Softball

Submitted by:
Veronica Gale S. de Ocampo

Submitted to:
Sir Wilbert
History of Softball

The first version of softball was invented in Chicago, Illinois

on Thanksgiving Day, 1887 by George Hancock and Bakir
Dzananovic as a winter version of baseball. It was intended
to be a way for baseball players to keep in practice during
the winter. At the time, the sport was called "Indoor
Baseball".

The ball, being soft, was fielded barehanded rather than with
gloves like those which had been introduced to baseball in
1882. Hancock developed a ball and an undersized bat in the
next week. The Farragut Club soon set rules for the game,
which spread quickly to outsiders. The game, under the
name of "Indoor-Outdoor", was moved outside next year,
and the first rules were published in 1889.

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", "pumpkin ball," and "cabbage
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. The formation of the Joint Rules Committee on
Softball in 1934 standardized the rules and naming
throughout the United States.

History of Softball

Softball was introduced to the United Kingdom in 1972 when

the movie A Touch of Class was being filmed in London. The
first British women's softball league was established in 1983.
In 1977, the American Professional Slow Pitch League
(APSPL) became the first of three men's professional softball
leagues to play between 1977 and 1982. The Detroit Caesars
were the first team to win a professional softball World
Series.

In 1991, women's fast-pitch 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.

Facilities and Equipment

-Ball

Despite the sport's name, softballs are not especially soft.

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 weight between 6.25 oz
(178 g) and 7.0 oz (198.4 g) in fast pitch; 11±0.125 in
(29.7±0.3 cm), weight between 5.875 oz (166.5 g) and
6.125 oz (173.6 g) in slow pitch. A 12-inch circumference ball
is generally used in slow pitch. 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 2002, 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 much
more common in slow pitch than in fast pitch.

-Bat

The bat used by the batter is made of metal, wood or

composite materials (carbon fiber, etc.). Sizes may vary. In
fast pitch softball, wooden bats are not allowed.

-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.
In 2007, ASA and other organizations revised their rules
regarding gloves and mitts, allowing any player to use a
glove or mitt. 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 generally larger than the ones used in
baseball.

-Uniform

Each team wears distinctive uniforms. The uniform includes

a cap, visor, a shirt, an undershirt, tight sliding undershorts,
socks, and shorts or pants; these are the components for
which standards are set.

Including for softball players, most players use "sliding

shorts" otherwise known as compression shorts for other
sports like soccer, football etc. These shorts help to protect
the upper thigh when sliding into a base. Other additional
sliding equipment used is "sliders". 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 easier to
slide into the plate.

At the back of the uniform an Arabic numeral from 1–99

must be visible. Numbers such as 02 and 2 are considered
identical. Players' names are optional.

Jewelry, excepting medic-alert-style bracelets and necklaces,

cannot be worn during a game. Those must be taped to
players wearing them.

All players are required to wear shoes. They may have cleats
or spikes. The spikes must extend less than 0.75 inch
(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.

-Protective equipment

All batters in fast pitch are required to wear batting helmets.

In slow pitch, helmets are optional for adult batters and
mandatory for youth batters. Batting helmets must have two
ear flaps, one on each side. Helmets and cages that are
damaged or altered are forbidden.

In fast pitch, the catcher must wear a protective helmet with

a face-mask and throat protector. A female catcher may
optionally wear a body protector in slow pitch. In fast pitch
shin guards and helmets with facemasks are required. 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. In slow pitch, there is no formal requirement
to wear a helmet.

In any form of softball, any player (other than fast pitch

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.

When people slide into the bases, their legs can get cut up
very easily, so the players wear sliding pants under their
shorts. Sliding shorts are shorts that you wear under you
shorts and have pads embedded on them on the side. This
protects the upper part of the leg. Not all players have to
wear them, but it is recommended if you slide feet first.

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; this fence is equidistant from home plate at all points.

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 fast

pitch, a skinned circle 16 feet (4.88 meters) in diameter
known as the pitching circle is around the pitching plate.

A field is officially supposed 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.

Players and their Positions

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
fielder, who is specified as a 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.

Rules of the Game

One reason for the popularity of softball is the ease of
modification of the rules, thereby allowing the game to be
adapted to a variety of skill levels. For example, in some
slow pitch softball leagues a batter starts at bat with a count
of one ball one strike. In some leagues, the numbers of home
runs that can be hit by a team are limited. In other leagues,
stealing of bases is prohibited. Some groups allow for a more
defensive game by making home plate a force out for first
base. This reduces scoring evenly on both sides, and allows
for some margin of error.

Some leagues require teams to use limited flight softballs.

These softballs, when hit, will not go as far as regular
softballs. Other leagues limit the number of runs which can
be scored in an inning. Five is a common limit.

An example of a rule modification is the "offensive pitcher"

(or "self pitch") often found in informal games where the
emphasis is on the social rather than the competitive
aspects of the game. The pitcher aids the batter by
attempting to give the easiest pitch to hit. There are no
walks, and a batter is normally given a fixed number of
pitches to attempt to hit (usually 3 or 4). The batter is
considered to strike out if she fails to hit the ball into fair
territory after the given number of pitches. The pitcher does
not act as a fielder, and a rule is often made that if a batted
ball touches the pitcher, the batter is out.

In some leagues the number of pitches to walk or strikeout

can be reduced. For instance, one strike is an out, and two
balls is a walk. This is common in leagues where
doubleheaders are played or in late season leagues when
reduced daylight is an issue. It results in shorter games, as
players are more apt to swing, even at marginal pitches,
rather than risk striking out on one pitch.

Many leagues also include a second first base immediately

adjacent to the main one. This is usually orange and the
batter running through first base is supposed to run straight
through it. This minimizes the chances of a collision. By the
same token some leagues have an alternate home plate and
rule that plays at home are always force plays. In these
cases there is typically a white line drawn approximately 1/3
of the way down the baseline that is considered a point of no
return. This is designed to reduce the "Pickle" which can put
a great strain on the ankles and knees of older base runners.