The levels of softball are determined by the Amateur Softball Association of America, the sport's governing body. It oversees competition for adult and youth teams in a variety of formats and age divisions. ASA competition for adult teams is conducted in fast pitch, modified pitch, slow pitch and 16-inch pitch. Competition for youth teams is held in fast pitch and slow pitch, with age divisions ranging from 10 and under to 18 and under for boys and girls. The primary differences between levels of softball are the distance from the pitcher's plate to home plate, the distance between bases and the size of softball used, with measurements done by circumference.
Adult Fast Pitch
ASA rules for adult fast pitch call for the pitching plate to be 46 feet from home plate for men and 43 feet for women. The bases are 60 feet apart for each division. The softball used is 12 inches and has a maximum Coefficient of Restitution of .470 in each division. The COR is a measure of the ball's liveliness. The higher the COR, the farther it will fly in general.
Youth Fast Pitch
ASA has several age divisions for youth fast-pitch competition. Boys and girls use the same age breakdowns, and the bases are 60 feet apart in all divisions. In 10-and-under play, the pitching plate is 35 feet from home plate and the softball is 11 inches with a maximum COR of .470. In 12-and-under and 14-and-under girls and 12-and-under boys, the pitching distance is 40 feet and the ball is 12 inches with a maximum COR of .470. In 16-and-under and 18-and-under girls, the pitching distance is 43 feet and the ball used is 12 inches with a maximum COR of .470. In boys 14-and-under, 16-and-under and 18-and-under, the pitching distance is 46 feet and the ball used is 12 inches with a maximum COR of .470.
Adult Modified Pitch
ASA modified pitch has competition for men and women. Each uses bases 60 feet apart. The men's pitching distance is 46 feet; the women's distance is 40 feet. Men and women use a 12-inch ball with a maximum COR of .470
Adult Slow Pitch
The ASA field dimensions for adult slow pitch are standardized for men and women with one exception, the men's A and B divisions. The standard dimensions are bases 65 feet apart and a pitching distance of 50 feet. The men's A and B divisions use bases 70 feet apart and a pitching distance of 50 feet. The ball used in women's play is 11 inches with a maximum COR of .440. The ball used in men's play is 12 inches with a maximum COR of .440 or .520.
Youth Slow Pitch
The ASA field dimensions for youth slow pitch are standardized by age division for boys and girls. For 10-and-under boys and girls, the pitching distance is 40 feet, the bases are 60 feet apart and the ball is 11 inches with a maximum COR of .440. For 12-and-under boys and girls, the pitching distance is 46 feet and the bases are 60 feet apart. Girls use an 11-inch ball with a maximum COR of .440. Boys use a 12-inch ball with a maximum COR of .440 or .520. The boys' and girls' 14-and-under, 16-and-under and 18-and-under pitching distance is 50 feet, with the bases 65 feet apart. The girls' ball is 11 inches with a maximum COR of .440. The boys' ball is 12 inches with a maximum COR of .440 or .520.
16-inch Pitch
ASA 16-inch pitch competition for women has a pitching distance of 38 feet and bases 55 feet apart. Men's competition has the same pitching distance but bases 60 feet apart. Each division uses a 16-inch ball with a maximum COR of .470.
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