What Is Softball? To put it in a nut shell, its a game resembling baseball that is played on a smaller diamond, with a larger, different colored ball, and is pitched underhand. It is popular as an amateur sport. In US high schools, club teams and colleges women play fastpitch. Underhand Slow pitch is popular for everyone. Softball has a set number of innings, usually seven. An inning is one series of both teams playing offense and defense. At the end of the seven innings the team with the highest score wins. There are 10 player positions on the field in slow pitch, and 9 for fastpitch. (1) Pitcher, (2) Catcher, (3) First Baseman, (4) Second Baseman, (5) Third Baseman, (6) Short Stop, (7) Left Fielder, (8) Center Fielder, (9) Right Fielder, (10) Rover. The playing field is divided into two areas, the infield and outfield. The infield consists of: (1) Pitcher, (2) Catcher, (3) First Baseman, (4) Second Baseman, (5) Third Baseman, (6) Short Stop. The outfield consists of: (7) Left Fielder, (8) Center Fielder, (9) Right Fielder, (10) Rover. The infield lines between the bases are known as the base lines and are 60’ apart. When joined they form a “diamond”. Lines are considered fair play.

Divisions In Softball Softball usually has two distinct levels of play, the recreational level (common ages 5-18) and the competitive level (8u-18u some area's have 21u-24u, college and pro).

Softball Season Typically 3 months long around 22+ games for high school and 4 months long around 58+ games for college.

Cost Of Softball As low as $35 recreational player to as high as $5,000 club member. Commonly used for uniform, personal equipment, team equipment, league costs, tournament costs, field use, lights, umpires, coaches fee's etc.

Terminology used as per ASA

1. ALTERED BAT: When the physical structure of a legal softball bat has been changed.
2. APPEAL PLAY: A play on a rule violation on which an umpire may not make a decision until requested by a manager, coach or player.
3. BALL COMPRESSION: The load force, in pounds, required to compress a softball 0.250 inches when measured in accordance with the ASTM test method for measuring compression-displacement of softballs.
4. BALL COR: The coefficient of restitution of a softball when measured in accordance with the ASTM test method for measuring coefficient of restitution of softballs.
5. BALLS (OFFICIAL):
   1. CERTIFIED/APPROVED OFFICIAL BALLS. Only softballs which bear an ASA approved certification mark signifying compliance with the Ball COR and Ball Compression limitations then in effect, and which satisfy all other applicable provisions mentioned will be allowed for use in ASA Championship Play. The ASA has developed two certification marks for softballs. One mark signifies Ball Compression 300 lbs or less. The other signifies Ball Compression of more than 300 lbs, but less than 375 lbs. The markings are also distinguishable by color, where red represents a Ball COR of .470 or under, black represents a Ball COR of .440 or under, and blue represents a Ball COR of .400 or under. One of the following must be appropriately and indelibly stamped on each softball allowed for use in ASA Championship Play:
   2. COVER. The official softball shall have a cover of leather or synthetic material. The ball shall be regular, smooth-seamed, and smooth-surfaced. Red Colored Marking & Stamp Max 300 lbs Max .47 cor Black Colored Marking & Stamp Max 300 lbs Max .44 cor Blue Colored Marking & Stamp Max 300 lbs Max .40 cor Red Colored Marking & Stamp Max 375 lbs Max .47 cor Black Colored Marking & Stamp Max 375 lbs Max .44 cor Blue Colored Marking & Stamp Max 375 lbs Max .40 cor
   3. THE 16-INCH BALL. The official 16-inch softball shall be at least 16.0 inches in circumference when measured across two seams, and shall weigh at least 9.0 ounces. The 16-inch ball shall have a white cover, white stitches, a Ball COR of .470 or under, and a Ball Compression of 375.0 lbs or under. The 16-inch ball shall be used in the following ASA play: all Men’s 16-inch slow pitch.
   4. THE 14-INCH BALL. The official 14-inch softball shall be at least 14.0 inches in circumference when measured across two seams, and shall weight at least 8.0 ounces.
   5. THE 12-INCH BALL. The official 12-inch softball shall be at least 12.0 inches in circumference when measured across two seams, and shall weigh at least 6.750 ounces. The 12-inch ball shall have no fewer than 88 stitches in each cover, sewn by the two needle method, or with an authentic facsimile of stitching as approved by ASA.
