to field 5 infielders instead of 4
outfielders. The extra infielder is commonly placed behind the pitcher on either
side of 2nd base.

Designated Player
In fastpitch softball, it is common for teams to use a designated player in the
lineup; this player, which functions like the designated hitter in baseball, hits in
place of one of the position players but does not play defense.
Unlike a designated hitter, a designated player can also become a temporary
defensive substitute, and the player substituted by the designated player can
return to their original position at a later point in the game. However, the only
player that can be substituted as an offensive replacement (pinch runner or pinch
hitter) is the defensive player the designated player originally replaced, known as
the "flex".
At any time, the designated player can be substituted back into the lineup in the
place of the flex player, but once taken out, the designated player cannot take the
place of any other player in the lineup.
Pitcher
The pitcher is the individual who throws the ball from the middle of the diamond.
As in baseball, fastpitch softball has a rubber used to control the pitchers delivery.
A pitcher must have both feet on the rubber at the start of their delivery but
neither foot is on the rubber when the ball is released. In baseball, the rubber is
on a mound of dirt as gravity is used to generate speed. In softball, the pitchers
throw from within a circle and the rubber in the circle is not elevated. The circle is
also used to control base runners. When the pitcher is in possession of the ball in
the circle, a runner who has passed a base must either advance or return to the
base. They cannot "bait" the pitcher to throw or they will be called out. The pitcher
tries to throw the ball in the strike zone. In order to do that, they start while having
the ball in their glove, they throw their arms behind their hips, they shoot forwards
with their leg, which is on the same side as their glove, and leave their glove hand
there and the other arm goes around the shoulder, bends the elbow, and turns
their wrist toward the 3rd baseman, and brings their arm through at the end, flicks
their wrist, and brings the arm up, with the hand by their shoulder. They follow
through with their legs turning their pitching stance into a fielding stance. They try
to release the ball when they go past their hips. 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. Pitchers can be righthanded or lefthanded. The softball pitcher makes a
windmill motion while throwing underhand, unlike baseball pitchers who throw
overhand.

Catcher
The catcher is normally behind home plate in a squatted position (some plays
may require the catcher to stand at an angle for intentional walks). At the plate
the catcher is responsible for catching pitches, keeping mispitched balls in front
of the plate, calling pitches that are normally done through hand signals, and they
are considered the leaders of the field. Catchers must know how many outs there
are, the number of strikes and balls on the batter so they can relay that to their
teammates. They must also know how many runners are on base and where the
ball should be thrown next in the following play. Catchers are strong, need to be
smart and quick on their feet, and have accurate throws so they can pick runners
off at each base. Catchers should be able to have strong and muscular legs to
squat for a long period of time. The gear worn by a catcher protects them from
balls thrown in the dirt or wild pitches. The catcher is allowed to take off his/her
mask to catch a pop fly or to watch the play. The catchers gear can be very hot.
Some catchers wear pads under their knees to help keep the knees healthy.
First Baseman
The first baseman is the position to the left side of the diamond when facing
home plate. The major role of the first baseman is to receive throws from other
defensive players in order to get a force play at first base. Another role they play
is to make fielding plays on all balls hit towards first base. The first baseman is
usually involved in every play that occurs on the field. Individuals at first base
have quick hands and good reach, and are always on the lookout to catch the
player off base. They are also generally taller and left-handed throwing, which
gives them an extended reach. First basemen however, can be both left and right
handed. Just like the catcher, first basemen may wear specific first base mitts,
usually having a longer web allowing them to reach the taller throws over their
head.

Second baseman
The second baseman plays in between the first baseman and second base itself,
usually closer to second base. If the ball is hit to the left side of the field, the
second baseman covers second base. If the ball is hit to right-field or center field,
they become the cut-off for the center fielder or the right fielder depending who
the ball was hit to. If the ball is hit to the first baseman, the second baseman then
is responsible for covering first. If the ball is hit to the second baseman, they
either throw the ball to second if there was already a player on first, or they throw
to first if there was nobody on. If there is a runner on first and the person up to bat
hits the ball to the shortstop or the third baseman, the second baseman is in
charge of covering second to receive the throw from the shortstop or third
baseman. Then, depending where the runner is between home and first, the
second baseman makes the decision to throw the ball to first or to hold the ball.
Also, in the case of a bunt, the second baseman must cover first as the first
baseman runs to get the ball from the bunt, then it is often thrown back to first
base.

