BASIC SOFTBALL RULES AND INFORMATION FOR PRIMARY TEACHERS e Umpires should stand behind HOME PLATE to umpire. They should stand immediately behind the catcher, wearing appropriate protective gear, leggings, chest plate and mask. (Umpires are not covered for injury if they refuse to wear the protective gear). (/ The games duration is 1 Yz hours or five innings, whichever comes first. ('} Whilst the game is in progress those children not involved on the field should be sitting down watching the game - not playing with any equipment. El CATCHERS MUST WEAR MASKS, FITTED WITH THROAT PROTECTORS, LEGGINGS AND A CHEST PLATE. @ FIELDERS MUST WEAR SHIN PADS TERMS: 1. STRIKE: is called when: c A legally pitched ball passing between the knee and the sternum of the batter when they are in their normal batting stance, over home plate without bouncing. (/ Any legally pitched ball is swung and missed fi Any foul ball hit by the batter, until two strikes are called. A batter may hit any number of foul balls, but the call remains at 'Strike two'.. 2. BALL: is called when any legally pitched ball does pass between the knees and the sternum ofthe batter, or does not pass over home plate, PROVIDED the batter does not SWING at it. r 3. WALK: after four (4) balls are called the batter is awarded first base. The batter can not be played out at first base. 4. FOUL: is any ball that settles on foul territory, or which is first touched by a fielder in foul territory, or does not conform to the requirements of a fair batted ball. A strike is called on the batter and no runner can advance. 5. FAIR BALL: is a batted ball that settles on fair territory between home and first base or home and third base (infield hit); Or bounces past first or third base on or over fair territory (Including any part of the 1 st or 3 rd bases) If a ball lands in fair territory IN THE OUTFIELD then bounces into foul territory it is still deemed to be a fair ball. 6. FOULTIP: is a ball which the catcher catches from the batter on the full, but which does rise above the batter's head. A foul tip is called as a strike and is only an out ifit is the third strike. 7. DEAD BALL: The ball is not in play following a foul ball and is not play again until the pitcher is holding the ball in the pitching circle and the umpire has called 'Play ball'.
The following outlines when a Dead Ball is called: cd When a pitched ball touches any part of the batter's person or clothes whether the ball is struck at or not, e When a foul ball is not caught, f) When a runner is called out for leaving the base before a ball is pitched, fi When the ball is outside the established limits of the playing area,.. When a wild pitch or pass ball goes under, over or behind the catcher and over the 'pass ball' line, e When any part of the batter's person is hit with their own batted ball when in the batter's bo. We don't have marked batter's boes marked so use your own discretion when applying rules concerning batter's boes. *** Runners cannot advance on a dead ball unless forced to do so by reason ofthe batter having reached first base as entitled to or they are awarded a base or bases e.g., on a passed ball/wild pitch or on an overthrow by an infielder into dead ball territory. RULES: BATTERS must wear a helmet while batting and base running. If the helmet has a chin strap it must be secured. 1. The batter is out when: o The catcher takes the ball cleanly on the 3 rd strike El A legal catch is taken <9 If the batter intentionally interferes with the catcher. 2.The batter becomes a baserunner immediately when: Q They hit a fair ball $ The umpire calls 4 balls & The third strike is dropped by the catcher - unless first base is occupied and there are less than two outs. When there are two out the play must be made to make the out. o The catcher interferes with or prevents her making a strike on the ball (catcher's interference. 3. The Baserunners is out if: o A fair ball is held securely by the fielder on 1 st base before the baserunner reaches it 6l The runner is tagged while off a base (ecept when they are returning to a base after a foul hit or when immediately returning to first base after correctly running through it). Any fielder may tag a runner, but the ball must remain controlled in the tagging hand.. NB Runners are not automatically out for over running 2 nd or 3 rd bases - but they can be tagged when off the base. o The runner fails to touch the bases in the proper order when running
o e El The rurmer moves appro lm either side ofthe rurming line when trying to avoid being tagged by an opponent The rurmer fails to return to the base they occupied when a catch was taken The rurmer fails to reach the base on a force play before the fielder takes the ball on that base. A force occurs when a runner is forced to advance e.g. a rurmer on 1 st base must go to 2 nd when the net batter hits a fair ball and is rurming to 1 st base. OTHERCOMONRULES TO REMffiMrnER On a foul ball all base rurmers must return to the bases they occupied when the hit was made A baserurmer may advance one base on an overthrow in dead ball territory or a wild pitch. THE RUNNER MAY ADVANCE AS MANY BASES AS o POSSIBLE ON A THROW IN FAIR TERRITORY Baserurmers must remain in contact with their bases until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand SAFETY BASE: This is an etra base (orange) that is on the outside ofthe running line at 1 st base which allows the baserurmer a clear path to run through the base without colliding with the 1 st base fielder who should stand on the inside of the base. This encourages the batter-baserunner to run to the right side of the 1 st base, thereby reducing collision, foot and ankle injuries and other accidents. The white 1 st base is in fair territory and the orange safety base is in foul territory. The baserunner must run through the orange base, but may use the white base if the bail travels to the outfield and the rurmer goes straight to 2 nd base. When the runner returns to 1 st base after running through, they must then use the~ first (white) base. The first base fielder should not place any part of their body on the safety base, otherwise the batter-baserunner can claim interference and be awarded the base. TIDRDOUT No run can be scored if the T~Wll OUT of an innings is the result of: o The batter is out at first base. o The baserunner is out on a forced play 11) Baserunner is out for leaving the base before the pitch is made. BASERUNNERS ***** When the ball and the baserunner reach the base at the same time the runner is SAFE. G Baserunners must return to the base they were on when a ball is caught (ie. TAG UP) Once they touch that base they may continue to run at risk of being tagged out! e Baserunners must not interfere with fielders attempting to field a ball o Baserunners are out if they hit by a batted ball while running, unless the ball has passed an infielder other than the pitcher.
