A comparison of baseball and softball can be made as softball is directly descended from baseball and thus contains many similarities; however there are several pronounced differences.
Fastpitch softball is more popular in competitive leagues, especially at the college and international tournament levels, while slowpitch is more popular in recreational leagues where the relative skill levels of different players may vary widely. The different rules of slowpitch maintain a competitive balance for less skilled players by eliminating certain strategies (base stealing and bunting) which require a high level of defensive skill to counter. Additionally, recreational leagues may impose their own ground rules, either for competitive balance or to meet local constraints (a time limit may be imposed on a game to ensure multiple games can be played in one day).
Baseball
*9 innings
*9 inches in circumference ball
*Bats- no longer than 42 inches, made of wood or aluminum
*Field- baseline is 90 feet
Softball
*7 innings
*11 of 12 inches in circumference ball
*Bats- no longer than 34 inches, made of aluminum
*Field- baseline is 60 feet
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Heath Evans charity game
Heath Evans, from the Saints, is hosting a charity softball game on Wednesday, April 28 at Zephyr Field in Metairie. It is featuring more than a dozen of his Saints teammates as they face an All-Star military team. The inaugural Heath Evans Softball Showdown event features a Home Run Derby followed by the seven-inning game. Drew Brees, Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas and David Thomas are among the Saints expected to play.
Proceeds from the game and the raffle will benefit the not-for-profit Heath Evans Foundation, which is dedicated to fostering hope and healing in the lives of children and families affected by sexual abuse.
The game is open to the public. Leading into the event, the Heath Evans Foundation is raffling three fabulous prizes, including the opportunity to help manage the Saints softball team. Raffle tickets are $2 each, with a minimum purchase of five tickets, and are available at www.HeathEvans.org. The first winner gets their choice of the three packages and the second winner chooses between the remaining two prizes. They include:
1) Heath Evans' 2008 Hummer Limited Edition H2
2) The chance to help manage the Saints' softball team at the 2010Heath Evans Softball Showdown in New Orleans. The winner and three guests will have VIP access at the Showdown event, including access to the VIP autograph session, game tickets and a VIP parking pass.
3) Two tickets and pre-game field passes to the Saints 2010 season home opener as a guest of Heath Evans.
"I’m proud that my teammates and friends will participate in the softball game," said Evans, the Saints starting fullback. "It will be a fun game for the players and the fans and we’re raising money for a good cause, one that my wife, Beth Ann, and I strongly believe in. I’m hoping that we can hit the ball and run the bases without embarrassing ourselves!"
Evans hosted a similar charity softball game in February in Palm Beach County and raised more than $100,000. He is very serious about the foundation that bears his name. Started in 2006 to help children who have been sexually abused, it’s something he learned about firsthand because his wife was a victim of sexual abuse as a child. The foundation provides access to a variety of programs, treatments and services in communities with great need and scarce resources. This softball game is another way to bring attention to this problem and help the people and families who suffer from it.
Proceeds from the game and the raffle will benefit the not-for-profit Heath Evans Foundation, which is dedicated to fostering hope and healing in the lives of children and families affected by sexual abuse.
The game is open to the public. Leading into the event, the Heath Evans Foundation is raffling three fabulous prizes, including the opportunity to help manage the Saints softball team. Raffle tickets are $2 each, with a minimum purchase of five tickets, and are available at www.HeathEvans.org. The first winner gets their choice of the three packages and the second winner chooses between the remaining two prizes. They include:
1) Heath Evans' 2008 Hummer Limited Edition H2
2) The chance to help manage the Saints' softball team at the 2010Heath Evans Softball Showdown in New Orleans. The winner and three guests will have VIP access at the Showdown event, including access to the VIP autograph session, game tickets and a VIP parking pass.
3) Two tickets and pre-game field passes to the Saints 2010 season home opener as a guest of Heath Evans.
"I’m proud that my teammates and friends will participate in the softball game," said Evans, the Saints starting fullback. "It will be a fun game for the players and the fans and we’re raising money for a good cause, one that my wife, Beth Ann, and I strongly believe in. I’m hoping that we can hit the ball and run the bases without embarrassing ourselves!"
Evans hosted a similar charity softball game in February in Palm Beach County and raised more than $100,000. He is very serious about the foundation that bears his name. Started in 2006 to help children who have been sexually abused, it’s something he learned about firsthand because his wife was a victim of sexual abuse as a child. The foundation provides access to a variety of programs, treatments and services in communities with great need and scarce resources. This softball game is another way to bring attention to this problem and help the people and families who suffer from it.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Simple rules of the game
Simplified very basic rules for pitching, batting, and base running are as followed:
Pitching
*The pitcher must have both feet on the pitcher’s rubber and can only take one step forward while pitching.
*The ball must be thrown underhand.
*Both hands must be on the ball at the start of the pitch.
