One of my readers reached out to me recently, much to my excitement, and asked me to write something about the "rules" of softball. The reader explained that s/he didn't know much about the game, but enjoyed reading my blog (yes, my ego is inflating as I retell this story) and would like to know a little bit more about the game. When I suggested I pass him/her the 100+ page rule book, s/he suggested I just write about my favorite rules...or my least favorite rules...something, anything. Even though I don't get paid to write this blog (hell, I don't even get paid to coach!), I don't mind the comissioned work from my fans. So, here goes:
Softball 101
Softball is played on a "diamond" between two teams. Duh. It's a lot like baseball in that you have 9 defenders on the field and 9 batters in an offensive line-up. A 10th player--usually an "Extra Player" (or EP) or a "Designated Hitter" (or DH) is sometimes used to fill the 9th spot in the line-up to replace a defensive player, such as the pitcher, as a hitter.
Unlike baseball, however, the ball is larger--and not soft at all, for you true novices--and pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand. Also, the basepaths in the diamond are shorter: 60ft between each base, rather than the 90ft in baseball. Consequently, the pitcher's mound is about 20ft closer to homeplate. The biggest difference between baseball and softball, however, is the length of the game: baseball has 9 innings with a 7th inning stretch so the fans don't get bored, while softball has 7 innings because we're better athletes that can do more exciting things in less time. Just kidding about the boring/exciting things...not about the length of the games, though.
There are two types of softball: slowpitch and fastpitch. Slowpitch is usually played by old men and little girls; while fastpitch is played by young, athletic women and some old men. There are two big differences between slowpitch and fastpitch. First, in slowpitch the pitch is delivered with an arc. (There's a lot more to be said on that topic, and I'll touch on it briefly a little bit later in this blog.) Second, in slowpitch there are often 10 defenders on the field (utilizing 4 outfielders instead of 3). Other differences include size of the ball (fastpitch balls are 11in, whereas most slowpitch balls are usally 12in, though get as large as 14-16in), leading and stealing (there is none in slowpitch), bunting and slapping (there is none in slowpitch), as well bat types (typicall slowpitch bats are much heavier and fastpitch bats are much lighter).
What makes fastpich softball actually different from baseball and slowpitch is a combination of those little things I just mentioned. Because the ball is larger (doesn't travel as far, see "physics" in your local library for more information), the diamond is smaller, and the ball is travelling upwards at the hitter (see more on the "arc" below), it allows for a faster, "shorter" game. By short, I don't mean 7 innings vs. 9; I refer to, instead, more bunting and "slapping" and less homeruns.
What's a bunt? Believe or not, there's bunting in baseball. You just don't see it much because the base paths are longer, thus it takes longer to travel from one base to the other. Anyway, back to the question. Bunting is a technique whereupon the batter hits the ball without swinging in order to place it about five feet in front of the catcher. See more on your friendly, neighborhood Wikipedia entry. In softball, bunting is used for a variety of purposes: to get on base, to advance runners (typically, a "sacrifice bunt") or, more specifically, to score a runner.
What's "slapping?" Slapping is something in between hitting and bunting. It's a half swing--much like you'll see a golfer do when he needs to place his ball on the green--used to hit the gaps in the field. Usually it's done in the "drag" style, when the girl is already moving through the batter's box, makes contact with the ball and continues running to first base. This is called a drag slap. (Note: most bunts for basehits are also done in the "drag" style, called--you guessed it!--"drag bunting.") This is something you definitely don't see in baseball, again because the base paths are longer. Because the infield is much smaller in softball, it's easier to place a hit between the infielders and outfielders, or in between the gaps; that's what makes slapping so appealing in softball.
Less homeruns? I bet you're thinking to yourself, "B-O-R-I-N-G!" Yeah, right! In college and professional softball (yes, there's professional softball), there is a decent amount of "homers" but in the younger leagues, it's a rare occurunce. This is where the "arc" comes into play, something that I do my damnest to teach all my hitters young and old:
In slowpitch, the ball is released from the hip arcs upwards (reaching a minimum league-defined height such as 9ft) and then come down throgh the hitter's strikezone; baseball pitching is not much different: it starts from the shoulder and comes straight down into the hitter's strikezone. In fastpitch, however, the pitch is released from the hip and comes straight UP into the hitter's strikezone. Again, I'll reference you to your intermediary "phsyics" textbooks for the whole scoop, but here's the gist of it: In order to successfully hit a slowpitch or baseball pitch you have have to swing UPWARDS at the ball, because the ball is coming DOWNWARDS to your strikezone. This is why baseball and slowpitch is all pop-flies and homeruns. In fastpitch, you have to swing DOWNWARDS at the ball because the ball is coming UPWARDS into your strikezone. This is why fastpitch is all groundballs and line-drives. This is why there are less homeruns in softball...fastpitch softball, at least.
I guess the only other BIG difference between fastpitch and slowpitch or fastpitch and baseball is that the pitching motion is much more intricate (and exhausting). It's done in the "windmill" fashion, allowing the pitcher to take 1.5 rotations in her motions, rather than just 0.5 rotations. I guess this is a little hard to write about and requires pitchers, but I'll do my best. In baseball, you have the ball in your glove, you reach back, come over your shoulder and release the ball; the rotation only completes 1/2 of a circle. Slowpitch is similar, except oposite: you have the ball in your glove, you reach back and swing your arm past your hip to release the ball (again, only 1/2 a circle). In fastpitch, you're allowed to take the ball from your glove, reach back, come forward and go all the way around your shoulder to your hip in order to release the ball; thus: 1-1/2 circle rotations. This is the thing that scares everybody about fastpitch, but it's really not that difficult...once you learn the fundmentals.
The last thing I'll note on is something I always hear funny remarks on from people who've never played (parents, friends, etc.) and it's the pitching speed. A lot of people who never played or watched before imagine softball as slowpitch...slow pitching. They don't realize that fastpitch is well...fast. So, they joke on the sport being "easy." The people who have at least seen, but not played, fastpitch are amazed at the speed that the girls can "hurl it in there," so the saying goes. When they stop to think about it, though, they realize it's only about 65-70mph. It's not like baseball, where the guys are throwing at speeds in the 90s, sometimes topping 100mph. So, now, let's go back to what we learned in the first paragraph of Softball 101:
- Baseball diamonds are larger
- basebaths are 90ft apart
- the pitching mound is 60ft from homeplate
- Softball diamonds are smaller
- basepaths are 60ft apart
- the pitching mound is (typically) 43ft from homeplate.
- Time is relevant.
So, there you have it. Softball 101 in exactly 1,300 words. I hope you enjoyed it...and learned a little something, too :-D
And--for the record--thanks for reading! Let me know if you have any blog topic requests. You can find me on Twitter (@ladyothediamond) and I do accept emails to ourladyofthediamond@gmail.com.
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