      1. The 12-Inch Fast Pitch Ball. The white cover or yellow optic cover, red-stitch 12-inch ball (all Men’s and boys play may have white cover, white stitches) with a Ball COR of .470 or under and a Ball Compression of 375.0 lbs or under shall be used in the following ASA play: Men’s and Women’s fastpitch, Men’s and Women’s master fastpitch, Men’s senior fastpitch, and boys and girls 12, 14, 16 and 18-under fastpitch.
      2. The 12-inch Modified Pitch Ball. The white cover, red-stitch or yellow optic cover, red-stitch 12-inch ball with a Ball COR of .470 or under, and a Ball Compression of 375.0 lbs or under, shall be used in the following ASA play: all modified pitch.
      3. The 12-inch Slow Pitch Ball. The white cover, red-stitch or yellow optic cover, red-stitch 12-inch ball with a Ball COR or .440 or under, and a Ball Compression of 375.0 lbs or under, shall be used in the following ASA play: Men’s slow pitch, Men’s major, co-ed slow pitch (male batters only), Men’s master’s, Men’s senior’s, and boys 14, 16, and 18-under slow pitch.
   6. THE 11-INCH BALL. The official 11-inch softball shall be at least 11.0 inches in circumference. It shall weigh at least 6.0 ounces. The smooth-seamed style shall not have fewer than 80 stitches in each cover, sewn by the two needle method, or with an authentic facsimile of stitching as approved by ASA.
      1. The 11-inch Fast Pitch Ball - White Cover, white stitch or yellow optic cover, red-stitch 11-inch ball (it may be white-stitch for boys fastpitch), with a Ball COR of .470 or under and a Ball Compression of 375.0 lbs or under and shall be used in the following ASA play: boys and girls 10-under fastpitch.
      2. The 11-inch Slow Pitch Ball - White cover, red-stitch or yellow optic cover, red-stitch 11-inch ball with a Ball COR of .440 or under, and a Ball Compression of 375.0 lbs or under, shall be used in the following ASA play: Women’s slow pitch, co-ed slow pitch (women batter’s only), Women’s masters, Women’s senior’s, boys 10-under and 12-under slow pitch and girls 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18-under slow pitch.
   7. The 10-inch Ball. The official 10-inch softball shall be at least 10.0 inches in circumference when measured across two seams, and shall weigh at least 5.50 ounces.
6. BASE ON BALLS: Permits a batter to gain first base when four pitches are judged to be out of the strike zone.
7. BASE LINE: An imaginary line directly between bases.
8. BASE PATH: A line directly between a base and the runner’s position at the time a defensive player is attempting to tag that runner.
9. BATS: CERTIFIED/APPROVED OFFICIAL BAT. The official bat for ASA Championship Play must meet all the ASA specifications and the requirements of Rule 3, Section 1, and:
   • must bear either the ASA 2000 certification mark or the ASA 2004 certification mark as shown below, and must not be listed on an ASA Non Approved Bat List; or
   • must be included on a list of approved bat models published by ASA; or
   • must, in the sole opinion and discretion of the umpire, have been manufactured prior to 2000 and, if tested, would comply with the ASA bat performance standards then in effect.
   1. MARKING. The official bat shall be marked OFFICIAL SOFTBALL by the manufacturer.
   2. LENGTH AND WEIGHT. The official bat shall not be more than 34.0 inches long, nor exceed 38.0 ounces in weight.
   3. DIAMETER. The official bat shall not be more than 2.250 inches in diameter at its largest part, which includes any tolerance for expansion of the bat.
   4. SHAPE. The official bat shall be round within 0.050 inches in diameter, and the bat handle must be round or oblong and may be angular.
   5. SURFACE. The official bat shall be smooth with a maximum surface roughness of 250 micro inches. It shall be free of burrs and visible cracks, and shall not have exposed rivets, pins, rough or sharp edges or any form of exterior fastener that would present a hazard.
   6. BARREL END. If not constructed of wood, and not made of one-piece construction with the barrel end closed, the barrel end shall have a rubber or vinyl plastic or other approved material insert, or end cap at the large end of the bat. The insert of end cap shall be firmly secured and permanently affixed so that it can not be removed by anyone other than the manufacturer without damaging or destroying the end cap or barrel. The bat barrel shall be free of audible rattles when shaken. The bat barrel shall not have signs of excessive wear.
