The Game Of Softball

Softball is a game that is very similar to Baseball with exception to a slightly smaller field and a larger ball. Softball teams have 10 players, one more player than in Baseball team.

Softball has been one of the fastest growing adult team sports in the UK over the past two decades. Beginning with a handful of teams in 1984, the sport now has over 20 leagues and 500 teams located in cities and towns all over the country. Softball is also well entrenched in Jersey, Guernsey and the Republic of Ireland. Until recently, softball enjoyed its major growth in London and south, and around half of all teams are found there. But since the late 1990s the rest of the country has caught up fast.

Teams are often formed like us, through companies, sports clubs, voluntary organisations, schools – or simply groups of friends. There are some single sex teams, but over 90% of slowpitch softball teams are co-ed, or mixed, which provides particular opportunities for women. Most adult players are in their 20s or 30s, but many players carry on into their 50s or even longer.

The game is also beginning to take hold in many schools, colleges and youth organisations in Britain, as an enjoyable summer team sport. Worldwide, softball is played by nearly 50 million people in 125 countries and one format, women’s fastpitch, is an Olympic sport.

For a much more detailed explanation see the "idiot's guide" created by the British Softball Federation.

Slowpitch: This is the most common form, played around the UK by Coed (mixed) teams, men’s and women’ s teams. The clue is in the name - the ball is slowly pitched in underarm slowly for batters to hit.
Fastpitch: Women’s and men’s fastpitch softball is also played domestically in the UK. Fastpitch is a competitive form of the game, where the ball is pitched underarm to the batter at high speed and hitting is more difficult. There are additional aspects to the game, such as bunting and base-stealing, not found in slowpitch. Fastpitch softball is played competitively at international level.

Very recently, junior fastpitch leagues have been created in the UK under the Grass Roots programme. Great Britain has several senior and junior national teams in both formats of softball.

Softball in the UK is governed by the British Softball Federation (BSF) and managed by BaseballSoftballUK. (BSUK). The softball season runs April – September but there is also an indoor form of the sport played during the winter. There are approximately 385 adult teams and 6,900 adult players.

There are three levels of play, in descending order, A, B and C, which are used as guidelines for the numerous leagues and tournaments. Tournaments are a hugely important aspect of the sport in this country, with few weekends going by where there isn’t a tournament somewhere. These offer a chance for teams from around the country to meet up and compete. The climax of the season, are the Slowpitch National Championships held through August.

The essential kit to start playing softball is a pair of trainers with a good grip, e.g. astro turf pimples or specialist baseball cleats, a glove (for your non throwing hand) and a bat. The club has a supply of gloves and bats which are loaned to new players before they decide if they want to purchase their own.

For a much more detailed explanation see the "idiot's guide" created by the British Softball Federation.

	The Game Of Softball

	What Is Softball? Softball is a game that is very similar to Baseball with exception to a slightly smaller field and a larger ball. Softball teams have 10 players, one more player than in Baseball team. Softball has been one of the fastest growing adult team sports in the UK over the past two decades. Beginning with a handful of teams in 1984, the sport now has over 20 leagues and 500 teams located in cities and towns all over the country. Softball is also well entrenched in Jersey, Guernsey and the Republic of Ireland. Until recently, softball enjoyed its major growth in London and south, and around half of all teams are found there. But since the late 1990s the rest of the country has caught up fast. Teams are often formed like us, through companies, sports clubs, voluntary organisations, schools – or simply groups of friends. There are some single sex teams, but over 90% of slowpitch softball teams are co-ed, or mixed, which provides particular opportunities for women. Most adult players are in their 20s or 30s, but many players carry on into their 50s or even longer. The game is also beginning to take hold in many schools, colleges and youth organisations in Britain, as an enjoyable summer team sport. Worldwide, softball is played by nearly 50 million people in 125 countries and one format, women’s fastpitch, is an Olympic sport. For a much more detailed explanation see the "idiot's guide" created by the British Softball Federation. Formats of Softball Slowpitch: This is the most common form, played around the UK by Coed (mixed) teams, men’s and women’ s teams. The clue is in the name - the ball is slowly pitched in underarm slowly for batters to hit. Fastpitch: Women’s and men’s fastpitch softball is also played domestically in the UK. Fastpitch is a competitive form of the game, where the ball is pitched underarm to the batter at high speed and hitting is more difficult. There are additional aspects to the game, such as bunting and base-stealing, not found in slowpitch. Fastpitch softball is played competitively at international level. Very recently, junior fastpitch leagues have been created in the UK under the Grass Roots programme. Great Britain has several senior and junior national teams in both formats of softball. Softball in the UK is governed by the British Softball Federation (BSF) and managed by BaseballSoftballUK. (BSUK). The softball season runs April – September but there is also an indoor form of the sport played during the winter. There are approximately 385 adult teams and 6,900 adult players. There are three levels of play, in descending order, A, B and C, which are used as guidelines for the numerous leagues and tournaments. Tournaments are a hugely important aspect of the sport in this country, with few weekends going by where there isn’t a tournament somewhere. These offer a chance for teams from around the country to meet up and compete. The climax of the season, are the Slowpitch National Championships held through August. What Do I Need To Start Playing? The essential kit to start playing softball is a pair of trainers with a good grip, e.g. astro turf pimples or specialist baseball cleats, a glove (for your non throwing hand) and a bat. The club has a supply of gloves and bats which are loaned to new players before they decide if they want to purchase their own. For a much more detailed explanation see the "idiot's guide" created by the British Softball Federation. Part 1: The Basic Game Part 2: The Playing Area Part 3: Defensive Team Part 4: Pitching Part 5: Batting Part6: Running the Bases