The game of 10-player softball is the way the game is played at the youth, high school, college and professional level. In most cases, coaches use the 10th player as an extra outfielder, but that is just customary. A team can use the 10th player anywhere it wants to as long as the player is stationed in fair territory.
Field of Play
In 10-player softball, all bases are spaced 60 feet apart. The pitching rubber is 43 feet from home plate. The pitching rubber is inside a pitching circle. There is not pitcher's mound, as there is in baseball. Outfield fences are not required on official softball fields, but if they are in place, they should be a minimum of 225 feet from home plate.
Number of Players
In 10-player softball, a team may use 10 players in the field. The team also gets to put 10 batters in the lineup. The fielders may all bat, but the coach can choose to use a designated hitter for any of the fielders. The designated hitter does not have to bat for the pitcher. The coach can choose to use the designated hitter for what would be the weakest hitter in the lineup. The team is not required to use the designated hitter if it does not want to take advantage of the rule and it is happy with the hitters in the lineup.
Protective Equipment
All batters must wear hard plastic helmets that have protective coverings over both ears. If the batter reaches base, the helmet must remain in place as long as the runner remains on base. All catchers must wear a catcher's mask, a chest protector and shin guards. The catcher's mask must have a throat protector hanging from the bottom rung.
Interference and Obstruction
Fielders have the right to catch the ball any time that it is hit in their direction. The baserunner must get out of the fielder's way by running behind the fielder and not colliding with the fielder or getting in her way. If a baserunner makes contact with the fielder, the umpire will declare the runner out and may award a double play if she believes the team would have completed the twin killing had the contact not occurred. This is called interference. If the fielder is not involved in the play but makes contact with the baserunner, obstruction can be ruled. When obstruction occurs, the play continues and the umpire may award the runner an extra base or two if she believes the runner would have earned those bases had the obstruction not taken place.
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