Fastpitch softball - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Fast-pitch softball is a form of softball

Softball

Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...

played commonly by women and men, though coed fast-pitch leagues also exist. The International Softball Federation

International Softball Federation

thumb|Map of member states.|400px|rightThe International Softball Federation is the international governing body for the sport of softball. The ISF is a non-profit corporation recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the General Association of International Sports Federations .The...

(ISF) is the international governing body

Sport governing body

A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...

of softball. The ISF recognizes three pitching styles: fast pitch, "modified" fast pitch, and slow pitch. Fast pitch is considered the most competitive form of softball. It is the form of softball that was played at the Olympic Games

Softball at the Summer Olympics

Softball was introduced as an Olympic sport for women in the 1996 Summer Olympics. On July 11, 2005, the IOC voted to drop baseball and softball from the Olympic program for 2012, a decision that was reaffirmed on February 9, 2006...

in 1996

Softball at the 1996 Summer Olympics

Softball made its first appearance as an official medal sport at the 1996 Summer Olympics. The competition was held at historic Golden Park in Columbus, Georgia. Final results for the Softball competition at the 1996 Summer Olympics:-Medal summary:...

, 2000

Softball at the 2000 Summer Olympics

-Medals:-Schedule:Starting September 17, there will be four preliminary games each day until September 23 for a total of 28 games.Two semi-final games played September 25, with the game for third place same day. The final game for the gold medal played on September 26 at 7:30pm local...

, 2004

Softball at the 2004 Summer Olympics

Softball at the 2004 Summer Olympics was held at the Olympic Softball Stadium in the Helliniko Olympic Complex from August 14 to 23. The United States won the gold while Australia took silver and Japan , the bronze....

, and 2008

Softball at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Softball at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing took place over a ten day period starting August 12 and culminating in the medal finals on August 21. All games were played at the Fengtai Softball Field...

. The fast pitch style is also used in college softball

College softball

College softball is softball as played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education, predominantly in the United States. College softball is normally played by women at the intercollegiate level, whereas college baseball is normally played by men.As with other intercollegiate...

and international competition.

Pitchers throw the ball with an underhand motion at speeds up to 75 miles per hour (120.7 km/h) for women and up to 100 miles per hour (160.9 km/h) for men. Considering the distance between the pitcher and batter

Batting (baseball)

In baseball, batting is the act of facing the opposing pitcher and trying to produce offense for one's team. A batter or hitter is a person whose turn it is to face the pitcher...

(40 to 43 ft (12.2 to 13.1 m)), the equivalent batter reaction time in baseball

Baseball

Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...

would be to a 125 miles per hour (201.2 km/h) pitch from 60 feet (18.3 m). An allstar major league baseball team once played an exhibition game against Eddie Feigner

Eddie Feigner

right|thumbnail|Eddie Feigner in the early 1980s.Eddie "The King" Feigner was an American softball player. Feigner was born in Walla Walla, Washington as Myrle Vernon King...

of the barnstorming softball team "The King and His Court". The only major league player to make contact with a pitch was Rod Carew

Rod Carew

Rodney Cline "Rod" Carew is a former Major League Baseball first baseman, second baseman and coach. He played from 1967 to 1985 for the Minnesota Twins and the California Angels and was elected to the All-Star game every season except his last. In 1991, Carew was inducted into the National...

who hit a foul ball. The game was cut short after four innings due to the major league players embarrassment and the exhibitions never happened again. The reason for this is that a fastball can move up or down in a strike zone and baseball players are only used to seeing a ball that goes down or straight and therefore they will have diffeculties hitting a ball that rises.

The pitching style of fastpitch is different from that of slowpitch softball. Pitchers in fast-pitch softball throw the ball using a "windmill" type of pitch. In this style of pitching, the pitcher begins with his arm at the hip. The pitcher then brings the ball in a circular motion over the head, completes the circle back down at the hip, and snaps the hand. A "modified" fast pitch is identical to a "windmill" pitch except the arm is not brought over the head in a full windmill motion, but instead is brought behind the body and is then thrust directly forward for the release. There are many different pitches which can be thrown, including a two-seam fastball

Two-seam fastball

A two-seam fastball is a pitch in baseball and a variant of the straight fastball. The pitch has the speed of a fastball, but the general movement of a screwball...

, four-seam fastball

Four-seam fastball

A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family...

, changeup

Changeup

A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...

, two different riseball

Riseball

A Dimple is a pitch thrown by a pitcher in fastpitch softball. Upon release by the pitcher, the ball has backspin. The backspin on the ball combined with arm and leg lift causes the ball to rise as it moves towards the batter. Jennie Finch is famous for striking out Major League Baseball...

s, two dropballs, curveball

Curveball

The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...