   7. SAFETY GRIP. The official bat shall have a safety grip of cork, tape (no smooth plastic tape) or composition material. The Safety Grip shall not be less than 10.0 inches long, and shall not extend more than 15.0 inches from the small/knob end of the bat. The Safety Grip may be a molded finger-formed grip as long as it is permanently attached to the bat or attached to the bat with safety tape. Resin, pine tar or spray substances are permissible on the Safety Grip only. Any tape applied to the Safety Grip must be continuously spiral, but does not have to be a solid layer of tape. The Safety Grip may not exceed two layers of tape. A bat having a “flare” or “cone” grip attached will be considered an Altered Bat.
   8. SAFETY KNOB. The official bat shall have a Safety Knob of circular or oblong cross section concentric to the bat handle that complies with this rule. The Knob may be molded, lathed, welded, or permanently fastened to the bat, and may be taped as long as there is no violation of this section. The distance from the Safety Grip to the apex of the Knob, shown as (T) in the diagram Shall not exceed 0.3750 inches. The diameter of the Knob (K) shall be at least 0.5 inches greater than the bat handle diameter including the Grip (H). The center line of the Knob (C) shall be perpendicular to the center line of the bat (A). The diameter of the flat region of the Knob adjacent to the Grip (D) shall be at least 0.1250 inches greater than the bat Handle diameter including the Grip (H). The angle of the Flat region of the Knob adjacent to the Grip (B) shall be perpendicular to the center line of the bat (A) within ten (10) degrees.
   9. ALTERED BAT. The official bat shall not be an Altered Bat The weight, distribution of weight, and length of the bat as well as all other characteristics of the bat must be permanently fixed at the time of manufacture and may not be altered in any way thereafter, except as otherwise specifically provided for in Rule 3, Section 1, or as specifically approved by the ASA. A “flare” or “cone” grip attached to the bat handle, inserting material inside the bat, applying excessive tape (more than two layers) to the bat grip or painting a bat other than at the top or bottom for identification purposes are examples of altering a bat. Replacing the grip with another legal grip is not considered altering the bat. Laser marking for “ID” purposes is not considered altered. Engraved “ID” marking on the knob end only of a metal bat is not considered altered. Engraved “ID” marking on the barrel end of a metal bat is considered
   10. CONSTRUCTION. The official bat shall be of one-piece construction or a multi-piece permanently assembled bat. NOT APPROVED: two-piece bats, multi-piece bats, bats not sold as a single product, and bats where at least one portion of that bat is intended to be removable by a player from another portion of the bat.
10. CERTIFIED/APPROVED WARM-UP BATS: The warm-up bat shall meet the following requirements to be approved...
    1. Stamped with 1/4 inch letters WB on either end of the bat or marked in one inch letters the words WARM-UP BAT only on the barrel end of the bat.
    2. The warm-up bat shall comply with the safety grip and the safety knob requirements of the official bat.
    3. Be of one-piece construction or a one-piece permanently assembled bat that clearly distinguishes itself as a warm-up bat and is approved by the ASA.
    4. Shall have a safety knob of a minimum of 1/4 inch protruding at a 90 degree angle from the handle. It may be molded, lathed, welded or permanently fastened.
    5. Only approved attachments included in the list published by the ASA can be used on bats used to warm up bats.
11. BATTED BALL: Any pitched ball that hits the bat or is hit by the bat and lands either in fair territory or foul territory.
12. BATTER’S BOX: The area to which the batter is restricted when batting.
13. BATTER-RUNNER: A player who has completed a turn at bat but has not yet been put out or reached first base.
14. BATTING ORDER:The official listing of offensive players in the order in which they bat.
15. BLOCKED BALL: A batted, pitched or thrown ball that is touched, stopped or handled by a person not engaged in the game, or which touches loose equipment or any object that is not part of the official equipment or official playing area.
16. BLOOD RULE: Refers to a player, coach or umpire who is bleeding or who has blood on their uniform and treatment is required.
17. BUNT: A pitched ball that is intentionally tapped with the bat, slowly, within the infield.
18. CATCH/NO CATCH:
    1. A catch is a legally caught ball, which occurs when the fielder catches a batted, pitched or thrown ball with the hand(s) or glove/mitt.
