Softball Lecture

8/6/2019 Softball Lecture

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Softball

Introduction

1. Rapidly gaining popularity all over the world.2. It began as game of stickball

3. Colonel Abner Doubleday

- the father of baseball and the first to standardize play in 1893.4. George Hancock

- invented softball. First softball game was played using a rolled up

boxing glove as a ball and a broomstick as a bat.- Revised rules for softball.

5. Official playing rules are now published in many languages.

6. In the Philippines…

- Barrio teams are playing in tournaments.- Both men and women players are becoming more skillful

- Preludes to games being held n public school interscholastic and

private schools athletic meets on all levels, provincial, regional, and

national- Also participates in international softball tournaments for boys,

women and men.Softball

Softball is a game closely resembling baseball that is played on a smaller diamond

than baseball, with a ball that is larger and softer and bat that is slightly different in size

and weight and can also be made of aluminum.

Nature of the Game

1. Patterned after baseball- diamond is smaller

- consist of seven innings compared to baseball’s nine innings.2. Other differences- the size of the bat and the ball

- the delivery of the pitched ball

- regulations regarding base running

3. Like baseball, is a game using the skills of throwing, running, batting, and

catching by two opposing teams on a diamond shaped field.

4. Each diamond of nine players alternates at bats and in field for seven innings.5. Teams remain in the batting (offensive) position and the fielding (defensive)

position until the defensive team succeeds in making three of the offensive

team out.6. An inning is finished when each team has been at bat.

7. Nine players each team

8. they are assigned certain position – catcher, pitcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, left fielder, center fielder, and right fielder.



Differences between softball and baseball

Instructions/Materials needed Baseball Softball_________

1. Innings 9 7

2. Pitching Overhead Underhand

3. Ball weight 9-9 ¼ cir, 11 7/8- 12 1/8cir.5-5 ¼ oz 6-6 ¼ oz

4. Bat length 42 in (107 cm) 34 in (86.4 cm)

2 ¾ in/7 cm dia 2 ¼ in / 5.7 cm dia

5. Pitcher’s plate 60ft / 6 in 46ft m

to home plate 43ft w

6. Between bases 90ft 60ft

7. (Pitching) ball free base the pitch is deemed a

ball instead pitchin

area is above

ground(w/ mound) ground

level

8. Batter’s box 6ft x 4ft 7ft x 3ft

9. Catchers box 5 ½ ft deep x 3ft 7 in 10ft deep x 8ft 5 in

10. Base stealing the base runner may the base runner may

leave the base anytime leave only if the ball

is released.11. Ball used red stitches white stitches

12. Home plate of fair 250ft 200ft

territory

The pitcher

- stands on the pitcher’s plate facing the batter - both feet on the plate and hold the ball in front of the body

- ball is thrown or delivered in an underhand motion

- takes on step forward in throwing the ball- attempts to deliver the ball over the home plate and in the pitching

zone of the batter

- pitching zone: the distance below the armpit and above the knees of each individual batter.



The batter

- tries to hit the pitched ball so that if goes into the fait territory of thediamond

- fair territory: the area bounded by the first and third baselines and

extended in a straight direction beyond- if the ball is hit into fait territory, he/she tries to run first base, and

home plate to score a run

- if he/she can’t reach that far, he/she remains on any of the three basesand waits for another player’s hit to drive him/her forward

- a player advances around the base and crosses home plate to score a

run

- the objective of each team is to earn more runs than the opponents.

Softball diamond

- unobstructed by holes, stones or sharp objects

- sites are well chosen or planned so that the sun will not shine directlyin the player’s eyes

- baselines : 60 feet- pitching plate is 43 ft from the home plate

- unobstructed are of 25 ft outside the foul lines

- spectators are limited to a safe distance from the player field

Equipments

1. Minimum equipment : Softball and a bat

2. Gloves, mitts, mask, and body protector – desirable but expensive3. Bat- should be made of hardwood

Length- no more than 34 inches

Diameter- not more than 2 ¼ inches at the largest part4. Ball- between 11 7/8 and 12 1/8 inches in circumference

Weight- between 6 and 6 ¼ oz

Center is usually kapok, covered with yam, and hide cover is glued over the round ball.

5. Mitts and gloves

- Catcher and first baseman are the only ones allowed to use a mitt

- All players wear gloves- Both mitts and gloves are padded to soften the impact of the ball

- Made of soft leather or synthetic material

7. Body protector and facemask - Catcher can and should use a body protector and a facemask to protect

himself/herself against the possibility of being struck by the ball

- Safety mask- intended to protect the facial injuries- Chest protector- it comprises a padded main body configured to

protect the wearer form the impact of a thrown ball, connected to a

harness by pair of elastic straps

- Official umpire at the home plate- also wears this protector gear.



8. Shin guards

- a heat/sweat absorber positioned within said concave interior volumeof space. To protect the shin, ankle, and upper foot from foul tips and

pitched balls has a rotatable ankle portion or the outside portion or the

ankle depending on the batter’s needs

9. Strike indicator

- sometimes called a clicker or counter. Used by the umpire to keeptrack of the game.

10. Score sheet

- scorekeeping is accomplished by a sort of “shorthand,” which is basically a combination of position numbers and abbreviations.

Costume

1. Shorts or long pants and loose fitting blouse2. Softball cap- to protect the eyes from the sun and possible rain.

3. Rubber shoes- to minimize the possibility of accidents4. In upper level tournaments- players use leather shoes with soft or hard rubber

spikes.