, offspeed, screwball

Screwball

A screwball , is a baseball pitch that is thrown so as to break in the opposite direction of a slider or curveball. Depending on the pitcher's arm angle, the ball may also have a sinking action....

, knuckleball and more. These pitches can be taught in many different styles, depending on the pitching coach's method and the player's abilities.

The game of fastpitch softball is similar to baseball, and includes stealing bases

Stolen base

In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...

and bunting. Unlike baseball, however, there is no "leading off" - the baserunner can only leave the base when the pitcher releases the ball. Most leagues use the "dropped third strike" rule, which allows the batter to attempt an advance to first base when the catcher

Catcher

Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...

fails to catch the third strike.

Younger players generally play with an 11 inches (27.9 cm) circumference ball, and older players will generally play with a 12 inches (30.5 cm) ball. The surface of the ball has changed over the years from white to a high-visibility "optic" yellow.

Fastpitch Associations

Associations which support fastpitch softball include the International Softball Federation

International Softball Federation

(ISF), Amateur Softball Association

Amateur Softball Association

The Amateur Softball Association is a volunteer, non-profit organization based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was founded in 1933 with a tournament held in Chicago that was organized by Leo Fischer and Michael J. Pauley. The following year the 1934 National Recreation Congress recognized the ASA. ...

(ASA), National Softball Association

National Softball Association

The National Softball Association “is a sporting governing body. The NSA gives softball teams the opportunity to play in qualifying tournaments for State, National Regional and World Series Tournament play. Also in certain NSA qualifying tournaments, teams are able to win a berth into the NSA...

(NSA), Independent Softball Association

Independent Softball Association

The Independent Softball Association is one of four governing bodies for softball in North America. The ISA was founded by Larry Nash with the help of his wife Connie, in 1984 in Shelbyville, Tennessee. The headquarters moved to Winter Haven, Florida in 1997 and to Bartow, Florida in...

(ISA), International Softball Congress

International Softball Congress

The International Softball Congress is a non-profit association for the promotion and administration of men's and boys fastpitch softball throughout North America with athletes coming from all over the world...

(ISC), the USSSA, and PONY Softball

PONY Baseball and Softball

PONY Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization with headquarters in Washington, Pennsylvania. Started in 1951, it is dedicated to helping young people grow into healthier and happier adults, primarily through the organization of baseball and softball leagues...

. Each association plays under their own official rules.

USA Softball

USA Softball was created in 1933 by the ASA. It is still owned and operated by the ASA, and includes the US Men’s, Women’s, Junior Boys’ and Junior Girls’ National Team.

Before the 1996 Summer Olympics, the USA Softball National Team Selection Committee was established to make the final cuts for the team that would represent the US at every international competition. The selected 1996 United States softball team won the olympic gold medal with a 3–0 victory over China

China

Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

in the 1996 games.

The United States women's national softball team

United States women's national softball team

won three consecutive gold medals at the 1996, 2000, and 2004 Summer Olympic Games. In the 2008 olympic games, the gold medal was won by Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

after they defeated the United States. The US team received the silver medal.

History

One of the most important events in softball history occurred when the ASA sent the Connecticut Brakettes

Connecticut Brakettes

The Connecticut Brakettes is a women's fastpitch softball team based in Stratford, Connecticut. The team has won many state, regional, national, and international tournaments .- History :...

of Stratford, Connecticut

Stratford, Connecticut

Stratford is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, located on Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Housatonic River. It was founded by Puritans in 1639....

to compete in ISF Women’s World championship in 1965. The Brakettes were the ASA's first women’s softball team and they finished the competition with a record of 8–3 and a silver medal. After the championship, the Brakettes travelled to many locations around the world to serve as ambassadors for the sport. During the trip, the coaches and players held softball clinics to give a diverse group of people a better understanding of softball.

As the worldwide participation in softball continued to grow, the sport was eventually included in the 1996 Summer Olympic Games at Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...

. The ASA responded by developing a coaching pool consisting of the best coaches in the country along with a selection committee which would recruit the most talented US softball players. The selection committee was responsible for making the final cuts to decide which players would compete for the US team at all international competitions throughout the year. The strategy was successful as the United States won their first olympic gold medal in softball against China with a 3–0 win. This success was followed by two more olympic gold medals and seven world Championships.

The number of Division I softball teams in the US has grown from 222 in 1997 to 277 in 2007. The number of youth teams also increased from 73,567 in 1995 to 86,049 in 2007.

