The rules of slow-pitch softball are designed to lessen the speed of the pitches, making the game more friendly to the batters and leading to higher-scoring games than its fast pitch counterpart. Most recreational and coed leagues use the slow-pitch variation. The most distinctive factor of slow-pitch softball is the pitching restrictions, which differentiate the game from baseball and fast-pitch softball. A typical slow-pitch softball game lasts seven innings.
Field
The pitching mound for slow-pitch softball game measures 50 feet from home plate. A pitching rubber is located on the mound. Prior to the start of the pitch delivery, the pitcher's feet must touch the rubber. Just like in baseball, there is a batter's box on both sides of the plate and first, second and third base are arranged in a diamond located 65 feet from one another. There is also a scoring plate that is 8 feet from home plate that must be run across in order to score. The scoring plate in slow-pitch softball helps prevent collisions at home plate. The back of the softball field should be marked by a clearly visible fence, wall or some other marking indicating that the field ends. The distance of the fence or wall can be as far as 400 feet from home plate, but the exact distance will vary depending on the field. The foul line stretches straight from home plate down the first and third base lines and stretches all the way to the wall. Balls that clear the wall from inside the foul line are counted as a home run.
Teams
Each softball team will consist of 10 starting players. On defense, these players consist of a pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, shortstop, third baseman and four outfielders. On offense, all players take turns batting in an order that is selected by the manager prior to the game. Once the game begins, the starting batting rotation cannot change; however, a substitute player may take a batting spot and replace the player that he batted for.
Pitching
Prior to the delivery to the plate, a pitcher must place both feet on the pitching rubber. The batter must be able to see the ball before the pitcher begins the wind-up and must deliver the pitcher using only one step. The pitch must arc anywhere between 6 and 10 feet by the time it reaches home plate, according to the official ASA rules. If the umpire decides that the ball was pitched too high, too low or at an excessive speed, a ball will be called.
Balls and Strikes
The softball strike zone extends the length of a normal swing and goes from the batter's shoulder to knees. A ball is called for any pitch that is thrown outside the strike zone. Four balls result in a walk, which allows the batter to advance to first base. Any pitch that the batter swings at and misses or that is thrown into the strike zone and caught by the catcher is a strike. If a batter reaches three strikes, he is out. Each team is allotted three outs per inning. In most slow-pitch leagues, players come into the batters box automatically having a count of one ball and one strike. For leagues using this rules, three additional balls lead to a walk and two additional strikes make an out.
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