Skills1. Defensive skills- the primary objective of the defensive is to prevent runs and

create outs.

- Throwing- overhand throw, side arm throw, underarm throw- Fielding- to keep looking at the ball from time to time it is hit until it is

in the glove.

- Catching- the player moves to meet the ball- Pitching- well controlled delivery ball. Highly individualized skill in

softball

2. Offensive skills- the primary objective of the offensive is to score runs and avoidouts.

- Batting- most important skill. Makes or breaks the team.

- Bunting- refers to well-placed short hit into infield along the first and

third baseline- Base running- refers to running from one base to another

- Base stealing- advancing to another base when the defensive team

makes an error or in not alert.Players

1. CODE 1 (Pitcher)

- stands on the pitcher’s plate facing the batter - both feet on the plate and hold the ball in front of body

- ball is delivered in an underhand motion

- takes one step forward in throwing the ball



- attempts to deliver the ball over the home plate and in the pitching

zone of the batter.

2. CODE 2 (Catcher)- crouches behind home plate and receives the ball from the pitcher.

- Can see the whole field, and therefore is in the best position to direct

and lead the other players in the play- Wears mask, chest protector, mitt, and shin guards.

3. CODE 3 (First baseman)

- also called 1B- field the area nearest the 1st base

- responsible for the majority of plays made at that base

- fields the area nearest the 1st base.

4. CODE 4 (Second baseman)- also called 2B

- often possesses quick hands and feet, needs the ability to get rid of the

ball quickly

- back up the shortstop on all throws from the catcher - cavers 1st base on bunted balls

5. CODE 5 (Third baseman)- also called 3B

- responsible for defending the are nearest to the 3rd base

- requires good reflexes in reacting to batted balls, as he is often he

closest in fielder to the batter 6. CODE 6 (Shortstop)

- abbreviated as SS

- cover 2nd base in double play situation when the ball is hit to thesecond baseman, first baseman, pitcher or catcher

- back up a throw form the catcher to the 3rd baseman when the runner is

attempting to steal 3rd base.7. CODE 7 (Left fielder)

- abbreviated as LF

- must be able to catch fly balls above their head and on the run- must be able to throw the ball accurately over a long distance to be

effective

- still requires good fielding and catching skills, and tends to receive

more balls than the right fielder - backs up third bas on pick off attempts from the catcher or pitcher,

when possible

- often will have the weakest arm, as they generally do not need tothrow the ball as far as to prevent the advance of any base runners.

8. CODE 8 (Center fielder)

- abbreviated as CF- Catch the most fly balls

- The outer fielder who has the best combination of speed and throwing

distance



- Has the greatest responsibility among the 3 out fielders for

coordination their play to prevent collision when converging on a fly

ball, and on plays where he does not make the catch- The captain of the outfielder and has the authority to call off the corner

fielders when he thinks he can catch the ball.

9. CODE 9 (Right fielder)- abbreviated as RF

- Backs up first base o all throws from the catcher and pitcher, when

possible, and all bunted balls, since the catcher or the first basemanmust be available for the fielding ball

- Backs up second base on any ball thrown form thrown form the left

side of the field.

- Backs up first base when the first baseman is in a run down between3rd base home

Rules

1. Game- the playing field is divided into the infields and outfield

- there are 9 players on a softball team- the lines between the bases are 60 degrees apart and when they joined

they form a “diamond”, inside the baseline is known as the field

- outside the baseline but inside the playing field is called the outfield.

- Any ball going outside the 1st and 3rd baseline is a foul ball (runnerscannot advance and the batter gets another try unless the ball was

caught in the air, which translates to an out).

- An official fame is 7 innings (an inning is when both the teams havetheir turn to bat.)

- Batters must follow the same order throughout the whole game.

2. BattingThe batter is out when:

- 3 strikes have been called

- a 3rd strike is caught by the catcher - he has 3 strikes, with less than 2 outs and 1st base occupied

- he swings and misses the 3rd strike and the ball touches him

- he bunts foul on the 3rd strike

- a foul ball is caught by one of the defensive player - he hits a fly in the field and there are base runners at 1st and 2nd base, or

in 1st , 2nd. 3rd, and les than 2 outs

- the batters does not stand in the batters box3. Base running

A base runner is out if:

- 3 strikes have been called- he is tagged before reaching the base

more than 3ft outside the baseline in running to a base

- he leaves the base before the pitcher delivers the ball



- he does not return to his base before the ball reaches the baseman after

a flyball is caught

- he gets hit by batted ball before it is touched by the fielder - runners may over run 1st base only, other bases the runner may be

tagged and called out if they are off a base only

- runners cannot lead off a base; they must be on base until the ball asleft the pitchers hand

- after a fly ball has been caught the base runner must tag tha pccupide

base before advancing to the next base- one base runner cannot pass another base runner that is ahead of them

4. Pitching

- the pitcher must have both feet on the pitchers rubber and can only

take one step forward while pitching- the ball must be thrown underhand

- both hands must be on the ball at the start of the pitch

Ball is called:

-legally pitched ball that does not enter the strike zone-illegally pitched ball

The umpire calls the ball when any of the situation occur:- the pitcher pitches the ball outside of the strike zone and batter does

not swing the bat

- a pitched ball touches the ground before reaching home plate

- the ball is pitched illegally

Scoring

Scorer- is very important in softball because he/she has the authority to record allhits, outs, and scores. The scoring box looks like this.

Player Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9Player

1

Player

2

Player

3

Player

4

Documents

Softball Lecture