Softball

Players- 9 players on an official team.

The Field and Bases:

Bases are 60’ apart.

Pitching distance is 38’ from home plate.

The infield is within the diamond made by the bases.

The outfield is outside the diamond and between the foul lines beyond first and third bases.

Game: consists of 7 innings.

Each team should have an equal number of bats.

The team with the most runs at the end of the game is the winner.

One run shall be scored each time a base runner legally touches first base, second base, third base, and home plate before the third out of the inning.

A runner shall not score a run if:

a. A batter is put out before reaching first base for the third out.

b. A base runner is forced out for a third out.

c. A base runner leaves a base too soon for a third out.

Pitching:

  1. Must be underhand.
  2. The pitcher shall NOT take more than ONE step before releasing the ball.
  3. The pitcher shall NOT try to “fake out” the batter.

Batting/Base running:

a. The same batting order must be followed throughout the entire game.

  1. A batter shall be out if three strikes are made or called.

A runner may overrun first base only. If she overruns first base and turns toward second base she can be tagged with the ball and be out.

  1. A runner may lead off a base after the pitcher releases the pitch.
  2. Before advancing to the next base, a runner shall return and retouch the base when a fly ball, fair or foul, is caught (tagging up).
  3. A runner shall stay within three feet of the baseline except when going around a fielder playing the ball.
  4. A runner can NOT pass the preceding runner (in front of her).
  5. A runner can NOT run to the next base when the pitcher has the ball.
  6. When running to first base the runner should touch the orange “safety base” so that she doesn’t collide with the fielder making a play.
  7. When running to first base, the runner should “over run” first base and turn to the right to return to first base.

A base runner is out when:

a. A runner is tagged by the ball before reaching base.

b. The ball reaches the base and is caught by a fielder before the runner.

c. The base runner goes more than 3 feet outside a base line to avoid being tagged (runs out of base path).

d. The base runner is touched by the ball while off base, except while overrunning first base (straight through & turning to the right to return to first base).

e. A base runner passes preceding runners.

f. The runner leaves base before the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand.

g. The ball is thrown to the base which the base runner left before the fly ball was caught (didn’t tag up).

h. The ball is thrown to a base and caught by a fielder that the runner failed to touch.

i. The base runner is struck by a batted ball that has not been touched by a fielder.

A base runner is SAFE when:

a. Tagged by ball that is juggled or fumbled by the player making the tag.

b. A fielder, without the ball, blocks the baseline in the runner’s path, unless the fielder is actually fielding the ball at the spot.

Positioning:

1=pitcher 6=shortstop

2=catcher 7=left fielder

3=first baseman 8=center fielder

4=second baseman 9=right fielder

5=third baseman 10=on deck circle (where the next batter stands)