Modified Softball
Field Dimensions: The pitching distance is 9.1 metres. The rest of the diamond can be varied depending upon the players’ abilities and the space available.
The Ball: A 27cm circumference rubber or synthetic ball is recommended.
The Bat: Aluminium and/or wooden bats between 65 and 80 cm (26 to 32 inches) are recommended. All bats must have a taped or rubber covered non-slip handle of 25 to 35cm.
Gloves: Each player should wear a softball glove on their non-throwing hand. The catcher and the first base player are the only players allowed to wear a mit (an over-sized glove with no fingers).
Helmets: Must be worn for batter and base-runners at all times.
Catcher’s Gear: The catcher must wear a helmet, face-mask with throat protector and chest protector. It is also recommended that they also wear leggings or shin guards.
Umpires: Must wear chest protector and face-mask.
Base and Plates: Use gear which is safe, and in good condition. Home plate should be a square plate with one corner modified into two 45 degree angles.
Clothing: It is recommended that pants be long, so players can ‘slide’ into bases, with out removing too much skin!
How the Game is Played:
The basic rules of junior softball are similar to soft ball, but are modified to enable more players to participate and to playa variety of positions.
Starting the Game: Toss of coin to determine batting and fielding sides.
Length of Game: Games can be played either with a time limit (usually one hour), or by agreeing to play a certain number of innings.
Teams: Teams shall consist of between 9 and 12 players. Nine players bat or field in an innings.
Fielders: Catcher, 1st, 2nd, 3rd base, pitcher, short stop, right outfield, centre outfield, left outfield.
Batting order: Players must bat in the order selected before play commences, and this is called the ‘line-up’. Modified softball is played using three out, or by batting until the eighth run has crossed home plate. Every three dismissals or eight runs constitutes a half inning. The first batter in the next innings would be the batter in the order after the last out.
Bunting: Bunting is allowed.
Strikes: Each batter is allowed three attempts to hit the ball pitched to them. A strike is called whenever the batter swings and misses or whenever the pitcher pitches a ball in the strike zone, and the batter does not swing. Three strikes and the batter is out.
Balls: A Ball pitched outside the strike zone and not swung at is called a ball. Four balls mean the batter is awarded first.
Fouls: A foul is a ball hit outside the base lines between home and first and home and third base. There is no limit to the number of fouls that can be hit and runners cannot advance on fouls.
Outs: There are numerous ways in which batters can be out in soft ball. The main forms of dismissals include:
- any hit, foul or fair, caught on the full;
- three strikes (regardless of whether the catcher take the ball on the full);
- the ball being held by a fielder at 1st base before the batter arrives after a fair hit;
- runners being tagged whilst they are off base;
- the ball being held by a fielder on any base before a forced runner arrives;
- a player on base leaves the base before the pitcher releases the ball.
Forced or Unforced Runners: A runner is called a forced runner whenever being forced to run because another batter/ runner is running to that base. The batter is always forced to 1st. If 1st is occupied, that runner is forced to 2nd by a fair hit from the batter. Fielders do not have to tag runners, but may do so. Whenever not forced the runner is ‘unforced’, and must be tagged out. Unforced runners don’t have to run. If 2nd is occupied but 1st is vacant, the runner on 2nd is not forced by the batter running to 1st.