Softball

Softball is a team sport strongly resembling baseball, from which it is descended, but which differs from baseball in a number of particulars resulting in a game with its own unique style and flavor. The game is played in over a hundred countries internationally, but is most popular in the United States, Canada, Japan, China, Korea, the Philipines, Australia and New Zealand. Since 1996, it has been on the Olympic program, though the current Olympiad (Beijing 2008) will mark its last as an Olympic event unless it is re-instated in the future.

In the United States, where the game originated, it is played mainly as an amateur paticipant sport and, as such, is the most popular sport activity in the country with more than 40 million people playing the game annually. In addition, it has become a staple of the women's athletic program at high schools and colleges in the U.S.

The game itself exists in a variety of different forms all going under the same name. The two major versions are called fastpitch and slowpitch. Both, in contrast to baseball, require the pitcher to deliver the ball to the batter with an underarm motion, but in fastpitch there are no other special restrictions while in slowpitch, the ball must be "lobbed" in with a substantial arc, resulting in a slow (hence: slowpitch) delivery. The fastpitch version is the norm for highly competitive athletic play, such as in high schools and colleges, while the slowpitch version is the recreational favorite for all ages and genders, including mixed gender teams.

Internationally, the governing body for softball is the International Softball Federation. The ISF is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the governing body of the sport internationally, responsible for administering the sport including the adoption of uniform rules and procedures for the sport as well as for providing the auspices for the organization of competitions and championships.

Description of the game

Softball originated as a form of indoor baseball, by which name it was originally known, but today it is almost always played outdoors. Because of its strong derivation from and resemblence to baseball, it can be described in terms of its differences from baseball and the effects these differences have on the game. Indeed, a spectator who understands the nature of the game of baseball would, in general, have little or no trouble figuring out what is happening in a softball game.

The basics of a softball game

In both baseball and softball, the object of the game is to score more points, called runs, than the opponents are able to score, in a specified number of innings.

There are two teams of 9 players each (10 players for the slowpitch game). The teams alternate being on defense and offense. When one team is on defense, the other is on offense, and vice versa, with each alternation (each team having been on defense and offense once) being called an inning. The defense occupies positions on the field of play.

This field consists of a large, flat open area bounded by lines on two sides, intersecting at right angles, and a generally curving fence or other such demarcation along a third side. Where the two side lines intersect is located home plate which is the focal point of the game and upon which is built the infield, a equisided, diamond shaped area with 4 bases which must be successfully touched in consecutive order for a team to score a run.

Play proceeds with the defensive team's pitcher, stationed in the middle of the infield diamond, delivering the ball to the batter (stationed near home plate) in the prescribed underarm delivery fashion. The batter attempts to put the ball in play in such a way that he/she is able to reach base without being put out, which can occur in a variety of ways as well, including exceeding the number of prescribed good pitches.

Once on the base, the player (now called a baserunner) attempts to circle the bases in order, and to safely cross home plate. If successful, a run (point) is scored for his/her team. The team on offense is allowed to proceed until the defensive team is able to retire or put out three opposing players, at which time the two teams switch positions with the team on offense taking to the field for defense and the team on defense retiring from the field and going on offense.

A game lasts the prescribed number of innings (offensive / defensive switches) and the team wins which has the most runs (points) at the end of this number of innings, though extra innings are allowed in the event of a tie score at the end of the regulation number of innings.