SOFTBALL STUDY GUIDE

History
The indoor game of softball was developed by Greoge W. Hancock in Chicago in 1887. Softball
evolved around the turn of the 20th century as an adaptation of baseball. In its early days, it was
called Kitten Ball and Cabbage Ball.

Local History
The game of softball was introduced into the Bahamas, a few years after world war II by serviceman
Austin Pyfrom, Lee Davis, Alfred Lowe, Father Marcian Peters and others. The governing body for
the game of softball in the Bahamas is the Bahamas Softball Federation (B.S.F).

The Game
The batting side (offense) attempts to score runs by making a circuit of four bases while the fielding
team (defense) attempts to dismiss them (record outs). The major differences between baseball and
softball are that softball is played by men and women, the field of play is smaller, the ball is larger, the
game lasts only seven innings, pitching is underhand, and players may not steal step off the base
while pitcher has the ball in hand. As in baseball, the visiting team bats first, the home team takes the
field, there are 3 outs each at bat, and 9 fielding positions. Government schools (G.S.S.S.A.) we play
fast pitch (9 players)
A variation of softball is slow-pitch softball. This game is generally a more active one because the ball
must be pitched more slowly and with an arch, the ball is hit much more frequently. In slow-pitch
softball, teams have 10 players. The extra player is called a short fielder. Bunting and stealing bases
are not permitted in slow pitch.
In fast pitch softball there are 9 players on the field, in slow pitch softball there are 10 players on the
field.

Rules and Regulations

_ 3 outs per team
_ 7 innings per game
_ 9 players per team
_ 4 fouls and your out
_ 3 strikes and your out
_ Everyone bats, then we go to the top of the order

Scoring
When a player goes completely around the bases, a run is scored. If the defensive team strikes out
a batter, catches a fly ball, throws a batted ball to a base before the batter reaches it, or tags a runner
before he/she reaches a base, that player is considered out and does not have the opportunity to
score a run.

Field and Player Position

Infielders = Pitcher, catcher, 1st baseman, 2nd baseman, 3rd baseman, and shortstop.
Outfielders = Right fielder, Left fielder and Center fielder (right and left center in slow pitch)
Fast pitch

1.

Pitcher

Slow pitch 1. - 7. Same as fast pitch

2.

Catcher

8.

Left center fielder

3.

First baseman

9.

Right center fielder

4.

Second baseman

10.

Right fielder

5.

Third baseman

6.

Shortstop

7.

Left fielder

8.

Center fielder

9.

Right fielder

Strategies
_ Place one player at each of the positions.
_ Everyone is responsible for covering their base.
_ When a ball is hit to the right side of the field the short stop will cover second.
_ When a ball is hit to the left side of the field the second baseman will cover second.
_ Call the ball when it is in the air.
_ Always look to put out the lead runner.
_ If a runner doesnt have to run he/she must be tagged.
_ If a runner has to run because they are forced by someone behind them all you
need to do is tag the base they are approaching.
_ Hit the ball hard and keep it on the ground.
_ Know where you are going to throw the ball before it is hit at you.
_ Know how many outs there are before the ball is pitched.

Innings and outs

A high school game consists of 7 innings. The home team will always bat last. If the home team is
winning going into the bottom of the 7th inning, that part of the inning is not played.
There are three outs awarded to each team per inning.
Four balls (pitched balls not in the strike zone) and the batter is awarded first base via a walk.
Three strikes and the batter is called out.
In fast pitch softball if the catcher drops the third strike and there is no runner on first, the batter may
run to first. The catcher must tag the runner or throw to first base to force the out.
The first two foul balls are called as strikes, but a person may not be called out because of foul balls.

Fair and foul

When a ground ball goes over the third or first base bag the ball is considered fair.
A fly ball that goes over the bag, but lands in foul territory the ball is considered foul.

