Softball is a popular competitive sport that is played at a very high level in the United States. The game is dominated by pitchers who can throw a fastball at speeds of 70 mph, which is the equivalent of a fastball exceeding 90 mph in fastball. In addition, pitcher can throw curveballs, risers, drops and changeups. As a result of the dominance of the pitcher, batters must make adjustments in their approach and the rules of the game allow batters to take a running start out of the batter's box as they make contact.
Field of Play
In competitive softball, the pitching rubber is 43 feet from home plate. The bases are 60 feet apart. The game can be played on fields with or without fences. If fields have fences they should be at least 225 feet from home plate. All pitchers must start their delivery from the pitching rubber, which is placed in the center of the pitching circle. The pitcher must finish her delivery while she remains in the pitching circle. She may land outside the pitching circle while she is still in the middle of her delivery. That includes the follow-through.
Number of Players
There are 10 fielders on the play in competitive softball. The extra fielder is usually placed in the outfield. That is a tradition; but it is not a rule. A head coach may place the extra fielder anywhere in fair territory. The only player who can be in foul territory is the catcher. The team may have 10 batters in the batting lineup. A team can use the 10 players in the field to bat, but it can choose to have a designated hitter for one of its fielders. Unlike baseball, the designated hitter can bat for any of the fielders and not just the pitcher.
Safety Equipment
All batters must wear a hard plastic helmet when they come to bat in softball. This helmet may have a facemask attached, but that is not a requirement. If the batter reaches bases, she must have on a helmet the entire time she remains on base. The batter must have a helmet on her head from the moment she comes out of the dugout and takes her spot in the on-deck circle. Catchers must wear a catcher's mask, a chest protector and shin guards. The catcher's mask must have a throat protector that hangs from the bottom rung.
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