Baseball Field Equipment

Archive for the ‘softball’ Category

Softball is a baseball variation that is played with, as the name suggests, a softer ball. The underhand pitches are delivered by two teams of nine players each, during different segments of the game. The reaction and retort to a random pitch in 1887 resulted in the development of one of the most popular indoor and outdoor team sports of all times…

What is Softball?

Softball is a popular US field sport; a descendant of baseball. The game differs from baseball more in application than in regulations. The rules of both these field sports are quite similar. The commonly observed differences between the two team sports are:

• Baseballs are smaller and harder than softballs.
• Softball pitches are thrown underhand, unlike the overhand throws displayed in a game of baseball.
• Softball is commonly played by women, more than men.

History of Softball:

The history of softball dates back to 1887, Chicago, Illinois. The first game was played with a broom handle for a bat! The first version of the game was played on Thanksgiving Day, by George Hancock. He intended the game to be a winter version of the American favorite field sport, baseball. Way back then, the game was referred to as ‘Indoor Baseball’. History of softball reveals that in the winter of 1887, when a Yale alumnus pitched a boxing glove at a Harvard supporter on hearing the score of the annual football game at the Farragut Boat Club, the latter grabbed a broom and swung it right back. George Hancock yelled “Play ball” and the first ever game of softball began.

Hancock had knotted the boxing glove into a ball and used a broom handle as a bat. With a score of 44-40, the first softball game came to an exciting end. The impulsive improvisation made that day was the barehanded fielding of the softball. In time, Hancock developed a special softball and bat and set down rules for the game in 1889. Under the name of ‘Indoor-Outdoor’, the game was an instant favorite. The first outdoor version was developed by Lewis Rober, Sr., in the year 1895. The outdoor game developed for the Minneapolis firefighters went by the name of ‘Kitten Ball’. During the latter part of the nineteenth century, softball was also referred to as Pumpkin Ball and Diamond Ball.

The outdoor version developed by Rober introduced a 12-inch ball, as opposed to the 16-inch ball used earlier. In 1897, the first softball league was organized outside the United States, in Toronto. The game was officially coined as ‘Softball’ in 1926, by Walter Hakanson. By the 1930s, softball had made its way across the United States and Canada. The Joint Rules Committee on Softball was established in 1934, to standardize the game’s rules and regulations. By the 1940’s, softball was characterized by fast pitching and a lengthened pitch distance. However, in 1953, the Committee officially made slow pitching compulsory, under the Amateur Softball Association program. The game swept across Europe by 1972. While the American Professional Slow Pitch League or APSPL became the first professional softball league to play (1977-1982), the Detroit Caesars were the first winners of the professional softball World Series in 1977. Today, softball remains a popular sport in elementary and high schools across the globe.

Softball Rules and Regulations:

The game of softball is played on a large field, comprising a distinctly demarcated grass infield, running areas and an outfield. The field is divided into four bases: first base, second base, third base and the home plate. The bases are set at a distance of approximately 45 to 65 feet from one another. The pitcher’s circle is marked equidistant from the four bases. The objective of softball is to score more runs than the opposing team, by hitting the ball ‘into play’ and covering all the bases. While running counterclockwise around the bases, the player is expected to physically touch each one in the order of succession. The softball used today is around 12 inches in circumference. It is covered with leather or any light, synthetic fabric. The rules and regulations on the field are adhered to in the presence of one or more umpires. Each one of the official seven innings involve both teams playing ‘offense’ and ‘defense’. Each inning comprises ‘top half’ and ‘bottom half’. While the offense bats to score runs, the defense team fields and attempts ‘run-outs’. The teams switch roles at each declared ‘half’.

