MODULE

3
Softball
Think on These!

Activity 3

Direction: Choose the letter of the correct answer.

1. On defense the ball is singled up the middle with a runner on 2b. Where is
the play?
a. Play is to third
b. Play is to 1
c. There is no play
d. Play is home. 2 bases ahead on a base hit
2. Runner on 3rd base with less than 2 outs, the batter hits a ground ball to
first base. How should the first baseman play it?
a. Field the ground ball and go step on first base.
b. Field the ground ball, check the runner, then go step on first base.
c. Field the ground ball, turn and flip the ball to the second baseman
covering first base.
d. Field the ground ball, run down the line and tag the batter out while
keeping on eye on the runner at third base.
3. A batter swings and hits the ball. After laying down the bat and running to
first, the ball hits the bat in fair territory. What is the call on this play?
a. The ball remains live, but the batter is out for hitting the ball a second
time.
b. The ball is ruled foul because a bat lying on the ground in the field is
ruled as part of dead ball territory.
c. Dead ball. The batter is out for hitting the ball a second time.
d. The ball is live. The batter is not out.
4. You are batting with count of 0 balls & 2 strikes. You should
a. look for a pitch to drive.
b. expand the strike zone, shorten swing and protect.
c. lay down a bunt to surprise the defense.
d. move slightly away from the plate and look for an inside pitch to pull.
5. You are playing on the left side of the infield and the other team has
runners on second & third with 1 out. The batter is left-handed and looks
to have good speed. She hits a chopping slow roller that you have to
charge hard to field. Your best option is to
a. just field the ball and hold it. Don't want to make a bad throw to 1st.
b. field the ball and make a strong fake throw to 1st base, and then
immediately check the runner at 3rd in hopes of catching her off the
bag or attempting to go home.
c. scoop up the ball and make an underhanded throw to 1st base in an
attempt to get the runner out.
d. field the ball and throw to 2nd base.
6. You're on first base and the ball is pitched and goes behind the catcher to
the backstop, what do you do?
a. Run to third base
b. stay at first base
c. help the catcher find the ball
d. run to second base and round it
7. How many outs till you switch from offense to defense?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
8. When a player crosses home plate, after you hit the ball, and scores a run
then you've just received a/an
a. Chocolate chip cookie
b. RBI
c. Standing ovation
d. Detention
9. You're up to bat, and the count is 3 balls and 0 strikes. What do you do?
a. Hit a grounder to the outfield
b. Hit a pop fly to the outfield
c. Don't swing at all
d. That count isn't even possible
10. Who is the out-Fielder in the middle behind second base?
a. Glen Valenzula
b. Center Field
c. Catcher
d. Right Field
11. The three positions in the outfield are called?
a. middlefield, rightfield, leftfield
b. shortfield, longfield, middlefield
c. leftfield, centerfield, rightfield
d. narrowfield, widefield, longfield
12. You are batting with count of 0 balls & 2 strikes. You should:
a. Look for a pitch to drive.
b. Expand the strike zone, shorten swing and protect.
c. Lay down a bunt to surprise the defense.
d. Move slightly away from the plate and look for an inside pitch to pull.
13. You are a runner on third base with less than 2 outs. Your teammate hits a
deep fly ball to center field. You should
a. immediately run for home plate.
b. go about half way home and wait to see if ball is caught or missed.
c. immediately get back to base to tag up when ball is caught.
d. take 2 steps off 3rd and watch the ball.
14. You are on base with two outs. Your teammate hits a ball into the air. You
should
a. wait and see if the ball is caught before advancing to the next base
b. go back to your base and tag up
c. run as soon as the ball is hit
d. stay at your base
15. How many balls rather then strikes does it take to get to first base for
free?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
16. Which is the only defensive player in softball to begin the game in foul
territory?
a. Pitcher
b. Short Stop
c. Catcher
d. Centerfielder
17. In softball, a means a fielder has secured the ball with their hands
or glove.
a. double
b. catch
c. error
d. assist
18. A batter is credited with a when they reach first base
safely on a hit without aid of an error, or by way of a fielder’s choice, or
force play at another base.
a. altered bat
b. force play
c. dead ball
d. base hit
19. Each batting team gets outs before their offensive turn is up and
they have to go back out to the field and play defense.
a. 3
b. 4
c. 5
d. 6
20. What is the equipment that is needed for playing softball?
a. Bat
b. Ball
c. Glove or Mitt
d. All of the above.
 Analysis

Direction: Answer comprehensively and intelligently.

