SLOW PITCH SOFTBALL STUDY GUIDE
HISTORY:
In 1877, the first game of softball was played in Chicago, IL. George M. Hancock, who had
decided to adapt baseball to an indoor game, created it. His plan involved using an old boxing
glove and a broom handle as the bat and ball, respectively. Shortly after its invention, the game
moved outdoors and was commonly known as mush ball, playground ball, scrub, and kitten ball
until 1930 when the name softball was adapted.
PLAYING AREA:
A softball field is comprised of a smooth dirt infield and a grassy outfield. The distance between
bases is sixty feet. The pitcher’s rubber, from which he/she delivers each pitch, is 46 feet from
home plate. A batter’s box denotes the legal area from which a pitch may be hit, which is
located on each side of home plate. Extending from each batter’s box is a line extending to 1 st
and 3rd base and extending to left and right field. Its purpose is to indicate fair or foul.
FAIR OR FOUL:
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A foul ball is a batted ground ball that rolls outside the first and third base lines before
the bases.
A foul ball is a batted fly ball that lands outside the first and third base lines.
A fair ball is a batted ball that remains inside fair territory as it passes first base or third
base.
A fair ball is a batted ball that is touched by a player while in fair territory even when the
ball goes outside the lines after it was touched.
A ball that lands directly on the foul line is fair.
A ball that hits first or third base is fair.
THE GAME:
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A regulation game consists of 7 innings, with each team having an opportunity to bat.
The visiting team bats first, at the top of the inning.
The hitting team must play the field after 3 outs. The home team, then, is up to bat until
3 outs to complete the inning.
The ball must be pitched underhand.
A run is scored when a batter reaches base and advances to each base in sequence all
the way back to home plate. The tam who scores the most runs after 7 innings or is
ahead by 10 runs at the end of the 5th inning is the winner.
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Two bases are used at first base to prevent a collision between the runner and the first
baseman.
Fielders may not stand in the baseline in order to hinder the runner from advancing to
the next base.
Slow pitch softball may be considered a lifetime activity. Many older adults are still
active in softball.
Slow pitch softball is NOT an aerobic activity.
Outs are made when:
o A fielder catches a batted ball in the air
o The runner is tagged with the ball while attempting to advance bases
o The batter collects three strikes
o A fielder holding the ball touches the base ahead of a runner, who must advance,
called a force out.
BASE RUNNING:
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Base runners must wait until the ball is hit or has crossed home plate before he or she
can come off the base. No lead-offs or stolen bases.
A runner may overrun 1st base, but once the runner makes any movement that indicates
an intention to advance to 2nd base, he/she may be tagged out.
If a batter runs to 1st base and the ball reaches 1st base at the same time, the runner is
considered safe. In other words, “The tie goes to the runner.”
Since there may never be more than one person on a base, a runner on 1 st must
advance on a ground ball. If a fielder throws the ball to 2nd base before the runner
reaches it, the runner is out on the force. The same rule applies with runners on 1st and
2nd base. The runner coming from 2nd base may be forced out if the ball reaches 3rd base
before the runner.
If a runner is trying to score and a force out occurs, ending the innings, the run does not
count. If a runner is thrown out trying to advance past any base, the run counts if it is
scored before the out occurs.
Infield fly rule- when there are runners on 1st base and 2nd base or on all three bases
with two outs or less, and the batter hits a fly ball that does not leave the infield, the
batter is automatically out.
Runners may only advance on a fly ball if it drops safely in the field or the runner leaves
after the fielder catches it.
TEAM POSITIONS:
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Pitcher- positioned at the pitcher’s mound, delivers the ball to home plate so the batter
can attempt to hit it
Catcher- positioned behind home plate (technically and outfielder), catch pitched balls,
field balls that land by the plate, guard home plate for runners coming in to score
1st Baseman- positioned between 1st and 2nd base, covers 1st base for force outs
2nd Baseman- positioned between 1st and 2nd base, covers 2nd base
3rd Baseman- positioned between shortstop and 3rd base, covers 3rd base
Shortstop- positioned between 2nd bas and 3rd baseman, covers 2nd base in certain
situations, helps with fly balls being thrown in from the outfield
Left Fielder- positioned in left area of outfield behind 3rd base, covers area from the foul
line to the left-center field
Center Fielder- positioned in center area of outfield behind 2nd base, covers area from
left-center to right-center
Right Fielder- positioned in center area of outfield behind 1st base, covers are from the
foul line to right-center field
Short Center Fielder- positioned directly behind 2nd base, covers all balls that just make
it over the infield
FIELD:
C
LF
SCF
RF
2ND
SS
3RD
1ST
P
C