       1. To establish a valid catch, the fielder shall hold the ball long enough to prove control of it and/or that the release of the ball is voluntary.
       2. If the ball is merely held in the fielder’s arm(s) or prevented from dropping to the ground by some part of the fielder’s body, equipment or clothing, the catch is not completed until the ball is in the grasp of the fielder’s hand(s) or glove.
       3. The fielder’s feet must be within the field of play, touching the “out of play” line or in the air after leaving live ball territory in order to have a valid catch. A player who is “out of play” and returns must have both feet touching live ball territory or one foot touching and the other in the air, for the catch to be legal.
    2. It is not a catch:
       1. If a fielder, while gaining control, collides with another player, umpire or a fence, or falls to the ground and drops the ball as a result of the collision or falling to the ground.
       2. If a ball strikes anything other than a defensive player while it is in flight is the same as if it struck the ground.
       3. When a fielder catches a batted or thrown ball with anything other than the hand(s) or glove in its proper place.
19. CATCH AND CARRY: A legal catch that a defensive player carries into dead ball territory.
20. CATCHER’S BOX: The area to which the catcher is restricted while catching. The catcher must remain in the box until:
    1. (Fast Pitch) The pitch is released.
    2. (Slow Pitch) The pitched ball is:
       1. Batted.
       2. Touches the ground, plate, or batter.
       3. Reaches the catcher’s box.
21. CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY: When used in the ASA Softball Playing Rules, the term “Championship Play” shall have the same meaning as is assigned to such term by the ASA Code.
22. CHARGED CONFERENCE: When a team representative requests a suspension of play or delays the game for the purpose of delivering a message to another team member.
23. CHOPPED BALL: (Slow Pitch) Occurs when the batter strikes downward with a chopping motion of the bat.
24. COACH: A person who occupies the coach’s box and / or assists in the direction of their team representatives on the field.
25. COACH’S BOX: The area in which the two base coaches (one per box) are restricted to prior to the release of the pitch.
26. COURTESY RUNNER: (Senior Slow Pitch, Master’s and Senior Fast Pitch and J.O. Girls and Boys Fast Pitch) Any player who runs for a runner without a charged substitution.
27. CROW HOP: (Fast Pitch) Defined as the act of a pitcher who steps, hops or drags off the front of the pitcher’s plate, replants the pivot foot, thereby establishing a second impetus (or starting point), pushes off from the newly established starting point and completes the delivery.
28. DEAD BALL.: A ball that is not in play.
29. DEFENSIVE TEAM: The team in the field.
30. DESIGNATED PLAYER (DP): The player who is initially on the line-up card in the team’s batting order but not in the defensive line-up.
31. DISLODGED BASE: A base displaced from its proper position.
32. DISQUALIFIED PLAYER: A player removed from the game for a rule violation.
33. DOUBLE PLAY: A play by the defense in which two offensive players are legally put out as a result of continuous action.
34. DUGOUT/ TEAM AREA: An out-of-play area designated for players and team representatives.
35. EJECTED PARTICIPANT: A team representative removed from the game by the umpire, usually for an unsportsmanlike act or conduct.
36. EQUIPMENT
37. EXTRA PLAYER (EP): An optional player(s) in slow pitch.
38. FAIR BALL: A legally batted ball that:
    1. Settles or is touched on or over fair territory between home and first base or between home and third base.
    2. Bounds over or past first or third base, which is in fair territory, regardless of where the ball hits after going over the base.
    3. While on or over fair territory, touches the person, attached equipment or clothing of a player or an umpire.
    4. While over fair territory, an runner offensive player interferes with a defensive player attempting to field a batted ball.
    5. Touches first, second or third base.
    6. First falls or is first touched on or over fair territory beyond first, second or third base.
    7. While over fair territory, passes out of the playing field beyond the outfield fence.
    8. Hits the foul pole.
39. FAIR TERRITORY: That part of the playing field within, and including, the first and third base foul lines from home plate to the bottom of the playing field fence and perpendicularly upwards.
40. FAKE TAG:A form of obstruction by a fielder who attempts to tag a runner without the ball and thereby impedes a runner advancing or returning to a base.
