Who invented fast pitch softball

According to the official rules developed early in the history of softball, and eventually defined by the International Softball Federation, there are nine players on the field at a time.

The players take the positions of pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, shortstop, third baseman, and outfielder. Usually, there are three outfielders holding the positions of right fielder, left fielder, and center fielder. However, slow pitch softball allows for a fourth person in the outfield. Similar to baseball, the team with the most runs at the end of the seventh inning is named the winner.

However, if the teams are tied at the end of the seventh inning, the game can go into extra innings, until the tie is broken. Today, softball is one of the most popular sports in the country, and an estimated 40 million Americans engage in at least one softball game each year. Because it can be played on either a field or an indoor arena, softball games are played year round and involve teams with players as young as 8 years old and some players over 60 years in age.

Fast pitch allows two main underhand pitching deliveries; one that involves an entire revolution and the other where the pitchers arm comes back and then forward. Slow pitch requires the pitcher to lob the ball underhanded with an arc that reaches a minimum height of 1. A modified fast pitch allows underhand deliveries but the arm must not make a complete revolution around the shoulder socket.

Internationally, fast pitch is the dominant game. In the United States, slow pitch is played by millions of people in recreational leagues. Adult softball bats are used in all disciplines of the game. World championships in fast pitch softball were first held in for women and for men. Slow-pitch world championships began in , and the competition resumed in Florida USA in June of The first world competition for junior men and women was held in and a World Cup for age under girls began in The ISF now counts national federations as members.

History of Softball in New Zealand The history of softball in New Zealand dates back to when the game was first played as a recreation by visiting American sailors. Hancock dubbed the game "indoor baseball", even though the game went by indoor baseball, kitten ball, and other various names too.

Today, softball has seven 7 governing bodies, two sports Slow Pitch and Fastpitch , and more than 40 million participants per year. Who are the best Fastpitch players of all-time? So, next time you're watching a football game on Thanksgiving, keep your eyes out for the birth of a new game. Your name could be itched in history with George Hancock.

Remember, if you ever have any softball bat related questions, give our friendly Bat Experts a call at You may also shoot them an email at experts justbats. Don't forget, we're here for you from click to hit! Making matters even more confusing, some high school and college softball teams were playing slowpitch in the s, particularly in the Southeastern U.

Today, girls all over the U. States that only offered slowpitch twenty years ago now boast some of the most competitive fastpitch teams in the country: five of the eight teams that played in the college tournament this past weekend were from the South.

Teams from schools in the Northeast and the Midwest are also getting stronger, and the sport continues to attract new fans in those regions. Erica Westly is a journalist who lives in Tucson, Arizona. You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser and improve your visit to our site.