Rules of Softball

Basic Rules of Softball

The Game Rules: 

  1. There are 9 players on the field at once.
  2. The field is divided into infield (on the dirt) and outfield (on the grass).
  3. The bases are formed into a diamond shape on the infield (dirt) and are 60 feet apart from each other.
  4. Any ball that is hit outside the 1st base and 3rd base foul lines is called a foul ball.
  5. A full length game is 7 innings long which consists of both teams playing the field and hitting.
  6. You must get 3 outs to complete your half of the inning.
  7. The visiting team always bats first and the home team follows.
  8. There is no set time throughout the whole game, so you play till you complete seven innings or possibly a run rule.

Pitching:

  1. The pitcher must have at least one foot on the rubber (which is a new rule) and can only take one step forward.
  2. The pitcher must release the ball in an underhand motion.
  3. Both feet must be on the ground within 24 inches of the pitchers plate.
  4. The pitcher has 20 seconds on the mound before releasing the pitch.
  5. The pitcher is throwing to the catcher and not trying to hit the batter.
  6. Before releasing the pitch, the pitchers must bring the hands together before starting their motion.
  7. The umpire is the dictator of if the pitch is a ball of strike.

Batting:

  1. There is allowed to be at most 10 players in a lineup when including an designated player.
  2. The batter must have two feet in the batters box at the start of the pitch.
  3. The batter is out if the following happen:
    1. The ump calls 3 strikes 
    2. A fly ball is caught
    3. A ball is put in play and the defense throws you out.
    4. If the batter does not have two feet in the box.
  4. If the batter gets hit by the pitch then they get a free base
  5. If a batter gets four balls on them then they get a free base

Base Running:

  1. The runner must touch the base in order to be safe.
  2. Runners may over run first, but ever other base you must stay on.
  3. Runners cannot step off of the base before the pitch is thrown.
  4. If the runner is tagged by the ball in a glove of a fielder then they are out.
  5. Base runners can not pass each other.
  6. If a fly ball is hit the runner is allowed to stay on the base till it is caught and then take off.