Batting
*Batters must follow the same order throughout the whole game
*The batter is out if and when:
a) three strikes have been called
b) a fly ball is caught
c) the batter does not stand in the batter’s box
Base Running
*Runners must touch each base in order
*Runners may overrun 1st base only, all other bases the runner may be tagged and called out if they are off the base.
*Runners can not lead off a base, they must be on base until the ball has left the pitcher’s hand
*After a fly ball has been caught the base runner must tag the occupied base before advancing to the next base
*One base runner can not pass another base runner that is ahead of them.
*A runner is out if:
a. they are tagged with the ball before reaching a base
b. the ball gets to 1st base before the runner
c. they run more than 3 feet out of the base line to avoid being tagged
Pitching
*The pitcher must have both feet on the pitcher’s rubber and can only take one step forward while pitching.
*The ball must be thrown underhand.
*Both hands must be on the ball at the start of the pitch.
Batting
*Batters must follow the same order throughout the whole game
*The batter is out if and when:
a) three strikes have been called
b) a fly ball is caught
c) the batter does not stand in the batter’s box
Base Running
*Runners must touch each base in order
*Runners may overrun 1st base only, all other bases the runner may be tagged and called out if they are off the base.
*Runners can not lead off a base, they must be on base until the ball has left the pitcher’s hand
*After a fly ball has been caught the base runner must tag the occupied base before advancing to the next base
*One base runner can not pass another base runner that is ahead of them.
*A runner is out if:
a. they are tagged with the ball before reaching a base
b. the ball gets to 1st base before the runner
c. they run more than 3 feet out of the base line to avoid being tagged
Monday, March 8, 2010
Example injury within sports
Cardiac Concussion is a rare but possible event. It can be a cause of sudden death in young athletes. It simply is the result of a blunt force impact to the chest directly over the heart that occurs between heart contractions. Injuries impacting this can be from baseballs, softballs, lacrosse balls, pucks, and even a fist. The impacted player does not have a pre-existing heart disease. Since 1998, 130 athletes have died from blunt force injury to the heart. It is a risk for any player who could be impacted in the chest at an increasing speed.
Of course, there are many things you can do to prevent this injury. Some may include: coaches to be trained in CPR and/or first aid, create an emergency plan, use chest protectors while playing, and create a good playing surface.
An example, in baseball or softball, coaching batters in ball avoidance. Batters should learn to turn away from an inside pitch and not open chest to the impact. Pitchers should also be coached in proper fielding positions and ball avoidance when necessary.
Of course, there are many things you can do to prevent this injury. Some may include: coaches to be trained in CPR and/or first aid, create an emergency plan, use chest protectors while playing, and create a good playing surface.
An example, in baseball or softball, coaching batters in ball avoidance. Batters should learn to turn away from an inside pitch and not open chest to the impact. Pitchers should also be coached in proper fielding positions and ball avoidance when necessary.
Monday, March 1, 2010
The basics and most often heard terms
*Ball- a legally pitched ball that does not enter the strike zone (four balls equals a walk)
*Grounder- A ball that is hit on the ground
*Force out- when the runner has to advance to the next base to make room for the following base runner.
*Fly ball- ball hit up in the air to the infield
*On deck- the next batter
*Pop up- ball hit up in the air to the infield
*Strike- term used when a ball is swung at and missed or is called when the ball enters the strike zone and is not swung at all.
*Strike zone- the ball passes the batter over the plate between their chest and knees
The Game
*There are 9 players on a softball team.
*The playing field is divided into the infield and outfield
*The lines between the bases are 60’ apart and when joined they form a “diamond”, inside the baseline is known as the infield
*Outside the baseline but inside the playing field is called the outfield.
*Any ball going outside the 1st or 3rd base line is a foul ball ( runners can not advance and the batter gets another try unless the ball was caught in the air, which translates to an out)
*An official game is 7 innings (a inning is when both teams have had their turn to bat)
*Grounder- A ball that is hit on the ground
*Force out- when the runner has to advance to the next base to make room for the following base runner.
*Fly ball- ball hit up in the air to the infield
*On deck- the next batter
*Pop up- ball hit up in the air to the infield
*Strike- term used when a ball is swung at and missed or is called when the ball enters the strike zone and is not swung at all.
*Strike zone- the ball passes the batter over the plate between their chest and knees
The Game
*There are 9 players on a softball team.
*The playing field is divided into the infield and outfield
*The lines between the bases are 60’ apart and when joined they form a “diamond”, inside the baseline is known as the infield
*Outside the baseline but inside the playing field is called the outfield.
*Any ball going outside the 1st or 3rd base line is a foul ball ( runners can not advance and the batter gets another try unless the ball was caught in the air, which translates to an out)
*An official game is 7 innings (a inning is when both teams have had their turn to bat)
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