41. FASTPITCH
    1. Fastpitch Men’s, Men’s Masters and Boys 12, 14, 16,18U. 12” /.470 max / White Cover and White Stitch or Yellow Optic Cover and Red Stitch / 375.0 lbs max
    2. Fastpitch Women’s, Women’s Masters and Girls 12, 14, 16, 18U. 12” /.470 max / White Cover and Red Stitches or Yellow Optic Cover Red Stitch Only / 375.0 lbs max
    3. Fastpitch Girls 10U. 11” /.470 max / White Cover and Yellow Optic Cover Red Stitches only / 375.0 lbs max
    4. Fastpitch Boys 10U. 11" /.470 max / White cover and White Stitch or Yellow Optic Cover and Red Stitch / 375.0 lbs max
42. FIELDER: Any player of the team in the field.
43. FLEX: The player who is initially listed in the tenth spot on the line-up card, and may play any defensive position, and may enter the game on offense only in the Designated Player’s (DP) batting position.
44. FLY BALL: A batted ball, fair or foul, that rises into the air.
45. FORCE OUT: Is an out which may be made only when a runner loses the right to the base that the runner is occupying because the batter becomes a batter-runner, and before the batter-runner or a trailing runner has been put out.
46. FOUL BALL: A batted ball that:
    1. Settles or is touched (not caught) on or over foul territory between home and first base or between home and third base.
    2. Bounds or rolls past first or third base on or over foul territory.
    3. While over foul territory, touches the person, attached or detached equipment or clothing of a player or an umpire, or any object foreign to the natural ground.
    4. While over foul territory, a runner interferes with a defensive player attempting to field a batted ball.
    5. First hits the ground over foul territory beyond first or third base.
    6. Touches the batter or the bat in the batter’s hand(s) a second time while the batter is within the batter’s box.
    7. Goes directly from the bat to any part of the catcher’s body or equipment and is caught by another fielder.
    8. Hits the pitcher’s plate and rolls untouched to foul territory before reaching first or third base.
47. FOUL TIP: A batted ball that goes sharply and directly from the bat to the catcher’s hand(s) or glove/mitt and is legally caught by the catcher.
48. GLOVE / MITT A Glove/Mitt may be worn by any player. The dimensions of any glove/mitt used by any fielder shall not exceed the specifications given below.
    • [Fast Pitch] The Pitcher’s glove may be of one solid color or multicolored as long as the color(s) are not the color of the ball being used in the game.
    1. Palm width (top) 8 in.
    2. Palm width (bottom) 8 1/2 in.
    3. Top opening of web 5 in.
    4. Bottom opening of web 4 1/2 in.
    5. Web top to bottom 7 1/4 in.
    6. 1st finger crotch seam 7 1/2 in.
    7. Thumb crotch seam 7 1/2 in.
    8. Crotch seam 17 1/2 in.
    9. Thumb top to bottom edge 9 1/4 in.
    10. 1st finger top to bottom edge 14 in.
    11. 2nd finger top to bottom edge 13 1/4 in.
    12. 3rd finger top to bottom edge 12 1/4 in.
    13. 4th finger top to bottom edge 11 in.
49. FACE MASKS / GUARDS Any defensive player or offensive player may wear a face mask/guard. EXCEPTION: Fast pitch catchers cannot merely wear the plastic face mask/ guard. Fast pitch catchers must wear the protective equipment provided by rule 3 section 5. Face masks/guards that are cracked or deformed, or if padding has deteriorated or is missing, are prohibited. NOTE: A NOCSAE approved mask is only compatible with certain NOCSAE approved helmets. Failure to ensure proper compatibility may create unsafe conditions and may affect any manufacturer’s product liability obligation. Contact the manufacturer or supplier of the helmet and the mask to ensure proper compatibility and approval of your specific mask-helmet combination. HELMETS. Any defensive player or offensive player may wear a helmet at any time. OFFENSE. All adult fast pitch, modified pitch and all Junior Olympic offensive players, including the on-deck batter, and Junior Olympic players acting as coaches in the coach’s box, must properly wear double ear flap NOCSAE approved batting helmets. All Junior Olympic batting helmets shall be equipped with chin straps. All Junior Olympic Fast Pitch batting helmets shall be equipped with a securely fastened NOCSAE approved face mask/ guard. Batting helmets that are broken, cracked, dented, or that have been illegally altered are prohibited from use. NOTE: A NOCSAE approved mask is only compatible with certain NOCSAE approved helmets. Failure to ensure proper compatibility may create unsafe conditions and may affect any manufacturer’s product liability obligation. Contact the manufacturer or supplier of the helmet and the mask to ensure proper compatibility and approval of your specific mask-helmet combination. EFFECT: Failure to wear the batting helmet when ordered to do so by the umpire shall cause the player to be removed from the game. Wearing the helmet improperly or removing the helmet during a live ball play and judged by the umpire to be a deliberate act shall cause the violator to be declared out immediately. The ball remains live. Calling a runner out for removing a helmet does not remove force play situations. Umpires should use discretion as to the intent of the rule concerning player safety. DEFENSE. Any defensive player may wear a helmet, with or without ear flaps, of similar color as the team caps. It must have a bill. EXCEPTION: Hockey style face mask.
