If an Extra Player (EP) is used, all 11 on the starting line-up must bat and any 10 of those 11 may play defense. Only ASA approved slow pitch softball bats are allowed in league and tournament play. Baseball bats are illegal, and if a team is found using one the player(s) found using the bat will be ejected.
Does everyone on a softball team have to bat?
The game shall be played between two teams of ten players each in the field and the option to have up to two extra hitters in the batting lineup (for a maximum lineup of 12 players). All fielders are required to bat. … However, a substitute entering the game from the bench may only enter the game for one player per game.
Do you have to bat in softball?
You need a bat, a softball, and softball gloves for each fielder, 4 bases, and a pitching rubber. The visiting team bats first while the home team starts out in the field on defense. … The first batter steps into the batter’s box and prepares to hit the pitch.
What is the easiest position to play in softball?
What is the easiest position in softball? Right field, because young players don’t hit the ball very far in the air, and because 80% of athletes are right handed, fewer hard-hit fly balls will go to the opposite field (right field for a right-handed hitter).
How many batters are in softball?
Two teams compete in each softball game. Nine players man the field, while nine batters hit in a predetermined order for each team, know as the “batting order” or “lineup.” The players who have defensive positions, often called “fielders,” are the same ones that bat during the other half of the inning.
Are your hands part of the bat in softball?
The hands are part of a person’s body. If a pitch hits the batter’s hands the ball is dead, period. If the batter was avoiding the pitch, the batter is awarded first base, as long as the batter was not struck while the ball was in the strike zone. …
What is the halo rule in softball?
HALO RULE: The “Halo Rule” has been developed to provide greater protection to the pitcher. If any ball hits a pitcher, the batter is automatically out and the ball is ruled dead as long as the pitcher remains in the protected zone. If the same batter hits the pitcher again, the batter is removed from the game.
What are the official regulations for a bat in softball?
As a general rule, all fast pitch softball bats must have a 2 1/4 inch barrel diameter and must not be over 34 inches in length and 31 1/2 oz in weight. Bats must also be marked with the USA/ASA Certified stamp. These bats should perform within the limits of the 98 mph batted ball speed standard.
Can you lead off in softball?
Leading off is not allowed in fast pitch softball – players are permitted to steal bases, provided they do not leave the base before the pitcher has released the ball. A runner on 1st or 2nd can advance/steal only one base per pitch even in the event of an overthrow in live ball territory.
Why are there two first bases in softball?
New to Mile High Little League for 2017 is the use of the “Double First Base.” The use of this base is a safety measure intended to prevent collisions between the batter-runner and the first baseman.
What position is most important in softball?
The most important positions in a team are the pitcher and catcher. A good pitcher can have a significant impact on a game and a good catcher controls all defensive plays.
What’s the best softball position?
The best position to play in softball is usually the shortstop position given that the shortstop is usually the team’s most versatile and quickest player. That position tends to have the most responsibilities and most amount of action per game.
Why do girls play softball?
The small field comes from how softball was originally developed as an indoor version of baseball. It was created to allow people to play baseball indoors during the winter season. Women often play softball over baseball because they find it easier for them to navigate the field.
Is softball harder than baseball?
Many people often question if softball is harder than base ball or vise versa. … However, it is scientifically proven that softball is harder than baseball. The speed of pitches, the reaction time for hitters and fielders, and the distance of the field indicates that softball is indeed harder than baseball.
Can you bunt in softball?
A bunt is a legally batted ball not swung at but tapped or intentionally tapped into the infield with the bat. … In USA Softball, the batter can leave the bat over the plate on a bunt attempt, provided she doesn’t move the bat toward the ball, and not have a strike called if the ball is out of the zone.
Who invented softball?
Softball began in 1887 when George Hancock, a reporter for the Chicago Board of Trade, invented “indoor baseball”. By the spring of 1888, the game had spread outdoors. It was originally called either mushball, kittenball or indoor baseball, but by the 1920s it had acquired the name of softball.