- A regulation softball in the UK differs greatly than that of a baseball. It is sometimes 50% larger and usually a bright green color.
Softball is played by two teams trading turns at offense at bat and defense in the field. While the offense attempts to advance a runner around all four bases so as to score a run, the defense tries to get players on the opposing team "out" by doing any of the following things:
1.Catching a batted ball in the air before it touches the ground
2.Throwing the ball to first base before the batter reaches it
3. There are events called "force outs" when throwing to a base before a runner who is attempting to get to it will cause the runner to be out. For example, a player is on first and second base. The ball is batted into the playing field. If the defense can get the ball to first, second and/or third base before their respective runners reach the bases, said runners are out.
4.Touching a baserunner with the ball while she is off of a base
5.Pitching three strikes, according to the umpire's judgment, to a batter.
The game of softball in the UK is seven innings long with each inning split into two halves. Each team's half of the inning ends when three of its batters have been ruled out. If, after seven innings, both teams have the same number of runs, the teams continue to play until one of them scores. The home team, which bats last in each inning, has the chance to tie or win the game if the visiting team scores first in extra innings. - The playing field used for softball in the UK is only about 70% that of a regulation baseball field.
According to baseball-almanac.com, the dimensions of a baseball field and a UK softball field differ greatly. In baseball, the distance between bases is 90 feet, the pitching rubber--where the pitcher is positioned and throws to batters from--is 60 feet, 6 inches from the batter's box--where the batter stands to attempt to hit the ball--at home plate and the distance from home plate to the warning track is normally between 350 and 400 feet.
In softball, the distance between bases is between 55 and 60 feet, the pitching rubber is 46 feet from the batter's box at home plate and the distance from home plate to the warning track is only a minimum of 250 feet. - A safety base, or the orange half of the base, is used to avoid potentially-harmful collisions.
In many facets of the game, UK softball does not differ much from the way its played in other areas of the world. However, one main difference arises:
In the UK, what is known as a safety base is used at first base. It is an orange base attached to the normal white base. The safety base came into existence in order to avoid collisions. The runner touches the orange base while the first baseman must touch the white line. Whoever touches their respective area first gets the call his way. - A player slides in an attempt to reach a base before being tagged out.
If the batter hits a foul ball, it counts against him until he has two strikes. When a batter has two strikes--either from hitting a ball in foul territory, swinging and missing or a ball being called a strike by the home plate umpire--a batter can hit an infinite amount of foul balls and still not be out unless one is caught before it touches the ground.
A pitcher must have at least one foot on the ground when he or she pitches. If a pitcher does not have one foot on the ground, it is called a balk and the batter gets to reach first base for free. The pitch must also be delivered underhand.
Some leagues in the UK prohibit the stealing of bases. To steal a base, a runner can leave the base at any time. If the runner is tagged with the ball before reaching the base or making it back to his original base, he is called out. If the runner is not tagged and reaches the base, he is called safe and may stay at his new base.
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