Softball equipment includes a softball, bat, gloves and protective gear such as a helmet, shin guards, and a chest protector. The nine players on the field at a time include:

• Pitcher
• Catcher
• First baseman
• Second baseman
• Third baseman
• Shortstop
• Left fielder
• Right fielder
• Center fielder

The popularity of softball lies in the scope to further modify the rules with each game. This allows different groups to display and develop expertise in a variety of field skills. Some of the widely accepted variations include one-ball-one-strike, limited home runs, prohibited stealing of bases and the home-plate-force-out. In the latter, scoring is greatly reduced. Today, the International Softball Federation hosts world championships every four years. The game is now played extensively by men and women across the globe, competitively as well as for recreation.

A MUST Read About The History Of Softball

Another important event in the history of softball was when a fireman decided to limit the game to seven innings lasting about an hour or so. This created the perfect game for his fellow firemen to play between fire call-outs.

Recreation-and-Sports - Baseball EzineArticles

The Truth About the History of Softball by Nathan R Park. The history of softball. Have you ever wondered where it all began? I can tell you that softball originated from Chicago, on Thanksgiving Day, 1887.

THE TRUTH BEHIND THE HISTORY OF SOFTBALL

This is only a short shred of report about softball history. For the full version, revisit the baseball Brainiac page “History Of Softball”. Nathan Richard Park is THE baseball brainiac. There is most to sense about baseball.

Technorati Tags: appalachian, baseball bat, Baseball Gloves

Through the passing of time, the game as well as the equipment of the game of softball have developed to a great extent. Among the various components of the game of softball, the most important ones are the ball itself, gloves, the bat, the jersey, shoes and the protective gear that is so essential for the catchers.

The size of the ball varies according to the codes of the play. Besides being easily distinguishable, the particular ball used for the game has some particular measurements to which the ball must adhere. The permitted circumferences for the international rules of play are 12 inches or 30 centimeters, and 11 inches or 28 centimeters. Often the ball remains enclosed in a layer of white leather, roughly in two pieces. The ball then resembles the shape of the numeric figure of ‘eight’ (8). It is sewn together with a red thread. The material of the core of the softball is made up of long fibers, a mixture of cork and rubber, polyurethane mixture or another material approved by the international organization of softball. The recent invention of the yellow, easily visible optic ball is a landmark achievement in the history of the game.

Gloves and mitts are prime components for those players on the field trying to catch the ball. All players wear gloves and mitts, and the latter is differentiated from the first on the basis of the fact that mitts have an extra padding with no fingers. The bat that is used is usually made of hardwood, metal, or any other materials that the game permits, and is no more than one kilogram in weight, thirty-four inches in length and just over two inches in breadth.

Softball provides detailed information on Softballs, Fastpitch Softball, Softball Equipment, History Of Softball and more. Softball is affiliated with Miken Softball Bats.

Author: Kevin Stith

The Spina Bifida Resource Guide: Softball Equipment

Softball Equipment. Our goal here is to link you with the latest programs and most advanced equipment available. This listing will grow, change and expand over time. EQUIPMENT Colours Wheelchairs PROGRAMS.

Softball Gear » Blog Archive » Softball

Catcher’s Equipment Bag The NO E Catchers Bag was designed by catchers, specifically for Catchers. This bag has all the essential features like shinguard pockets, Hide-A-Way Hooks to hang your mask or glove, bat protectio - Softball.

shdwmare: softball tournament

softball tournament tala’s games are all over..thurs and saturday they had tournaments..they won thurs..but not saturday..they had the worst beat ever..usually its just by one point but this time it was by ten..i don’t think they ate their … even want to finish out this year,but i made her..told her you made a commitment your going to see it through..plus i didn’t pay 100.00 in equipment for you to quit a wk into it just its cutting into your so called social time.

Softball - Under Armour Twin Bill Players Bat Bag

Under Armour Twin Bill Players Bat Bag Under Armours Ultra durable Baseball bag with in-line wheels for easy transport.Large main compartment, zippered helmet compartment, fleece lined valuables pocket, glove pocket and metal zippers.

Technorati Tags: baseball softball equipment, fastpitch softball equipment, softball equipment bags