Softball and football are different in many ways. In the U.S., softball comes in two forms: slow pitch and fast pitch. Generally, in North America, when someone mentions football, they are usually referring to the sport played in the National Football League. In the rest of the world, football refers to what is traditionally called soccer in the U.S.
Equipment
The differences in the sports begin with equipment. Both use balls, but softballs are round and have a circumference of between 10 and 16 inches. The ball used in football -- as known in the U.S. -- is oval, 11 inches long and 28 inches in diameter at the middle, tapering down at each end.
Softball utilizes such equipment as bases, gloves, bats, helmets and a home plate. Football, in comparison to softball, uses little equipment to play, but much more equipment for protection. In addition to the ball, football players need helmets, shoulder and chest pads, thigh pads and mouth guards.
Scoring
Softball teams score a point when a player on the team that is batting touches home plate. This can happen only after the batter has touched the other three bases, which have been set out in a counterclockwise arrangement. Football teams can score in several different ways. If the team carrying the ball manages to cross the other team's goal line into the end zone, it scores six points. After the six points have been scored, that team has the opportunity to score one or two more points. If the team can't make it into the end zone, it can score three points by kicking a field goal. For this to happen, the kicker must kick the ball between two upright posts. Finally, the defensive team can score two points by tackling the offensive player who is carrying the ball when he is still behind his own goal line.
Players
The field on which softball is played is called a diamond, where nine or 10 players on the defensive team are placed strategically. The offensive team has batters come up to home plate and try to hit the ball where none of the defensive players can catch it. That player can advance along the bases -- starting with first base -- as long as the defensive team does not get her out.As many as four offensive players may be on the field at one time.
In football, each opposing team places 11 players on the field simultaneously. One side plays offense and is in possession of the ball, while the team plays defense. Football teams change the players on the field depending on whether they are playing defense or offense mode or when the field goal unit is on the field.
Duration of Game
The softball team playing offense continues in that mode until the defensive team gets three outs, either by catching a ball hit in the field or tagging players out on base. Once this is accomplished, the defensive team assumes offense and the offensive team assumes defense. An inning is complete when each team has finished playing offense. An official softball game constitutes seven innings.
Football is a timed game, consisting of four 15-minute quarters. Teams change direction and the goals after each quarter. After the second quarter, teams break for 12 minutes during halftime.
References
- "Amateur Softball Association of America: ASA"; Umpires; slow pitch/fast pitch rule differences
- "Fifa.com: About Fifa"
- "Life"s Little Mysteries: How the football got its shape"
- "Sports Depot: Fottball Equipment"
- "NFL Scoring Rules: Rule Book"
- "International Softball Federation: Rules and Standards:Playing Rules: slow and fast Modified
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