Basic Rules
This is the number of players on the field for one team in softball
Answer: What is 9?
This is the distance between bases in standard softball.
Answer: What is 60 feet?
This infielder is responsible for covering second base on most steal attempts from first.
Answer: Who is the second baseman?
This type of softball has raised seams for better grip and is commonly used in fastpitch.
Answer: What is a fastpitch softball?
A legally bunted ball that pops up and is caught before hitting the ground results in this type of out.
Answer: What is a caught foul tip (or pop-out bunt)?
This is how many strikes make an out.
Answer: What is 3?
This is the distance from the pitcher’s mound to home plate in fastpitch softball.
Answer: What is 43 feet?
This outfielder typically has priority on fly balls hit to the gaps and is considered the “captain” of the outfield.
Answer: Who is the center fielder?
This part of the bat must remain within regulated diameter limits, typically no more than 2 1/4 inches.
Answer: What is the barrel?
This baserunning violation occurs when a runner leaves the base too early on a pitch in fastpitch.
Answer: What is leaving early?
This is the maximum number of outs per half inning
Answer: What is 3?
This pitch spins downward sharply due to forward rotation.
Answer: What is a drop ball?
On a bunt defense to the first-base side, this player usually fields the ball while the pitcher covers first.
Answer: Who is the first baseman?
This measurement of a bat equals its length minus its weight and affects swing speed.
Answer: What is drop weight?
This type of out occurs when a fielder touches a base with the ball before a forced runner arrives.
Answer: What is a force out?
This is what happens when a batter hits the ball and reaches first base safely
Answer: What is a base hit?
This rule allows a team to end the game early if they are ahead by a large margin.
Answer: What is the mercy rule?
In a standard double-play ball hit to the left side, this player initiates the pivot by throwing to second.
Answer: Who is the shortstop?
This certification stamp ensures a bat meets performance standards set by governing bodies like USA Softball.
Answer: What is a USA Softball (ASA) stamp?
This advanced stat measures a batter’s ability to reach base, including hits, walks, and hit-by-pitches.
Answer: What is on-base percentage (OBP)?
This rule requires a runner to leave the base only after the pitch reaches the batter in fastpitch softball.
Answer: What is the look-back rule?
This strategic defensive alignment shifts players to one side based on a batter’s tendencies.
Answer: What is a defensive shift?
In a slap-hitter defensive alignment, this infielder often plays in and toward the baseline to cut off soft hits and force plays at home.
Answer: Who is the third baseman?
This internal bat feature reduces vibration and improves energy transfer on contact.
Answer: What is a vibration dampening system (or connection piece)?
This rare defensive play involves recording three outs in a single continuous play without errors.
Answer: What is a triple play?