50. HOME TEAM: Shall be designated by mutual agreement or by a flip of a coin.
51. ILLEGAL BAT: A bat that does not meet the requirements of an official bat or warm-up bat.
52. ILLEGALLY BATTED BALL: Occurs when the batter hits the ball fair or foul and:
    1. When, at the time the bat makes contact with the ball, the entire foot is completely outside the lines of the batter’s box and on the ground.
    2. When, at the time the bat makes contact with the ball, any part of the foot is touching home plate.
    3. An illegal, altered or non-approved bat is used.
    4. When, at the time the bat makes contact with the ball, the batter’s entire foot has contacted the ground out of the batter’s box and returned to hit the ball while inside the box.
53. ILLEGAL PLAYER: A player who takes a position in the line-up, either on offense or defense, who does not have a legal right to the position.
54. IN FLIGHT:The term used for any batted, thrown or pitched ball which has not yet touched the ground or some object or person other than a fielder.
55. IN JEOPARDY: A term indicating that the ball is in play and an offensive player may be put out.
56. INELIGIBLE PLAYER: A player who does not meet the requirements of ASA Code.
57. INFIELD: That portion of the field in fair territory that includes areas normally covered by infielders.
58. INFIELDER: A fielder who defends the area of the field around first, second, third or shortstop areas.
59. INFIELD FLY: A fair fly ball, not including a line drive or an attempted bunt which can be caught by an infielder, pitcher or catcher with ordinary effort when first and second or first, second and third bases are occupied with less than two outs.
60. INNING: That portion of a game within which the teams alternate on offense and defense and in which there are three outs for each team. A new inning begins immediately after the final out of the previous inning. EXCEPTION: Men’s Class D Slow Pitch when an over the fence home run is hit.
61. INTERFERENCE: The act of an offensive player or team member, umpire or spectator that impedes, hinders, or confuses a defensive player attempting to execute a play. Contact is not necessary.
62. JUNIOR OLYMPIC PLAYER: Any player eligible to participate in the Junior Olympic program. If Junior Olympic players play on an adult team, it is considered playing in an adult league and adult rules will be in effect.
63. LEAPING: (Fast Pitch) An act by the pitcher when both feet become airborne on the initial move and push from the pitcher’s plate.
64. LINE DRIVE:/ A batted ball that travels parallel or near the ground through most of its flight.
65. LINE–UP CARD: The official document listing starting players and substitutes of a given team.
66. MANAGER: The team representative that must have control of their team at all times on and off the field.
67. MODIFIED Modified Pitch Men’s, Women’s Modified Pitch. 12”/.470 max / White Cover and Red Stitch or Yellow Optic Cover and Red Stitch / 375.0 lbs max 16” Men's Slow Pitch. 16” /.470 max / White Cover and White Stitch / 375.0 lbs max
68. NON-APPROVED BAT:A bat that does not meet the ASA specifications and is on the current non-approved bat list.
69. OBSTRUCTION: The act of a defensive team member: A. Who hinders or impedes a batter from striking at or hitting a pitched ball. B. A fielder, who impedes the progress of a runner or batter-runner who is legally running the bases unless the fielder is:
    1. in possession of the ball.
    2. in the act of fielding a batted ball. NOTE: Contact is not necessary to impede the progress of the batter-runner or a runner.
70. OFFENSIVE TEAM: The team at bat.
71. ON-DECK BATTER: The offensive player who is scheduled to bat next.
72. ON-DECK CIRCLE: The area nearest their dugout in which the next batter of the offensive team is restricted to before the release of the pitch.
