Softball rules for beginners

The goal of the game

Two teams take turns batting and playing defense. The team that scores more runs wins. A run is scored when a player safely touches first, second, third and then home plate, in that order. This guide focuses on fastpitch, where the pitcher throws hard underhand, and points out where slowpitch is different.

Innings and outs

• A game is split into innings. In each inning both teams bat once. The visiting team bats first (the top), then the home team (the bottom).
• A team keeps batting until the defense records three outs. Then the teams switch places.
• In standard adult rules, a fastpitch game is seven innings. Youth games vary a lot, and many leagues use time limits or run limits. Check with your league.
• If the score is tied at the end of regulation, many leagues play extra innings, but tiebreaker rules differ, so ask.
• Many leagues end a game early when one team is far ahead (often called a run-ahead or mercy rule). The margin and timing vary, so ask your league.

Pitching in fastpitch

The pitcher throws underhand from the pitcher's circle, usually with a windmill motion. The ball is thrown toward the batter, and the umpire calls each pitch a ball or a strike. Pitching rules about the motion, the feet and the pitching distance are detailed and differ by league and age group, so the umpire and your league's rulebook have the final say.

At the plate

• A pitch in the strike zone, or any pitch the batter swings at and misses, is a strike. A pitch outside the zone that the batter lets go by is a ball.
• Three strikes is a strikeout. Four balls is a walk to first base. The exact shape of the strike zone is defined by each rule set.
• A foul ball lands outside the foul lines. It usually counts as a strike, but with two strikes it normally does not end the at-bat (a foul bunt is the common exception).
• A ball hit into fair territory puts the batter in play, and the batter runs to first base.
• A batter hit by a pitch is usually awarded first base if the batter made an effort to avoid the ball. Details vary by rule set.
• In fastpitch, a dropped third strike can let the batter run to first in some situations. This depends on the rule set, so ask your coach how your league handles it.

How the defense gets outs

• Strikeout: the batter gets three strikes.
• Fly out: a fielder catches a batted ball before it touches the ground.
• Force out: a runner who has to advance is out when a fielder holding the ball touches the base before the runner arrives.
• Tag out: a fielder touches a runner with the ball, or with the glove holding the ball, while the runner is off the base.

Running the bases

A runner is safe while touching a base. On a caught fly ball, runners must return and touch their base before advancing again, which is called tagging up. In fastpitch, runners may steal in most rule sets, but they may not leave the base until the pitcher releases the ball. Leaving early can be called an out or a violation depending on the rules. Many younger leagues limit or change stealing, so ask your coach what applies.

How slowpitch differs

Slowpitch is a different version of the game with the same basic goal. The pitcher throws the ball in a high arc, which makes it easier to hit, so there are usually more hits and more runs. Slowpitch rules commonly restrict bunting and stealing, and many leagues use more fielders than fastpitch. Because these details change from league to league, treat this as a general picture and read your own league's rules.

What changes in youth softball

• Shorter games and time or run limits.
• Different pitching rules for the youngest players, including coach pitch or machine pitch in some divisions.
• Rules about playing time, batting orders and substitutions.
• Some divisions do not keep a formal score at all.

Next, learn who stands where in softball positions explained, pick up the lingo in softball terms for new parents, or browse the softball guides hub.