SOFTBALL STUDY GUIDE

1. Definitions:
   1. Inning – a visiting team batting until 3 outs are made AND the home team doing the same.
   2. Strike Zone – area approximately the width of home plate, from the arm pits to the knees of the batter, in which the ball should be pitched.
   3. Ball – area pitched outside the strike zone.
   4. Force Play – when there is a runner on all bases behind you, you are forced to the next base on a ground ball; the defense need only tag the base before the runner does to cause an out.
   5. Tag play – when base runners are not forced by players on each base behind them; they must be tagged with the ball before touching the base to cause an out.
   6. Tagging up – advancing to the next base on a caught fly ball. The player may not leave the base until the ball is caught and must be tagged to be out.
   7. Bunt – intentionally tapping the ball with the bat, without using a full swing.
   8. Steal – to advance to the next base as the ball is being pitched. The base runner may not leave the base until the ball leaves the pitchers hand.
   9. Foul Ball
      1. Infield – any ball in the infield (before the first and third base bags) touched by a defensive player outside the foul lines.
      2. Outfield – any ball hit in the air past 1st or 3rd base which lands outside these same lines.
   10. Fair Ball –
       1. Infield – any ball touched in front of the bases inside the foul lines or comes to rest inside these lines.
       2. Outfield – any ball hit in the air past first or third base landing inside the foul lines, regardless of where it rolls to or comes to rest.
2. The Game:
   1. The game is played by two teams of nine players each.
   2. A game is seven innings long, unless the score is tied. Extra innings may be played.
   3. Three strikes constitute an out.
   4. Four balls not in the strike zone constitutes a walk.
   5. Three outs constitute a team’s ½ inning and then the other team bats to complete the inning.
   6. If the ball is tipped on the 1st or 2nd strike by the bat, it is a strike. On the 3rd strike, if the ball is tipped, the batter is allowed another chance.
   7. First base and home plate may be overrun safely by a base runner; 2nd and 3rd may not.
   8. Base stealing and bunting are legal in regulation softball, not in class.
   9. An attempted bunt with two strikes that goes foul will cause the batter to be called out.
   10. All pitching is done underhand.
   11. The pitcher must have one foot in contact with the pitching plate while pitching.
   12. A base runner struck by a fair batted ball is out.
   13. A base runner struck by a thrown ball in not out.
   14. A base runner may not interfere with a fielder who is attempting to play the ball.
   15. A fielder who in snot playing the ball may not impede the progress of a runner.
   16. A runner is called out if they leave the base before the ball is released from the pitcher’s hand.
   17. Base runners may not run outside the base path to avoid being tagged out.
3. The Players Each player position is designated by a number which is used for scoring purposes.
   1. Pitcher
   2. Catcher
   3. First base person
   4. Second base person
   5. Third base person
   6. Shortstop
   7. Left fielder
   8. Center fielder
   9. Right fielder