In fast pitch
softball there are 9 players on the field, in slow pitch softball there are 10
players on the field.
Fast pitch 1. Pitcher Slow
pitch 1. - 7. Same as fast pitch
2.
Catcher 8. Left center fielder
3.
First baseman 9. Right center fielder
4.
Second baseman 10. Right fielder
5.
Third baseman
6.
Shortstop
7.
Left fielder
8.
Center fielder
9.
Right fielder
In slow pitch
softball there is no stealing and the runner may not leave the base until the
batter has swung.
In fast pitch
softball stealing is permitted. The
runner may leave the base when the pitcher releases the ball.
When a ground ball
goes over the third or first base bag the ball is considered fair.
A fly ball that goes
over the bag, but lands in foul territory the ball is considered foul.
Any part of the ball
passing over any part of home plate in the batters strike zone. The batter must stand in the batter’s
box. Only underhand pitching may be
used.
In slow pitch
softball the ball must have a minimum of a 4-foot arc and a maximum of a 12
foot arc. The ball must cross the plate
between the batter’s highest shoulder and the knees when the batter assumes a
natural batting stance.
In fast pitch
softball the ball must be over the plate and between the batter’s forward
armpit the top of the knees when the batter assumes a natural stance.
A high school game
consists of 7 innings. The home team
will always bat last. If the home team
is winning going into the bottom of the 7th inning, that part of the
inning is not played.
There are three outs
awarded to each team per inning.
Four balls (pitched
balls not in the strike zone) and the batter is awarded first base via a walk.
Three strikes and the
batter is called out.
In fast pitch
softball if the catcher drops the third strike and there is no runner on first,
the batter may run to first. The catcher
must tag the runner or throw to first base to force the out.
The first two foul
balls are called as strikes, but a person may not be called out because of foul
balls.
The batter is walked.
A pitch hits the
batter.
The batter hits a
ball into fair territory.
The pitcher pitches
an illegal pitch.
In fast pitch; if no
one is on first base and the catcher drops the third strike.
If there are two
first bases, one will be white the other will be orange, the orange bag will be
used by the batter to avoid a collision with the first baseman. If there is no play at first, the white bag
is to be used.
When a fly ball is
caught, the base runners must touch their base (tag-up) after the catch and
before they can run to the next base. If
they do not, the defense needs only tag the base left to put that player out.
Infield fly rule: On a pop fly, in the infield, where there are runners on
first and second or on first, second and third, with less than 2 outs the
batter is called out. Following the
tag-up, base runners may run at their own risk.
The third strike is
caught.
The person swings on
the third strike and misses the ball.
The third strike is
bunted into foul territory.
A runner interferes
with the fielder’s attempt to catch a ball.
A runner fails to
return to the base when the base’s fielder is touching the bag and gets the
ball.
A batted ball touches
a runner while running between bases.
A runner fails to be
return to base (or run to the next base) once the ball is controlled by the
pitcher in the pitcher’s circle.
A runner leaves the base before the pitcher
pitches (in fast pitch) or before the batter swings (in slow pitch).
Force-out – When a runner loses the right to his base because the
batter has become a runner and the fielder on the next base has the ball.
Misconduct – A warning that is issued to a team official or players
for inappropriate behavior. On the
second offense, the player will be expelled from the game.
Error – Charged to a defensive player when in the official score
person’s judgement that player should have made the play. A misjudged fly ball would only be considered
an error if the fielder touched the ball with their glove.