SOFTBALL HISTORY RULES “BEATTIE RULES”!!!

HISTORY OF SOFTBALL *Invented in 1887 as an indoor sport by George Hancock *In 1895 Lewis Rober, a fireman, invented outdoor softball and called it “Kitten Ball”. He used his outdoor game to keep his firemen in shape. *The name softball was not developed until 1926.

INFIELD OUTFIELD Pitcher Catcher 1 ST 2 ND 3 RD Shortstop Left field Center field Right field Rover Inside the “diamond” Outside the “diamond Foul line BASELINE

PITCHER CATCHER 1 ST BASE 2 ND BASE 3 RD BASE SHORT STOP X X X X Infield Positions (numbered) & Where to Play the Position!

Outfield Positions (numbered) and Where to Play the Position! Left Field 7 Center Field 8 Right Field 9 Rover - 10 Foul line

NOTICE THEPLAYING POSITIONS OF THE INFIELDERS AND OUTFIELDERS

SOFTBALL RULES 10 players on a team Line between bases is 60’ and forms a diamond – inside these lines in the infield. Outside the the baseline but inside the playing field is the outfield. Any ball hit outside the 1 st or 3 rd baseline is a foul ball – runners can not advance, batter gets another try (unless ball was caught in the air = out). Official game is 7 innings (both teams have had their chance to bat 7 times) MADE SIMPLE

Pitching Rules – Simplified! Pitcher can only take one step forward while pitching – start with both feet on the pitching rubber. Ball must be thrown underhand. Both hands must be on ball at start of pitch. BEATTIE RULES! PITCH TO YOUR OWN TEAM THREE PITCHES ONLY – MUST HIT ONE FAIR

BATTING – SIMPLIFIED! Batters must follow same order throughout entire game. Batter is out when: –Three strikes have been called –A fly ball is caught –Batter does not stand in the batters box BEATTIE RULES! Batter only gets three pitches – one of the pitches must be hit into fair territory or the batter is OUT!

BASE RUNNING Runners must touch each base – in order! Runners may overrun 1 st base only. All other bases: if overrun – the runner may be tagged and called out if off the base. After fly ball is caught runner must “tag up’ before advancing to the next base Base runners can not pass each other! No stealing bases A RUNNER IS OUT IF: They are tagged with the ball before reaching the base The ball gets to 1 st base before the runner They run more than 3 feet outside the baseline to avoid being tagged.

SOFTBALL “LINGO” *BALL: A LEGALLY PITCHED BALL THAT DOES NOT ENTER THE STRIKE Z ONE. 4 “BALLS” = A WALK. *GROUNDER: A BALL THAT IS HIT ON THE GROUND *FORCE: WHEN THE RUNNER HAS TO ADVANCE TO THE NEXT BASE TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE FOLLOWING BASE RUNNER *FLY BALL: BALL HIT UP INTO THE AIR *ON DECK: NEXT BATTER *POP UP: BALL HIT UP INTO THE AIR IN THE INFIELD *STRIKE: WHEN A BALL IS SWUNG AT AND MISSED. A STRIKE IS ALSO CALLED WHEN THE BALL ENTERS THE STRIKE ZONE AND IS NOT SWUNG AT (CAUGHT “LOOKING”). *FOUL BALL: BALL IS HIT OUTSIDE THE BASE LINE/FOUL LINE *IN THE HOLE: BATTER AFTER THE ON DECK BATTER