Games
Softball Rules
Slowpitch Softball is played by two teams of ten players each. The teams take it in turns to bat and field. The batting team is called the OFFENSIVE team and the fielding team is called the DEFENSIVE team.
Most Slowpitch Softball is played by mixed teams, where men and women play together in a 5:5 ratio. Slowpitch is sometimes played by single-sex teams as well. The basics of Softball are very simple. A PITCHER pitches the ball to a BATTER who hits it and runs around as many bases as possible before the ball is retrieved and returned under control by the defensive team.
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 as left the pitcher’s hand. After a fly ball has been caught the base runner must tag the occupied base before advancing to the next base.
Starting the Game: The pre-game conference will consist of each captain meeting with the umpire before the game to go over ground rules. Scoresheets must be filled out before the game. Pitching Regulations. The pitcher shall take a position with both feet firmly on the ground and in contact with the pitcher’s plate. The pitch starts when the pitcher makes any motion that is part of his/her wind up. His/Her arm must come to a rest holding the ball in front of his/her body, with a pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate. This position shall be held for at least 1 second and not more than 10 seconds. He/She must deliver the ball on the first forward swing to the pitching arm past the hip. There must be no reserve stopping of the forward motion.