1. Opponent is in the batter's box and you are ahead in the count 0-2. The next
pitch should be a changeup in hopes they will take it for strike 3, or swing & miss.
a. True
b. False
2. In softball two runners may occupy the same base.
a. True
b. False
3. A right fielder is located in the outfield behind the first baseman.
a. True
b. False
4. In softball a runner hit by a batted ball is out unless they are standing on a base
when they get hit.
a. True
b. False
5. If the batter bunts the ball and it hits the grass lip in foul territory then rolls fair,
is it fair or foul?
a. Fair
b. Foul

6-10. List 5 positions in softball.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
 Short History of Softball

George Hancock was the inventor.

An American planter and lawyer from

Virginia.

He represented Virginia as a Federalist in

the U.S. House from 1793 to 1797.

Born: June 13, 1754

Died: July 18, 1820

Short History of Soft Ball

 Originated in Chicago on Thanksgiving Day, 1887

 In 1889. Hancock published his first set of indoor-outdoor rules
 In 1933 during the depression the world championships were held. Governed by
the Amateur Softball Association of America, the first champions for both the
women and the men were from Chicago.
 Men had gathered in the gymnasium of the Farragut Boat Club in order to hear
the outcome of the Harvard-Yale football game.

Terminologies in Softball

• Ball - A pitch outside of the strike zone which the batter lets pass. If the batter
accumulates four balls before she accumulates three strikes, she receives a walk.

• Bat - The long metal or wooden stick used by the batter to swing at pitches.
Different leagues have different restrictions regarding bat weight, size, and
material.

• Batter - The offensive player who swings at the pitches and at tempts to reach
base by hitting a ball into fair play or accumulating enough balls for a walk.

• Bunt- A legally tapped ball not swung at but intentionally met

with the bat and tapped slowly within the infield.

• Double - A ball hit hard enough to allow the batter to make it

safely to second base.
• Double Play - When the defense records two outs in the same play.

• Fielder's Choice - When a player reaches base by virtue of another base runner
being thrown out.

• Foul Ball - A ball that lands outside of the foul lines that run from home plate
along first and third and extend outward indefinitely.

• Glove - A leather mitt worn by defensive players to aid in catching the softball

• Hit by Pitch - When a batter is hit by a pitch, she automatically proceeds to first
base.

• Home Run - When a batter hits the ball so well she runs through all four bases
before the ball is fielded.

• Inning - A round of a softball game when both teams have had the chance to bat.
Depending on the league, softball games generally consist of 6, 7, or 9 innings.

• Passed Ball - When a catcher fails to field a pitch properly, allowing the runners
to advance along the base paths.

• Base - There are four bases (first, second, third, home - at times also referred to
as 'home plate') on the field that a softball player must traverse in order to score
a run. When touching a base, a softball player cannot be tagged out.

• Bases Loaded - When all three bases are occupied by runners.

• Catcher - The defensive player behind home plate who catches the ball thrown
by the pitcher. She may also catch balls thrown toward home plate.

• Out - A call made by the umpire when either a batter strikes out, is tagged out,
flies out, or is forced out. Each defense must record three outs before they can
bat. Out can be made through catching a ball that was hit, when a pitcher strikes
out a batter, or when a defensive player tags out a runner who is not on a base

• Run - The act of scoring in softball. Each time a base runner reaches home plate,
she has scored a run and accumulated one point for her team

• Pitch - The act by the pitcher of throwing the ball toward the catcher, giving the
batter a chance to either swing or not swing at the ball.

• Pitcher - The defensive player who throws the ball to the catcher.

• Strike Out- Occurs during an at-bat when a batter accumulates three strikes, at
which point the at-bat ends and the player is called out.

• Stolen base- A play during which a runner advances a base when the pitcher
releases the pitch.

• Safe- Called when a base runner reaches a base without getting tagged out or
avoids a force out.
• Walk- Player advances to 1st base when 4 consecutive pitches were called as
balls.

• Strike- Term used when a ball is swung at and missed or is called when the ball
enters the strike zone and is not swung at all.

• Strike Zone- The area above home plate between a batter’s knees and her
armpit.

• Triple Play - A play during which the defense records three outs

Field positioning

The diagram overleaf represents where players should stand for each
fielding position. However as players' skill and confidence progress, they will
become more aware of the cues available to them during the game which may
impact on where they stand.