Shortstop/Shortstopper
The shortstop fields all balls hit to the infield between the second and third bases.
This individual also helps cover second and third bases, is frequently involved
in force plays and double plays, and often throws the ball to the catcher to throw
out runners at home plate. On steals to second base (when the runner from first
is advancing to second on the pitch) the shortstop usually covers. The shortstop
doesn't cover second base only when a right handed batter is up. In this case, the
second baseman covers the steal. 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/reaction by the short stop. When a ball is
hit up the middle and the shortstop catches it, they will flip the ball to the second
baseman for the best result. Shortstop also takes the cut off for the left field when
the play is at second base. When the ball is hit to the right side of the outfield, the
short stop then covers second base. If there is a runner on first base and there is
a hit down the line or in the gap to right field, the shortstop will then go for the cut
to third. Meaning the runner that is going from first to second will most likely be
advancing to third, and in that case, the shortstop will be the cut off for the throw
from right field to third base. Shortstop can be one of the most difficult positions to
play due to the number of balls being hit in that direction.

Third Baseman
The third baseman is the position on the right side of the diamond when you are
facing home plate. They are responsible for fielding all balls hit their way including
bunts. In fact, the third baseman fields more bunts than a pitcher and first
baseman do. Third base is also called the "Hot Corner" because the ball can pop
off the bat at the fielder very fast. Third baseman must have great reflexes and be
very quick on their feet because not only to they need to be quick to field a bunt
but also if they are unable to predict whether the batter will bunt or hit, a ball that
is hit may be a line drive to the face. It also helps if they can run fast but it isn't a
requirement. A third baseman must have a very strong arm so that they can throw
a runner out from across the diamond. Any ball that the third baseman can get,
they should. They will have more momentum towards first base when fielding the
ball than a shortstop. They are also closer to first base when they cut off a slower
ground ball towards shortstop. Third baseman are responsible for covering third
base at all times unless the ball is hit to them. In that instance, the shortstop is
responsible for third base. Third baseman must be smart, have great reflexes,
have a strong arm, and be quick with their hands.

Outfielders
The outfielders are players that cover the grassy area behind the infield.
Outfielders are named for their positions in the field relative to home plate.
Traditional outfield positions include a left fielder, a center fielder, and a right
fielder. Each player has specific job as being an outfielder. In some leagues and
organizations, four outfield players are utilized by each team, with the center field
position being shared between two players known as the left-center fielder and
the right-center fielder (or, alternatively, the deep center fielder and the short
fielder).
Right Fielder
The right fielder's position is on the right side of the field, behind the first baseman,
when looking at the field from behind home plate. The right fielder is part of a
group of two other fielders that make up the outfield. The right fielder has a
multitude of jobs over the course of a softball game. Generally, outfielders act as
a back-up to the infielders when they make plays or if the ball is hit past the infield.
Right field has a particular job of covering the area behind first base if the ball is
to be thrown in that area. Right field is meant to cover this area is the ball gets
past the first baseman. This will prevent base-runners from advancing to
unwanted bases. Traditionally in the game of softball, the right fielder will have
the strongest arm out of the two other outfielders. The right fielder must have the
strongest arm because they have the furthest possibility to throw the ball. A right
fielder will throw the ball to each base more than the other outfielders will
because of their position in respect to the bases.

Center Fielder
The center fielder's position is in the middle of the outfield directly behind second
base when looking at the field from behind home plate. The center fielder is part
of a group of two other fielders that make up the outfield. Center fielders
technically serve as the "captains" of the outfield. They are and should be the
most vocal in effectively communicating with their outfielders. Since the
outfielders are further apart from each other, it can be hard to hear each other.
The center fielder covers the area behind second base if the ball is going to be
thrown in that direction. By covering this area, if the ball does get past the
infielder, the center fielder can prevent base-runners from advancing to unwanted
bases. Within the game of softball, the center fielder is traditionally the fastest of
the three outfielders. The center fielder needs to be the quickest because of the
large area of field they must cover. Besides being a quick player, the center
fielder must have a strong throwing arm because of the distance between the
player and home plate.

