High-arc softball requires the pitcher to deliver along, slow arching ball that drops down into the hitting area. The game is also known as slow-pitch softball. Pitchers try to keep hitters off balance by throwing pitches over the outside and inside corners of the plate. Pitchers want to avoid the middle of the plate so hitters can't launch the ball all over the ball park.
Balls and Strikes
A hexagonal mat is placed behind home plate before the start of the game. The pitcher delivers the ball while standing on the pitching rubber. In order fora pitch to be called a strike, the ball must hit any part of the mat. There are no requirements about the ball passing between the batter's shoulders and knees. As long as the ball does not go above the 12-foot mark on its journey to the mat, the pitch is ruled a strike. The umpire makes the judgment on whether the ball has exceeded 12 feet or not.
Ball-Strike Count
The batter comes to the plate with a 1-1 count to start the at bat. If the pitcher throws three additional balls, the batter walks. If the batter takes a strike and then fouls the next pitch off, he is out. Batters only get two pitches that are strikes when they are up. It is not like baseball or fast pitch softball where batters get to foul off pitch after pitch before they put it into play. A batter who fouls off the third strike is always out.
Home Run Limit
In many high-arc softball leagues, a team may be limited to hitting no more than five home runs that fly over the fence. While this would seem to make no sense at many levels, high-arc softball leagues have invoked this rule because it takes time to chase down the ball once it has gone out of the park. Since most leagues will conduct several games in an afternoon or evening and these games have a time limit, hitting the ball over the fence takes too much time. If a team reaches its allowed home run total and then hits an additional ball over the fence,an out is charged.
No-Collision Rule
High arc softball is not a contact sport. There can be no collisions on the base paths. Fielders may not block the bases with their bodies while applying a tag. If a fielder blocks the base, the runner is declared safe. If the runner does not slide into a base on a close play, the umpire will declare the runner out.
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