Softball - Slowpitch

Softball is a team sport popular around the world but especially in the United States. more...

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It is a direct descendant of baseball and the rules of both sports remain substantially similar; baseball is sometimes referred to as hardball to distinguish the two (see Comparison of baseball and softball).

Overview

Softball is played between 2 teams on a large field called a diamond, comprised of a dirt infield and a grass outfield. There are 4 bases on the infield (first base, second base, third base, home plate); the bases are arranged in a square and are typically 45 to 60 feet apart. Near the center of this square is the pitcher's circle, and within the circle is the rubber, a small flat rectangular area. The object of the game is to score more runs than the other team by batting a ball into play and running around the bases, touching each one in succession. The ball is a sphere of light material, covered with leather or synthetic. It is 11 to 12 inches (or rarely, 16 inches) (28 to 30.5 centimeters) in circumference. The game is officiated by one or more neutral umpires. There is no time clock or other time limit in softball (although some leagues may impose maximum time limits for practical concerns). Players and umpires are generally free to ask for a brief stoppage at any time when the ball is not in play, or immediately following a play once its outcome is clear.

The game is played in a series of innings, usually seven or nine. An inning is one series of both teams playing offense and defense. Each inning is divided into a top half and a bottom half indicating which team is playing which role. The offensive team bats, while the defensive team occupies the field. The offense attempts to score runs, while the defensive team attempts to record outs in a variety of ways. After the defense records 3 outs, the half inning is over and the teams switch roles.

To start play, the offense sends a batter to home plate. The batting order must be fixed at the start of the game, and players may not bat out of turn. The defense's pitcher stands atop the rubber and throws the ball towards home plate using an underhanded motion. The batter attempts to strike the pitched ball with a bat, a long, round, smooth stick made of wood, metal or composite. A pitch must cross within a small area known as the strike zone: the ball must cross over the plate, and it must be within a certain height restriction. A bad pitch is a ball, and if the batter reaches 4 balls, he is awarded first base (a walk or base on balls). A good pitch is a strike, and a batter who reaches 3 strikes is out (a strikeout). A strike is also given on any pitch that the batter swings at and misses entirely, and a strike is given on a pitch that is hit foul (out of play) except that a foul ball cannot result in a strikeout.

Read more at Wikipedia.org