Controversies

In July 2005, IOC members voted 52–52 (with one abstention), to remove softball (along with baseball) from the Olympic program after the 2008 Olympic Games. Softball and baseball needed a majority vote to stay. The two sports were the first to be cut since polo

Polo

Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Sometimes called, "The Sport of Kings", it was highly popularized by the British. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a...

in 1936. One of the reasons softball was considered for elimination from the Olympics was because there was not enough global participation and not enough depth of talent worldwide to merit Olympic status. In the three Summer Olympics which included a softball competition, four countries won medals: the United States, Australia, China and Japan.

In response to the expressed concern that there was not enough talent depth worldwide, the ISF began to introduce the game in places where softball is not traditionally played. For example, the US team donated equipment and hosted coaching clinics in the Middle East, Africa and Europe. The US team's Jessica Mendoza has also delivered equipment and conducted clinics in other countries such as Brazil, the Czech Republic and South Africa.

After softball's elimination from 2012 Olympics became a possibility, the ASA created the World Cup of Softball

World Cup of Softball

The World Cup of Softball is a softball tournament run by the Amateur Softball Association.It is a round robin format, with 6 teams. Each team plays each other once, then the two teams with the best records play in a one-game, winner-take-all championship...

in Oklahoma City

Oklahoma city

Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...

in 2005. This event allows the top countries in the world to compete on a yearly basis. The 2005 World Cup of Softball drew over 18,000 fans around the world for a competition between the top five international softball teams.

The World Cup of Softball was later established as one of the premier events for the sport of softball. At the second World Cup of Softball, the attendance record was broken and the television ratings were higher than in any previous US Softball event on ESPN

ESPN

Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....

and ESPN2

ESPN2

ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...

. The US team expressed hope that the increasing popularity of this event will allow the sport to return to the Summer Olympic Games.

Ball

Softballs are created in many different sizes. In fast pitch softball, most leagues use a ball with a circumference of 12 inches and a weight of 6.25–7.00 ounces. The ball has a leather

Leather

Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...

surface, and may optionally have a raised seam

Seam (sewing)

In sewing, a seam is the join where two or more layers of fabric, leather, or other materials are held together with stitches. Prior to the invention of the sewing machine, all sewing was done by hand...

. Most leagues currently use a high-visibility "optic" yellow layered ball. Some mens leagues still use the white ball. In a few parts of the country, a slightly softer 16 inch circumference ball is also used.

Bats

Bats in fastpitch softball come in various sizes and consist of wood, metal or other composite material

Composite material

Composite materials, often shortened to composites or called composition materials, are engineered or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties which remain separate and distinct at the macroscopic or...

s. In most softball leagues, wooden bats are not allowed because of the risk of injury that may occur if the bat breaks. All bats used in ASA softball competition must have an ASA-approved stamp and be included in a list of approved bat models published by the ASA national office. A fastpitch softball bat may be no more than 34 inches long, 2 1/4 inches in diameter. Also, a "drop" of no more than 12 is allowed. The drop is calculated by taking the length of the bat in inches and subtracting the weight in ounces. Female players tend to use specialized fastpitch bats, while male players typicly prefer slowpitch bats.

Gloves

Gloves are worn by all members of the defensive team and are made in many styles and sizes. The gloves are made with leather or a sturdy fabric. The catcher

Catcher

and first baseman

First baseman

First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...

usually wear mitts

Baseball glove

A baseball glove or mitt is a large leather glove that baseball players on the defending team are allowed to wear to assist them in catching and fielding balls hit by a batter, or thrown by a teammate.-History:...

which include additional padding and no fingers. Gloves are similar to baseball

Baseball

gloves, but softball allows larger sizes up to 14 inches from top to bottom.

Uniforms

Fastpitch softball uniforms usually include a shirt, undershirt, properly fitted under shorts, baseball socks

Baseball Stirrups

Stirrups are uniform socks commonly worn by baseball players up until the mid-1990s, when major-league players began wearing their pants down to the ankles, setting a trend soon picked up by players in minor and amateur leagues. Until then, stirrup socks had been an integral part of the...

, cap, visor and shorts. Baseball cap

Baseball cap

A baseball cap is a type of soft cap with a rounded stiff brim. The front of the cap typically contains designs or logos of sports teams ,...

s and head bands are not mandatory for women and but have to be of the same color if worn. Caps are mandatory for male players. Most female fastpitch softball players wear "sliding shorts" which protect the back of thighs when sliding into bases. Some players may also wear shin splints to protect the area below the knee up to the ankle. Male players wear the long "baseball style" pants. Fast pitch softball shoes may have cleats

Cleat (shoe)

Cleats or studs are protrusions on the sole of a shoe, or on an external attachment to a shoe, that provide additional traction on a soft or slippery surface...

or spikes. Rounded metal or hard plastic spikes are not allowed due to the increased risk of injury to an opponent in a slide.

