Softball - The Latest In Ball Games

A ball game that is generally played as team, softball is very commonly seen in United States and a few other countries. Though the way the game is played is similar to that of baseball, there are some minor differences which make the sport different. Softball was usually clubbed under the category of baseball initially, though now having come of age, it is independent and has a fan following of its own. Softball is usually played between two teams with 9-10 players per team. The match usually lasts for about a couple of hours, and as in other ball games, the players need to wear protective gear bought from one of the leading sports stores, which includes helmets, shin guards, and gloves, and the defensive catcher generally protects his chest with a chest protector. The games are usually officiated by umpires and the number of umpires in a single game is usually two, but can go up to seven if necessary.
Differences between Softball & Baseball
Both the games are usually considered to be in the same category, though there are minor differences. Softball is considered to have descended directly from baseball, hence the similarity, and another very intriguing similarity is that the balls used in both the games are as hard as the other, even though the name ‘softball’ is misleading. The differences are that firstly softballs are larger in size than the baseballs. Secondly, the pitches are not thrown overhand as it is in baseball, rather it is thrown underhand. The size of the diamond on which the softball is played is smaller compared to that of baseball; hence the distance between the center to the home and from the right to the left is shorter than that of baseball.
Playing the Game of Softball
While playing the game of softball, you need to consider some of the important strategies that can help you win the game. The game, usually played with a batter and a bowler, starts only when the umpires declare the game to start by saying “play ball” and is played in a series of seven innings but can sometimes go up to nine. Each innings has each team getting a chance of offense and defense. The batting order is usually fixed at the beginning of the game, and this order is to be followed till the end of the game. The players are located on the field which is divided into two territories, the fair territory and the foul territory. Hitting the softball is the most important part of the game and hence the most important person too in the team is the hitter. Getting the pitched ball right and hitting it hard and to quite a distance is what makes the team a winner.