SOFTBALL

1. SOFTBALL

2. History • Softball originated in Chicago on Thanksgiving day in 1887. • A man named George Hancock is said to have invented the sport of softball. • The rules of Softball were published in 1889. (Wikipedia, 2009)

3. Equipment Softball is played using a bat, ball, glove, playing field and 4 bases.

4. 9 POSITIONS IN SOFTBALL

5. SOFTBALL SKILLS • OVERHAND THROW • CATCHING ABOVE & BELOW THE WAIST • CATCHING FLY BALLS • BATTING • BASERUNNING • PITCHING (UNDERHAND)

6. OVERHAND THROW • Purpose – To get the ball to the desired target • Hand and arm position – Secure a firm grip on the ball, raise the arm to shoulder height and bring elbow back • Stance – Place the throwing-arm side of the body away from the target, place your weight on the foot that is the same side as your throwing-arm • Execution – Step toward the target with the foot opposite the throwing hand. Rotate the hips as the throwing arm moves forward. Shift the weight from the rear foot to the forward foot (nearest target) prior to the forward motion of the arm. (Pangrazi, 2007, pg. 678)

7. CATCHING ABOVE THE WAIST • Purpose – To catch the ball being thrown or hit to you that is not on the ground. • Hand and Arm Position – Place your thumbs together with your fingers toward the sky, your elbows bent ready to cushion the force of the ball being thrown • Stance – feet shoulder width apart, knees bent. • Execution – As the ball is coming to you, place your thumbs together, fingers to the sky, elbows bent, feet shoulder width apart, knees bent and eyes on the ball. Watch the ball all the way in and make the catch. (Pangrazi, 2007, pp. 680-681)

8. CATCHING BELOW THE WAIST(GROUND BALLS) • Purpose- To catch a ball that is hit on the ground. • Hand & Arm Position-Hands together with little fingers touching and other fingers pointing toward the ground. Elbows should be bent and arms together. • Stance-Knees bent and seat down. Hands on the ground so the ball does not go between the legs. • Execution-Keep eyes on the ball as it is coming to you, keep your knees bent, seat down, and hands on the ground. (Pangrazi, 2007, pg. 682)

9. CATCHING FLY BALLS • Purpose – To catch a ball hit or thrown in the air (above the shoulders) • Hand and arm position – Thumbs are together and the ball is caught overhead. • Stance – feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent slightly, ready to receive the fly ball. • Execution – The fielder should give with the hands, and keep eyes on the ball continually until the ball hits the glove or hands. The knees are flexed slightly when receiving and aid in giving when the ball is caught. (Pangrazi, 2007, pg. 679)

10. BATTING • Purpose- To hit the ball as far as you can in a space that does not have a fielder • Hand & Arm Position- The left hand is placed lower than the right hand on the bat (Right-handed batters) or the right hand is placed lower than the left hand on the bat (Left-handed batters). The elbows are away from the body. (Pangrazi, 2007, pg. 681)

11. BATTING • Stance- The batter stands with the left side of the body toward the pitcher (right-handed batters) or stand with the right side of the body toward the pitcher ( left-handed batters) • Execution- As the batter swings, a short step toward the direction of the pitcher is made with the foot closest to the pitcher. The bat is then swung level with the ground at the height of the pitch. The eyes are kept on the ball until it is hit. (Pangrazi, 2007, pg. 681)

12. BASE RUNNING • Purpose- To try and get around all 4 bases to score a run while on offense. • Execution- A runner must run as hard as he/she can to first base after hitting the ball. He/she can run past first base without being tagged out. A runner cannot run past 2nd or 3rd base or the fielding team can tag he/she and it is an out. A runner must tag all four bases including home plate for their team to receive a run.

13. PITCHING (Underhand) • Purpose- To get the ball over the plate so the batter can attempt to swing and hit the ball • Hand & Arm Position- A firm grip on the ball, start with your arm hanging down beside your leg, ball in hand. As you begin to pitch, you will bend your elbow and swing your arm backward then forward and release the ball as you come forward with arch on the ball • Stance- Start with both feet together, as you begin to pitch, take a step with the opposite foot than what you throw with. • Execution- Step forward with the opposite foot, bend elbow, swing back then forward and release ball as you swing your arm forward with an arch. (Pangrazi, 2007, pg. 678)

14. Rules of Modified Play in Softball • There will be 6 teams with 6 players on each team. • The home team will play in the field first and wear the jerseys. • Each batter will get a total of 3 pitches. If he/she misses all 3, then that is an OUT. • After 3 outs, the teams will switch and the team that was batting will be in the field. • You CANNOT throw the ball at someone who is running the bases to get them out. You must throw it to the person covering the base.

15. Safety rules • Do not touch the equipment until you are told to do so. • Look around you before you pick up a bat and swing it. • Before you pitch, make sure the batter is ready and looking at you. • Do not “Sling” the bat after you hit it. It is an automatic OUT.

16. Tournament format • Round 1: Field 1 Field 2 Field 3 (Skills Test) 1 x 2 3 x 4 5 x 6 • Field 2: Court 1 Field 2 Field 3 (Skills Test) 1 x 5 2 x 6 3 x 4 • Round 3: Field 1 Field 2 Field 3 (Skills Test) 3 x 5 4 x 6 1 x 2

17. Tournament Teams Team 1: Team 2: Anna, Erin, Grant Chris, Katie, Justin Mary, Chris, Tracey Dr. K, Mrs. Jett, Scott Team 3:Team 4: Amy, Stacey, Katie Kelly, Brittany, Trish, Danny, Brian, Chloe Dawn, Jim, Rachel Team 5:Team 6: Claire, Kevin, Brodie, Todd, Jane, Paul, Matt, Justice, John Chris, Sean, Sally

18. Reference • Pangrazi, R. (2007). Dynamic physical education for elementary school children. San Francisco, CA: Pearson Education, Inc., pp. 676-685. • Wikipedia. (2009). History of softball. December 8, 2009. Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softball#History