Infield

The infield is the first line of defense behind the pitcher and will generally
make more defensive plays than the outfield. Key positions that make up the
infield include the:

 Pitcher
 Catcher
 1st Base
 2nd Base
 Third base and Shortstop

Infield players are responsible for fielding ground balls, catching fly balls,
throwing to various bases, covering bases, backing up and tagging runners.
Whilst it is important for all players to develop the basic fundamentals in any
position to be successful, there are usually four common qualities that
characterize a good infielder. These include the ability to be alert on every pitch
thrown and make the right play, an eagerness or aggressiveness to go after the
ball rather than waiting for it to come to them, good reflexes and the ability to
move quickly in all directions and no fear of hard hit balls or oncoming base
runners.

Outfield

The outfield is sometimes considered less demanding than the infield;

however a strong defensive outfield will execute important outs, and like the
infield, will make a valuable contribution to the game. Key positions in the
outfield include:
Left Field

Centre Field; and Right Field

Outfield players are responsible for catching fly balls, fielding ground
balls, throwing to infielders at various bases including home plate, covering
bases from time to time and backing up. Whilst it is important for all players to
develop the basic fundamentals in any position to be successful, there are usually
three common qualities that characterize a good outfielder. These include the
ability to position themselves properly for different batters and different
situations, react to the batted ball quickly and possess a strong accurate throw.

Equipments used in Softball

A number of equipment is required for playing softball. A helmet, chest

protector, and shin guards are the main equipment required for safety and to
play softball, we require a ball, a bat, gloves, and uniforms.

Bat

The batsmen use bat to hit the ball and

score runs for team. The bat is made up of wood,
aluminum or from metals. The shape of the bat is
like a cylinder and its diameter is 6 inches. The
length of the bat varies but it cannot be greater
than 86 cm.
The diameter of the barrel is 2¼ inches.
Normally, players prefer smaller barrel bat
because they can swing the bat easily. Bats having
smaller barrel also reduces weight. The weight of
the bat is 1.2 kilograms.

Ball

As the name of the sport is softball, a ball is the

centre of the game. But despite its name, the ball which
is used is not soft. Softball is derived from the famous
American sport baseball which is mainly played by men.
But softball is meant for women. As this sport is mainly
dominated by women, the name of the game is softball.

Gloves

In American Softball Association, the size of the

gloves cannot exceed 36 centimeters. In softball matches,
all defensive players wear fielding gloves. But there are
normally different sizes of gloves available for players at
different positions on the field.
 Uniform

To increase bond among a players in a team,

uniforms are provided. Each team wears different
uniforms. Uniforms include helmets, head bands, visors,
caps, shoes, shocks, shirt and pant, tight sliding
undershorts etc.

For female players, uniforms like headbands and

caps are optional. These are mandatory for male players
but those who wear a helmet are not required to wear
headbands or caps.
Playing Field of Softball

Officiating Officials

Home Plate Umpires

Softball officials are known as umpires, and each has a different

responsibility depending on where he covers the field. The umpires must ensure
the rules of the game are followed, and there is a decisive winner and loser based
on fair play and accurate calls based upon what happens in the game.
 Umpires working home plate in a softball game have the most
responsibility of any umpire on the field. They must call every pitch a ball, strike
or foul within a strike zone which varies from batter to batter. This requires the
umpire to pay close attention to each pitch and the number of balls and strikes
with each batter, as well as how the pitcher pitches the ball and whether he is
doing it legally or not. They must also pay attention to other rules pertaining to
batters and catchers, for example, making sure batters stay within the batter's
box when they are hitting, catchers don't interfere with a batter's swing and
batters don't interfere with a catcher trying to throw base runners out. The home
plate umpire must also call base runners out or safe at home plate, which are
also often game-deciding calls.

Base Umpires

Umpires are also assigned to watch each base, from first to third. These
umpires have a number of duties each inning, which entail watching each base
and deciding whether runners are safe or out on plays at that base. First base
umpires usually have the most challenging job of the three, as many close plays
are made at first base. They must watch the base to see if the runner beat an
attempted out and is safe, or if the throw beat them and they are out. These
umpires must also watch base runners who are stealing bases and determine if
they were tagged out, picked off, or if they made it to the bag before the tag was
made. These umpires must also watch the pitcher, to see if they are pitching
illegally.

Line Umpires

While these umpires are not always needed in smaller league games, they
are often hired to simply watch balls hit down the lines of the outfield and decide
whether the ball is fair or foul. If the ball lands on or inside the white line, it is
fair. If it lands outside the white line, it is foul. These umpires also have the final
call on whether home runs bounced off the top of the wall are fair or not.
Hand Signals in Softball