Softball is a team sport played with a large ball where offensive players try to score runs by hitting the ball and running around bases while defensive players try to get them out. Teams are made up of 9 players and games consist of 7 innings with teams alternating between batting and fielding. Softball was invented in 1887 in Chicago and was originally played indoors using a boxing glove and broomstick before being played outdoors starting in the 1920s.