Batting gloves can also be worn when playing fastpitch or slowpitch softball. Batting gloves are designed to improve a player's grip and to provide protection for batters when they are at the plate. Batting gloves also provide added protection for the hand in the fielding glove when fielding and catching balls. Batting gloves are designed to prevent a player's hands from sweating.

Helmets

Helmets are required in fast pitch softball. There are many different styles of batting helmet

Batting helmet

A batting helmet is the protective headgear worn by batters in the game of baseball or softball. It is meant to protect the batter's head from errant pitches thrown by the pitcher...

, but most have two ear flaps. Any helmet that has been damaged, altered or previously repaired is not permitted for use. The catcher must wear a protective helmet, a face mask and a chest protector.
Aside from the catcher, any other player on the fast pitch softball team may wear a protective mask or face guard. These masks are designed to prevent traumatic facial injuries.

Pitching technique

Softball pitchers at any level require a level of accuracy with their pitches. An accurate pitch is achieved through different techniques which help the pitcher to maintain a certain consistency of body weight and balance. The pitch starts with the grip and ends with a follow through after the ball is released from the hand of the pitcher. An accurate pitch requires skill in six areas: the grip, stance, windup, stride, release and follow trough.

A perfect grip consists of holding the ball firmly with the fingertips, but not too tight. The ball does not need to be "buried" in the hand. In fastpitch softball, there are two types of grips: one that is performed with three fingers and a grip that is performed with four fingers. In the first type of grip, the ball is held with the index finger

Index finger

The index finger, , is the first finger and the second digit of a human hand. It is located between the first and third digits, between the thumb and the middle finger...

, middle finger

Middle finger

The middle finger or long finger is the third digit of the human hand, located between the index finger and the ring finger. It is usually the longest finger...

and ring finger

Ring finger

The ring finger is the fourth digit of the human hand, and the second most ulnar finger, located between the middle finger and the little finger. It is also called digitus medicinalis, the fourth finger, digitus annularis, digitus quartus, or digitus IV in anatomy.- Etymology :According to László A...

. These three fingers lay on the top of a C-seam on the ball, the thumb lies on the bottom of the C-seam, and the little finger is tucked under the ball. The position of the little finger makes the grip difficult to use for players with small hands. As a result, young players and pitchers with small hands will use a four finger grip with the little finger placed directly on the ball. Male pitchers also use a two finger grip.

The pitcher's stance is also important when pitching. In different types of competitions, different rules concerning the stance apply. In college, professional, and Olympic games

Olympic Games

The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...

, pitchers must place both feet on the rubber when starting the pitch. Other competitions require having only one foot on the rubber. The pitcher's feet are placed at a distance that is not larger than the width of the shoulders, with either one foot or both feet on the rubber. A common stance for pitchers is to have the ball of the foot on the same side as the throwing arm (also called the pivot foot) on the front edge of the rubber, and the toes of the alternate foot shoulder width apart and toward the middle or back side of the rubber.

A stride is performed from the beginning stance by rocking back, shifting the weight back to gain momentum and then moving the weight forward onto the ball of the pivot foot. The pitcher then pushes off the rubber with the pivot foot, pivoting that foot in a 30 to 40 degree, clockwise angle as the opposite leg moves out into a stride. The stride leg must land along the "power line," which means that the pitcher’s body is in line with the plate, with the pitcher’s hips facing the third base line. The angle of a pitch can be altered in different ways through the stride. If the pitcher is aiming for the outside corner of the plate, the pitcher will pivot, stride with the opposite foot, and land slightly outside of the “power line”; if the inside corner is aimed, the pitcher will land slightly inside. If the movement is very subtle, the batter will probably not be able to notice the change of angle.

The windup is performed with the throwing arm and happens prior to the pitcher releasing the ball. Throughout the entire pitch, the upper body should remain upright, rather than bent over. The pitcher’s throwing arm begins at the hip. Some pitchers move the throwing arm back as they shift their weight back, but it is not necessary throw an effective pitch. From the hip, the throwing arm moves up in a circle, brushing the ear, and returning to the hip prior to the release. The pitcher’s arm should remain tight to the body to keep control of the pitch. This can be performed because the pitcher’s lower body is pivoting in a straight line.

The release is one of the most important motions for the effectiveness of the pitch. The release technique consists of wrist-snapping and allowing the ball to roll off the fingertips when arm reaches the hip. If the snap also twists the wrist, the ball will move laterally or up and down, which can benefit the pitcher by confusing the batter. The follow through is the last motion of a pitch. This is the point when the pitcher bends the throwing arm at the elbow, and the hand moves upward, finishing in front of the pitcher’s face.