Base Running Rules

1. All bases must be touched in order.
2. If two base runners occupy the same base, the last player on the base can be tagged out.
3. The base runner is out if he/she passes another runner.
4. The base runner is out if he/she is hit by a batted ball. All other base runners have to return to the
base occupied prior to the pitch, unless forced to the next base.
5. A runner can only overrun 1st base and home plate.

Getting on base
The batter is walked.
A pitch hits the batter.
The batter hits a ball into fair territory.
The pitcher pitches an illegal pitch.
In fast pitch; if no one is on first base and the catcher drops the third strike.
If there are two first bases, one will be white the other will be orange, the orange bag will be used by
the batter to avoid a collision with the first baseman. If there is no play at first, the white bag is to be
used.

Stealing
In slow pitch softball there is no stealing and the runner may not leave the base until the batter has
swung.
In fast pitch softball stealing is permitted. The runner may leave the base when the pitcher releases
the ball.

Fly balls
When a fly ball is caught, the base runners must touch their base (tag-up) after the catch and before
they can run to the next base. If they do not, the defense needs only tag the base left to put that
player out.

Strikes
Any part of the ball passing over any part of home plate in the batters strike zone. The batter must
stand in the batters box. Only underhand pitching may be used.
In slow pitch softball the ball must have a minimum of a 4-foot arc and a maximum of a 12 foot arc.
The ball must cross the plate between the batters highest shoulder and the knees when the batter
assumes a natural batting stance.
In fast pitch softball the ball must be over the plate and between the batters forward armpit the top of
the knees when the batter assumes a natural stance.
Infield fly rule: On a pop fly, in the infield, where there are runners on first and second or on first,
second and third, with less than 2 outs the batter is called out. Following the tag-up, base runners
may run at their own risk.

Penalties

Players are out when:

The third strike is caught.
The person swings on the third strike and misses the ball.
The third strike is bunted into foul territory.
A runner interferes with the fielders attempt to catch a ball.
A runner fails to return to the base when the bases fielder is touching the bag and gets the ball.
A batted ball touches a runner while running between bases.
A runner fails to be return to base (or run to the next base) once the ball is controlled by the pitcher in
the pitchers circle.
A runner leaves the base before the pitcher pitches (in fast pitch) or before the batter swings (in slow
pitch).

Terms
Ball A ball pitched outside the strike zone that the batter does not attempt to hit.
Base on Balls- BB (a walk) - Four pitches thrown out of the strike zone.
Batting order- Order in which players on a team must bat.
Diamond Infield
Double Play- Two offensive players are put out in one play.
Error- A mistake, fumble of ball or wild throw, by the defensive team which allows a base runner to
advance.
Fair Ball- A batted ball that hits first or third base line, is touched by a fielder within the baselines, or
bounces within the baseline past first or third.
Force out- When a fielder has possession of the ball at a base where the base runner was forced to
run does not need to tag the runner.
Foul Ball - A ball that first touches an object or player outside of the foul line. It is considered a strike
on the batter, if the batter has less than a two strike count.
Full count A count of three balls and two strikes.
Grand Slam- Bases are loaded when batter hits a home run.
Hit A ball that is hit in such a way that the batter or the preceding base runners are not put-out by a
good defensive play.
Hot Spot Short Stop
Hot Corner Third Base
Home run a batter rounds all bases and scores a run off his/her hit.
Inning- The portion of the game within which the teams alternate to the field and at bat. Each team
gets three outs only!
RBI (Run batted in): the batter is credited with hitting in the base runner.
Stealing- Act of base runner attempting to advance to the next base during a pitch- not allowed in
slow pitch.
Strike (K) A swing and a miss, or a ball pitched with the strike zone that the batter does not attempt
to hit.
Strike Zone- that space over any part of home plate between the batters arm pits and the top of the
knees.

Tag-up With less than 2 outs, runners on base have to go back and tag up at the base before they
can run on a caught fly ball
Triple- A hit that permits the batter to reach third base.

Center Fielder