Left Fielder
The left fielder's position is on the left side of the outfield behind the third
baseman when looking at the field from behind home plate. The left fielder is part
of a group of two other fielders that make up the outfield. Generally, outfielders
act as a back-up to the infielders when they make plays or if the ball is hit past the
infield. The left fielder must field their position, but also cover the area behind
third base if a ball is thrown or hit in that direction. The left fielder covers this area
in the case that the ball will pass the infielders. The left fielder can then prevent
the base runner from advancing to unwanted bases. Besides covering certain
areas of the field, the left fielder must be the smartest of the outfielders. In the left
field position, the player has full view of the field, the players, the base-runners,
and the batter. The left fielder must constantly be aware of the situation on the
field and know what must be done in different circumstances. More advanced
levels require the left fielder to be able to field the ball during "slap hit" situations
by playing shallow. Left fielders must also play a role in any run down situation
between third base and home plate or back up any plays that happen at third
base in case of an overthrow.

RULES & REGULATIONS

Field Rules
Softball fields have four bases that players can run or protect when playing
offense or defense. These bases are positioned for batters to run
counter-clockwise from home base to first, second, and third base in succession.
Spacing between bases differs by league but in general, bases are placed
roughly 60 feet apart within the inner diamond of the softball field.

The field area inside the base diamond is called the infield. The field area outside
the bases is called the outfield. A foul line extends on both sides of the field from
the home plate line straight through first and third base into the outfield. This foul
line marks the boundary for batted softballs to be considered in play. Typically, a
fence or outer limiting line marks the area behind the outfield to designate official
home runs.

Player Rules
Every softball team has 10 players although some leagues do permit teams to
play as few as eight players. Softball requires two teams to play against each
other, alternating batting (offense) and fielding (defense) positions one time each
inning.

The infield consists of the catcher at home plate, the pitcher, and one base
defender at first, second and third base. A shortstop is positioned between
second and third base. The outfield defensive positions include left fielder, center
fielder, right-center fielder and right fielder.

Game Rules
Basic rules for scoring exist for every league that directly affects actual game play.
Any player should have a clear understanding of the rules for their specific league
since slight nuance can change even these most basic rules.

Each runner must touch the bases in order when advancing through the bases.
Runners are not permitted to leave the base before a subsequent batter hits the
softball. The batter is allowed to run past first only after tagging the base,
provided they are not showing intention to continue running to second base. This
rule is allowed because many runners can't stop quickly after running top speed
from their batting position at home base to first base.

Runners must tag each base bag and are not permitted to run past second or
third. Runners can slide into second, third base and home plate. Stealing from
one base to another is not allowed, except in some fast-pitch leagues.

Batting Rules
A batter is allowed three strikes for each at bat before being called out. However,
softball leagues try to save time during games and as a result, almost all leagues
have a one-out rule for every player coming to bat. This means each player really
only has two outs per at bat. Fouls are considered strikes unless a player already
has two fouls. Pitchers must also keep one foot on the ground when pitching the
softball.

Most softball governing association monitor every bat used in their leagues very
closely. Umpires check the legality of bats before games. Each governing agency
has a complete list of legal bats available within in their league.

Time Frame
Some leagues set time limits for the entire game that typically consists of one
hour of official game play. General softball rules require a total of seven innings
although this can differ among youth leagues. Adult leagues often have a "mercy
rule" which allows any team losing by a set amount of runs to have five at-bats
while ending the game early to prevent too much scoring disparity.

The Basic Skills of Softball

 Two teams (of nine players) alternate turns at batting and fielding (often
called defense)
 The aim for the batting team is to advance a runner around all bases to the
home plate to score runs
 The defending team tries to defend its bases by getting three outs and not
allowing the batting team to score
 The team that scores the most runs in seven innings wins. (A tiebreaker
procedure comes into play if the scores are tied after the seventh inning)
 Each team’s innings ends when three of its batters have been ruled out and
then the team that was defending goes in to bat

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL

Both baseball and softball utilize a round ball, a round bat and a glove. Both
sports involve a pitcher throwing the ball to a batter with the hopes of getting him
or her "out." Both sports play a certain number of innings and both sports require
three outs to end the inning.

