2. History of Softball
• Softball was created on Thanksgiving Day in 1887 by , George
Hancock, a reporter for Chicago Board of Trade. He invented
the game as a form of indoor baseball on a cold winter day.
Softball has grown immensely over the past 120 years. Today
it’s one of the most popular team sports in the United
States, with more than 15 million Americans participating
every year.
3. Softball
• Softball is a bat-and –ball sport played between two teams of 9 to 14
players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key
differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown
underhand rather than overhand. Softball is played on a smaller diamond
than in baseball; a softball field’s average distances from home plate to
the center, left and right field fences are 220 feet for females. Despite the
game’s name, the standard softball is not soft; in fact, it is harder than a
baseball.
4. The Game
• There are 9 players on a softball
team.
•The playing field is divided into the
infield and outfield
• The lines between the bases are 60’
apart and when joined they form a
“diamond’ , inside the baseline is
known as the infield
•Outside the baseline but inside the
playing field is called the outfield
•Any ball going outside the 1st or 3rd
base line is a foul ball ( runners can
not advance and the batter gets
another try unless the ball was caught
in the air, which translates to an out)
• An official game is 7 innings ( a inning
is when both teams have had their
turn to bat)
5. My Team the Jayhawks
• Playing softball is
very fun.
Especially, when you play
on the team I play on (
The Jayhawks). When you
play softball you have to
always make sure you
listen to your coach. If
you don’t listen then you
won’t be able to win the
game. Also, hitting and
catching the ball is very
important in the game
6. What Coaching Softball means to Me
• Coaching softball means putting the best interests of your
players/team ahead of your own.
• Coaching softball means making each decision based upon what
you honestly believe is best for the team, not only for today, but
for long term as well.
• Coaching softball means understanding that the easy way out now
rarely takes you closer to where you ultimately want to be down
the road.
• Coaching softball means being able to stand up for what you
believe in both when no one will know and under the highest
scrutiny.
• But most of all, coaching softball means selflessly serving others
while guiding them toward success and helping them reach their
biggest goals and dreams.
10. Pitching
• The pitcher must have both feet on the
pitcher’s 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
11. Batting
• Batters must follow the same order throughout
the whole game
• The batter is out if and when:
a. A fly ball is caught
b. The batter does not stand in the batter’s box
c. Three strikes have been called
12. Base Running
• Runners must touch each base in order
• Runners may overrun 1st base only, all other bases the runner
may be tagged and called out if they are off the base
• Runners can not lead off a base, they must be on base until
the ball has left the pitcher’s hand
• One base runner can not pass another base runner that is
ahead of them
• Stealing a base is not permitted
• A runner is out if:
a. They are tagged with the ball before reaching a base
b. The ball gets to 1st base before the runner
c. They run more than 3 feet out of the base line to avoid being tagged
13. Work Cited
Kendrick,Scott. “Basic Rules of Baseball and Softball.” About.com Guide. About.com. 2012. Web.
25 Feb. 2012.
“Softball.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2012.
“Softball Rules Simplified.” Westlake High School Physical Education, 2001. Web. 25 Feb. 2012.
