Essay about Softball: Baseball and fast Pitch Softball

Submitted By ethandortch
Words: 1103
Pages: 5

Softball
Softball is a variant of baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. It was invented in 1888 in Chicago as an indoor game. It was known as indoor baseball, mush ball, playground, softbound ball, kitten ball, and ladies’ baseball. It didn’t get the official name “softball” until 1926. Women’s fast pitch softball became an Olympic sport in 1996, but along with baseball it was dropped in 2005 from the games. The goal of the game is to make sure that at the end of the final inning your team has scored the most runs. Despite the name, the ball is not soft. It is about twelve inches in circumference which is three inches larger than a baseball. The infield in softball is also smaller than it is in baseball. There are two types of softball. There is slow pitch, which is the most common. In slow pitch softball the ball must arch on its path to the batter, ten players must make up the team, and bunting and stealing are permitted. Softball rules also vary slightly from baseball. Two major differences are that the ball must be pitched underhand, and it is seven innings instead of nine.
Softball has certain rules and regulations that have to be followed in order to participate. First, there are to be nine players on each team, in fast pitch softball. The playing field that they are distributed out on are divided into what is called the infield and outfield. The lines between the bases have to be 60 feet apart which forms what is known as the diamond. Inside the baseline is the infield and outside the baseline but inside the playing field is called the outfield. If a ball goes outside of the first or third base line it is a foul ball which means the runners cannot advance to the next base and the batter gets to try again unless the ball was caught in the air which would cause an out. After a team gets three outs they will go to the outfield and it is the other team’s turn at bat. There are seven innings in an official game, an inning is when both teams have had a turn at bat. One of the positions is the pitcher which is the person who stands on the pitching mound and throws the ball at the batter. The pitcher must have both feet on the pitcher’s rubber and can only take one step forward while pitching. When the ball is thrown it must be thrown underhand and both hands must be on the ball at the start of the pitch. While batting, you can only get out if three strikes have been called, a fly ball is caught, and if the batter does not stand in the batter’s box. Also, runners must touch each base in order to be counted. They are only allowed to overrun first base without being tagged out if they are off the base. They are not allowed to lead of the base, they have to be in contact with the base until the ball has left the pitcher’s hand. After a fly ball has been caught, the base runner must tag the occupied base before advancing to the next base. Also, if there is more than one runner on the bases at a time, one runner cannot pass another runner that is ahead of them. Also, stealing a base is not permitted (in fast pitch softball). In order to get a runner out you have to tag them with the ball before reaching a base. They can also get out if the ball gets thrown to first base before the runner can touch the base. Lastly, a runner can get out if they run more than three feet out of the base line to avoid being tagged.
A few of the other positions are the catcher, the first baseman, second baseman, and third baseman, the shortstop, and the outfielders. The catcher wears protective equiptment such as a mask, helmet, shin guards, and a chest protector. The catcher uses a special glove that is designed as a padded target. He must catch,