Softball Study Guide

POSITIONS:

First baseman, 2^nd baseman, 3^rd baseman, shortstop, Pitcher, catcher, Left fielder, Center Fielder, Right Fielder.

Tagging-up:

With less than two out and a ball is hit in the air and caught, runners who leave the base must return and tag before they can legally advance. Runners who remain on the base, or who have tagged, may leave again as soon as the ball is touched.

Force Play:

A play in which a runner is put out when forced by the batter to move to the next base and a fielder holding the ball touches that base first.

Strike Zone:

A horizontal line at the midpoint between the top of the batter's shoulders and the top of the uniform pants. The bottom of the strike zone is a line at the hollow beneath the kneecap, both determined from the batter's stance as the batter is prepared to swing at the pitched ball. The right and left boundaries of the strike zone correspond to the edges of home plate. A pitch that touches the outer boundary of the zone is as much a strike as a pitch that is thrown right down the center.

Strike- When a batter swings and misses, ball goes over the plate in the strike zone, or hits a foul ball.

Ball- Any pitch that is outside the strike zone and the hitter doesn't swing is called a ball.

In a regular baseball/softball game, a better receives three strikes for an out and four balls for a walk.

Foul Ball- In baseball, a foul ball is a batted ball that: Settles on foul territory between home and first base or between home and third base, or. Bounds past first or third base on or over foul territory.

Base Runners:

• No sliding
• No stealing
• No Leading Off
• Runner on every base-bases loaded.
• Runners on first and third-Runners at the corners
• Runners cannot pass each other while running the bases or the runner that passed the

runner in front is out.

Throwing:

Grip- Fingers across seems for accuracy

Stand sideways with front leg facing target- A right handed thrower should lead with left leg and a right handed thrower leads right leg.  Throwing arm should be extended back and follow through.

Softball/baseball field is called a diamond.

Batting team pitches to each other

When batting, each teams receives three outs or bat through the line-up one time.  No batter is to bat twice in an inning.  Must follow the same batting order throughout the game.  Each batter gets three pitches.

As a left-handed batter, your right hand goes on the bottom of the bat.

As a right-handed batter, your left hand goes on the bottom of the bat.

Fly Balls-Getting underneath the ball and catching it with two hands is the best way to catch a fly ball.

Ground Ball-Fielding in the ready position with glove on the ground.  Follow the ball into the glove with non-glove hand on top of the ball.  Pivot feet toward target with glove hand facing target and throw. 

Defensive Strategy-Have a teammate that is good at catching playing first base.  Have a teammate with speed and a strong throwing arm in the outfield. 

Offensive Strategy- Have the two fastest runners as the team’s 1^st and 2^nd hitters and the strongest hitters batting 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th.

Safety-

• Batting team will stand behind the cone away from the batter.
• No sliding
• Batter will not throw the bat
• Catcher should stand 8-10 feet behind home plate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwVYejPGS-k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l73XZlQeyAA