73. OUTFIELD: That portion of the field in fair territory which is normally covered by outfielders.
74. OUTFIELDER: A fielder who defends the area of the field that the left, left-center, right-center, and right fielders normally play. (This assists in determining positions for co-ed slow pitch play).
75. OVER SLIDE: The act of an offensive player when, as a runner, slides beyond or loses contact with a base the player is attempting to reach.
76. OVERTHROW: Occurs when a thrown ball from a fielder goes
    1. beyond the boundary lines of the playing field (dead ball territory),
    2. or becomes a blocked ball.
77. PARTICIPANT:A starting player, substitute, manager, coach or other team representative located in the dugout, team area or playing field.
78. PASSED BALL: A legally delivered pitch that should have been held or controlled by the catcher with ordinary effort.
79. PIVOT FOOT: (Fast Pitch) The foot which must remain in contact with the pitcher’s plate prior to pushing off. (Slow Pitch) The pivot foot is the foot that the pitcher must keep in contact with the pitcher’s plate until the ball is released.
80. PLAY: An attempt by a defensive player to retire an offensive player. A pitch is not considered a play except as it relates to an appeal.
81. PLAY BALL: The term used by the plate umpire to indicate that play shall start.
82. THE PLAYING FIELD: Section 1. The playing field is the area within which the ball may be legally played and fielded. There shall be a clear and unobstructed area between the foul lines and within the radius of the prescribed fence distances from home plate. Section 2. Ground or special rules establishing the limits of the playing field may be established by tournament officials. Any obstruction on fair ground less than the prescribed fence distances from home plate should be clearly marked for the umpire’s information. If using a baseball field, the mound should be removed and the backstop distances must meet those prescribed (minimum of 25 feet or a maximum of 30 feet from home plate). Section 3. For the layout of the diamond, refer to the drawing showing the official dimensions for a softball diamond. This section serves as an example for laying out a diamond with 60-foot bases and a 46-foot pitching distance. To determine the position of home plate, draw a line in the direction desired to lay the diamond. Drive a stake at the corner of home plate nearest the catcher. Fasten a cord to this stake and tie knots, or otherwise mark the cord, at 46 feet, 60 feet, 84 feet 10 1/4 inches, and at 120 feet. Place the cord (without stretching) along the direction line and place a stake at the 46-foot marker. This will be the front line at the middle of the pitcher’s plate. Along the same line, drive a stake at the 84-foot 10 1/4-inch marker. This will be the center of second base. Place the 120-foot marker at the center of second base and, taking hold of the cord at the 60-foot marker, walk to the right of the direction line until the cord is taut and drive a stake at the 60-foot marker. This will be the outside corner of first base and the cord will now form the lines to first and second bases. Again, holding the cord at the 60-foot marker, walk across the field and, in a like manner, mark the outside corner of third base. Home plate, first base, and third base are wholly inside the diamond. To check the diamond, place the home plate end of the cord at the first base stake and the 120-foot marker at third base. The 60-foot marker should now check at home plate and the middle of second base. In the layout of a 65-foot base path diamond, follow the same procedure with the following substitute dimensions: 65 foot, 130 foot, and 91 feet 11 inches. Check all distances with a steel tape whenever possible.
    1. The three-foot line is drawn in foul territory parallel to and three feet from the baseline, starting at a point halfway between home plate and first base.
    2. The batter’s on-deck circle is a five-foot circle (2 1/2-foot radius) placed adjacent to the end of the player’s bench or dugout area closest to home plate.
    3. There shall be batter’s boxes, one on each side of home plate. The front line of the box will be drawn from the center of home plate. The inside lines of the batter’s box shall be six inches from home plate. Batter’s Box: Fast Pitch: 3’W x 7’L 16” Slow Pitch: 4’W x 8’L
    4. Catcher’s Box shall be as wide as the two batter’s boxes from outside line to outside line, 8.5 feet wide for fast pitch and Slow Pitch and 10.5 feet wide 16” Slow Pitch.
    5. Each coach’s box is behind a line 15 feet long drawn outside the diamond. The line is parallel to and eight feet from the first and third base line, extended from the bases toward home plate.