Gender
Although there is no law against women playing baseball or men playing softball,
the two sports often are aligned by gender, with women's team playing fast-pitch
softball and men's teams playing baseball.

Ball
Although both sports use balls, bats and gloves, the size of each differs. Because
a softball is significantly bigger than a baseball, those who play softball use bigger
gloves and, often, thinner bats. In addition, a softball is not as hard as a baseball.

Pitching
A casual viewer of baseball and softball can immediately recognize a difference in
pitching styles in the two sports. A pitcher in baseball throws the ball overhand and
a pitcher in softball throws the ball underhand. Baseball pitchers throw from an
elevated mound. Softball pitchers throw from a surface level with that of the batter.
The softball pitching area is much closer to the batter than the baseball pitching
area.

Field
Both sports are played on a field that includes a diamond-shaped, usually dirt,
infield and a grass-covered outfield. The size of the diamond, however, differs.
This difference in diamond size is caused by a difference in base path length.
Standard baseball bases are 90 feet apart. Standard softball bases are 60 feet
apart. The distance from home plate to the outfield fences is much shorter in
softball, it being more difficult to hit a softball the same distance as a tightly wound
baseball.

Rules
Although the basic rules are the same, there are significant differences in addition
to the field size. An official baseball game consists of nine innings as opposed to a
seven-inning softball game. The leadoff rule also differentiates the two sports. In
baseball, the runner may leave the base at any time. This usually involves a short
lead off the base with the occasional stolen base attempt. In softball, a runner may
not leave the base until the ball is pitched.

BASIC SKILLS

Throwing
Throwing is the most basic skill in baseball and softball. It allows the team to
prevent their opponents from touching bases or even earning points or runs. Style
and technique in doing it differ from player to player.
Elements of throwing
 GRIP - grip the ball across the seams with your index finger. The thumb is
under the top fingers
 WIND-UP -raise the throwing arm up and turn the shoulder in the direction of
the throw. The gloved hand points toward the target. Raise left foot and place
all the weight of the body on the right foot
 DELIVERY - make a backward swing with bent elbows; lean forward in
transferring weight to the left foot and release the ball
 FOLLOW THROUGH - point the throwing arm down-forward, putting the feet
parallel in a ready position
Pitching
Pitching is a skill that puts the game to play. It is performed by a pitcher, one of the
key players in baseball/softball who stay at the center of the playing field called the
diamond
Elements of pitching
 WIND-UP - keep the front part of the right foot in contact with the side of the
plate. Shift weight back leg and take a backward step

Catching
This is a defensive skill used to recive a thrown ball and hold a base runner or
batter from proceeding or prevent the opponent from earning a point or a run
Elements of catching
 FOLLOW THROUGH - after the release of the ball, continue the forward
motion, with the throwing arm pointing to the target
 STRIDE - take a stride or wide step with your left foot. Release the ball. In
performing this skillobserve the following mechanics:
  Hold your glove open in front of you and keep visual on the ball at all times
 Keep your free hand in front of you and bring it on top of the glove as the
ball approaches
 Close your hand over the ball the moment it hits your glove

Hitting/Batting
The aspect of baseball/softball that draws many young players to the game is the
idea of hitting the ball squarely
Elements of hitting/batting
 GRIP - use your fingers in gripping the bat and tightenyour grip as the ball
approaches
 STANCE - proper stance includes slightly bending your knees, feet parallel to
the plates in shoulder width distance, and bat tilted at 45 degrees and not
positioned over the shoulder
 STRIDE - as the ball approaches, stride the right foota little back to gain
momentum
 SWING - after the little stride backward, transfer the strength generated by the
body towards the arms to bat as it swings parallel to the ground aiming at the
ball and directing it to the intended destination

Running
This is a very important skill you need to master because it allows you to advance
safely from one base to another with full speed and agility