Home > Teams > By Sport > Softball...

Softball

Softball was invented in Chicago, Illinois in 1887. It was originally meant to be a winter version of baseball to help keep baseball players in shape. Softball has been played under the names indoor baseball, kitten ball, diamond ball, mush ball, and pumpkin ball. The name "softball" dates from 1926. Standard rules were agreed on for softball with the formation of the Amateur Softball Association in 1933.

Softball is very similar to baseball except that it is played with a ball that is less dense than a baseball as well as larger than a baseball (ten to twelve inches and sometimes 16 inches). Other differences include the number of innings (7 in softball vs. 9 in baseball), the dimensions of the field, and some other minor rules variations (which may also vary from fast pitch to slow pitch).

Softball is the most popular participant sport in the United States with almost 60 million people participating at some level each year. The International Softball Federation, located in Plant City, Florida is the the governing body of Softball.

There are currently three forms of softball:

Fast pitch softball - in fast pitch softball the pitcher delivers the ball underhand at high velocity (speeds over 70MPH are not uncommon). Because of the speed of pitching and the difficulty hitting a larger less-dense ball, a fast pitch softball field is typically smaller than slow-pitch fields (on the order of 200 feet from home plate to the center field fence).
Slow pitch softball - as the name would imply, in slow pitch softball the pitcher delivers the ball underhand at a slow velocity. The ball used in slow pitch softball is typically smaller and more dense than its fast pitch counterpart making slow pitch softball a hitters game. Because of this, a slow pitch softball field is typically larger (on the order of 300 feet from home plate to the center field fence). There is also a version of slow pitch softball that uses a sixteen inch ball.
Modified pitch softball - modified pitch softball can be thought of as a combination of slow-pitch and fast-pitch softball. Pitchers deliver the ball without an arc but have limitations on their arm motion (no windmill, etc.). Because of this, pitching speeds are slower than fast pitch softball. There are other rules differences such as allowing bunting and stealing that make the game more like baseball than slow pitch softball.

Professional Softball

There is only one professional softball league, National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), which was formerly known as the Women's Pro Softball League.

NPF News

Subscribe to NPF News in a reader

Subscribe to NPF News by Email

College Softball

Colleges and Universities play softball at all three NCAA levels (NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, and NCAA Division III). For more information on college softball see:

Little League Softball

Little League International provides opportunities for boys and girls ages 5 to 18 to play competitive softball. There are separate divisions for boys softball and girls softball.

Little League Boys Softball Divisions

The boys softball divisions for Little League Softball as defined by Little League International are:

Tee Ball Softball
For boys 5 to 6 years old, with a local option for ages 7 and/or 8-year-olds to participate.
Field: 60-foot diamond with local option for a 50 foot diamond. No pitching.
Minor League Softball
For boys 7-12 years old. May be divided into coach pitch, and player pitch subdivisions.
Field: 60-foot diamond with a 35 foot pitching distance.
Little League Softball
For boys ages 9 to 12 years old but may also be limited to 10, 11, and 12 at the discretion of local authorities.
Field: 60-foot diamond with a 40 foot pitching distance.
Senior League Softball
For boys ages 13 to 16 years old.
Field: 60 foot diamond with 40 foot pitching distance.
Big League Softball
For boys ages 14 to 18 years old.
Field: 60 foot diamond with 40 foot pitching distance.

Little League Girls Softball Divisions

The girls softball divisions for Little League Softball as defined by Little League International are:

Tee Ball Softball
For girls 5 to 6 years old, with a local option for ages 7 and/or 8-year-olds to participate.
Field: 60-foot diamond with local option for a 50 foot diamond. No pitching.
Minor League Softball
For girls 7-12 years old. May be divided into coach pitch, and player pitch subdivisions.
Field: 60-foot diamond with a 35 foot pitching distance.
Little League Softball
For girls ages 9 to 12 years old but may also be limited to 10, 11, and 12 at the discretion of local authorities.
Field: 60-foot diamond with a 40 foot pitching distance.
Junior League Softball
For girls ages 13 to 14 years old.
Field: Uses 60 foot diamond with 40 foot pitching distance.
Senior League Softball
For girls ages 13 to 16 years old.
Field: 60 foot diamond with 40 foot pitching distance.
Big League Softball
For girls ages 16 to 18 years old.
Field: 60 foot diamond with 40 foot pitching distance.

Softball World Series

Little League International hosts four world series events for softball in August of every year:

Little League Softball World Series (for girls ages 11-12) first held in 1974
Junior League Softball World Series (for girls ages 13-14) first held in 1999
Senior League Softball World Series (for girls ages 15-16) first held in 1976
Big League Softball World Series (for girls ages 17-18) first held in 1982

More: Little League Softball World Series Champions

Softball Links

Amateur Softball Association (ASA)
Named by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) as the National Governing Body of softball.
International Softball Congress (ISC)
A non-profit organization for the promotion and administration of men's and boy's fastpitch softball throughout North America.
International Softball Federation (ISF)
The international governing body for softball.
National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA)
The NFCA is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches from all levels of play.
National Softball Association (NSA)
Organization that offers a division of play and a level of competition for youth through adult.
Softball Canada
Softball Canada is recognized by both the International Softball Federation and the Government of Canada as the national sport governing body for softball in Canada.
USA Softball
The official site for USA Softball National Teams including the United States Olympic Softball Team.