    6. The pitcher’s plate shall be of rubber or wood, 24 inches long and six inches wide. The top of the plate shall be level with the ground. The front of the pitcher’s plate shall be the prescribed pitching distances from the back point of home plate. It shall be permanently attached to the ground at distances indicated. There shall be a 16-foot circle, eight feet in radius, drawn from the center of the pitcher’s plate. The lines drawn around the pitcher’s plate are considered inside the circle.
    7. Home plate shall be made of rubber or other suitable material. It shall be a five-sided figure, 17 inches wide across the edge facing the pitcher’s plate. The sides shall be parallel to the inside lines of the batter’s box and shall be 8 1/2 inches long. The sides of the point facing the catcher shall be 12 inches long. (Senior Slow Pitch) The second home plate shall be placed eight feet from the back tip of home plate on an extended line from first base. A line shall be drawn from third base to the second home plate.
    8. The bases, other than home plate, shall be 15 inches square be made of canvas or other suitable material and not more than five inches in thickness. The double base shall be used at first base, (15 by 30 inches), in all divisions of play. This base is 15 by 30 inches. Half the base is white (over fair territory) and half is orange or green (over foul territory). The bases should be properly fastened in position.
    9. The outfield fence height for Regional, area, and National Tournaments, National Championship Finals and The USA Softball Championships must be at least four feet high (at least three feet high if using temporary fencing) and it is suggested that it be eight feet in height.
    10. Regional, Area, and National Championship Final play the minimum lighting level is 30-foot candles.
83. PROTEST: A formal request into the decision of an umpire’s rule interpretation.
84. QUICK PITCH: A pitch made with the obvious attempt to catch the batter off balance.
85. RUNNER:An offensive player who has reached first base and has not yet been put out.
86. SACRIFICE FLY: Scored when, with fewer than two outs, the batter scores a runner with a fly ball or line drive that is: A. Caught. B. Dropped by any fielder and, in the scorer’s judgment, the runner could have scored after the catch had the fly ball or line drive been caught.
87. SLOW PITCH Slow Pitch Men’s, Co-ed Male, Men’s Seniors, Men’s Master’s, Men’s Major and Boy’s 14, 16, 18U. 12” /.440 max / White Cover and Red Stitch or Yellow Optic Cover and Red Stitch / 375.0 lbs max Slow Pitch Women’s, Co-ed Female, Women’s Master’s, Women’s, Seniors, Boy’s 10, 12U, and Girl’s 10, 12, 14, 16, 18U. 11” /.440 max / White Cover and Red Stitch or Yellow Optic Cover and Red Stitch / 375.0 lbs max
88. STARTING PLAYER: A player listed on the line-up card that is inspected and approved by the plate umpire.
89. STEALING: The act of a runner attempting to advance during a pitch: A. (Slow Pitch with stealing) Runners can advance once the pitched ball reaches the front edge of home plate. B. (Fast Pitch) Runners can advance once the pitched ball leaves the pitcher’s hand.
90. STRIKE MAT: A Mat 25 ½ inches long with a V shaped cut out with the edges 12 inches long to fit tight with the point of home plate.
91. STRIKE ZONE: That space over any part of home plate, when a batter assumes a natural batting stance adjacent to home plate, between the batter’s;
    1. (Fast Pitch) Arm pits and the top of the knees.
    2. (Slow Pitch) Back shoulder and the front knee.
    3. (Seniors Slow Pitch): A rectangle 17” x 34” which includes the plate and the plate extension (mat). Any legally pitch ball not struck at that lands on any part of the plate or mat will be ruled a strike. The shoulder to the knee strike zone has been eliminated.
92. SUBSTITUTE: Any member of a team’s roster who is not listed as a starting player, or a player who re-enters the game.
93. TAG: A legal tag is the act of a defensive player:
    1. touching a base with any part of the body while holding the ball securely and firmly in the hand or glove or;
    2. touching the runner or batter-runner with the ball while securely held in the hand or glove.
94. TIME: The term used by the umpire to suspend play.
95. TRIPLE PLAY: A play by the defense in which three offensive players are legally put out as a result of continuous action.
96. TURN AT BAT: Begins when a player first enters the batter’s box and continues until the player is substituted for, put out, or becomes a batter-runner while at bat.
97. WILD PITCH: A legally delivered pitch that the catcher cannot catch or stop and control with ordinary effort.