TAGGING *****Unforced runners must be tagged out. e A runner must be tagged out with the ball or the glove containing the ball 9 The fielder must have control of the ball throughout the tag, if they drop the ball the runner is SAFE Il> If unsure whether a successful tag was made, the runner is safe. APPEAL PLAYS *****Fielders must call 'How's That?' before the net ball is pitched to have the appeal play awarded and the batter-baserunner called out. Appeal plays apply when: A runner fails to touch a base ~ Batting out of order $ A baserunner is tagged or base is touched by a fielder with the ball, when the runner is attempting to return to the base they left before a catch was made. HELMETS*****All batters must wear helmets and they must remain on until the player is out or at home. If the player removes the helmet they are out. If the helmet falls off the umpire should call TIME so the player can fi the helmet. THROWING THE BAT***** A batter will be called out if the bat is thrown dangerously. Usually the batter is given a warning and the team given a general warning that any other batter who throws the bat will be out. SUBSTITUTES***** Players may change position on the field but must still bat in the same order listed on the score sheet. GAME SCORES - The winner of the game shall be the team that scores the most runs in a regulation game. That is the score at the end of the last completed innings, UNLESS The team second at bat in their uncompleted innings has scored more runs than the first team at bat. In this case the score shall be that at the end of the incomplete innings. THE SCORE REVERTS BACK ONLY WHEN THE TEAM 2ND AT BAT ARE BEHIND AND HA YE LESS THAN 3 OUTS WHEN THE GAME ENDS DIAMOND DIMENSIONS e Running lines between bases 16m $ Pitching distance 9m 8 The catcher MUST wear full catcher's gear before the pitcher can pitch a ball and in warm-up. NO PLAYER CATCH A PITCH FROM THE PITCHER UNLESS THEY ARE IN FULL GEAR 4} Five practice pitches at the beginning of each innings (optional). $ Pitchers must have both feet in contact with the plate before delivering the ball Teams are required to use a leather or synthetic 11" mod. Ball.
ZONE RULES: e 9 run rule - a team must declare when they achieve 9 runs in an innings before the third out. The innings comes to an end after the play in which the 9 th run crosses the home plate. @! Coaches have the option of putting all their team on the batting line up (up to 12 players) so that all players get to bat. ONLY 9 PLA YERS CAN TAKE THE FIELD
Training Session for a School Softball Team Warm-up -light jog, only needs to be a couple of minutes stretch all major muscle groups esp. shoulders. 2. Throwing - Pairs in parallel lines Pitchers and catchers always warm up together, it promotes understanding between them. 2.1 Short overam throws 2.2 Longer overarm throws 2.3Ground balls - all balls on one side of the rows - they start together. One side rolls (hard) ground ball to the other side - partner picks up and return throws the ball to her partner. Remind the girls that a ground ball return has three parts a. pick-up, b. LOOK at the target, and c. throw Etra - Have the girls stand in two even lines, one on first base and the other on third base. Take a light bat and two leather balls with you and stand on home plate. Have your catcher with you standing on your left, if you are right handed and reverse for lefties. Hit balls over the pitcher's plate, so the girls have to move from where they are standing to retrieve the ball. They then return the ball to the catcher as accurately as possible. You can then hit some fly balls for catching practice. Hit to lines alternately. This gives the girls practice in fielding batted balls. 3. Batting Peppers - groups of si girls, stand in a semicircle formation. batter They will need two balls and a bat. Stress that these hits are little and accurate, not a full swing. Girls in the semi circle underarm the ball to the batter who will gently return the ball to them. The batter should have her hands at the top of the bat's grip and turn her shoulder to each girl she is returning the ball to. This gets their eye in and also gives them a feel of controlling the bat. Five hits per girl and rotate until all have had a go. Pop-Ups - as demonstrated at inservice. T- Batting Batting a Pitched Ball. At all times when the girls are batting stress to them the importance of: Having their hands together on the bat, this increases the amount of power thev Q"e:t. _.. ~ J
Having their shoulder pointing at the pitcher Having the bat back in their ready position so they only have to swing it forward STEPPING into the ball, Following through once they have hit the ball Use an ANGRY swing! 4. Pitcher/Catcher - Have them move to another area while the bulk of the girls are doing there ground balls and fly balls. Catcher MUST have on full protective gear when catching, Start close together, step and sling shot catcher should talk to her pitcher after each pitch, tell her where she wants the ball to go and encourage the pitcher at all times. Release point for the ball should be with the pitcher's elbow pointing forward and when the hand is at the hip. It is the catcher's job to set the target by putting her glove where she wants the pitcher to aim. Accuracy first - speed will follow! 5. Base Running- Sprints over the base line distance Correct stance i.e., rolling start offthe base with the lead foot back so when the start their run they will not be leaving the base early. Lead-off i.e., when the ball has left the pitcher's hand the runner should take three good steps from the base, stop and assess the situation - go forward or return to the base. This stops the outs from a fly ball being caught. 6. Have Fun! REMErvIBER, THERE ARE ONLY TWELVE RULES IN SOFTBALL - LOTS OF VARIATIONS - BUT ONLY TWELVE RULES. Only give the girls two things to concentrate on in a game e.g., not to chase the runner if there is an overthrow, give the ball back to the pitcher.... 7. And always use your common sense - that's rule 13 in softball.