The New York Clippers were a professional softball team based in Mount Vernon, New York who played in the American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL) in 1977. The Clippers played for only one year and disbanded after the 1977 season.
105-534: During the late 1970s and early 1980s, several men's professional slow-pitch softball leagues were formed in the United States to build on the growth and talent in the booming men's amateur game during this period. The American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL) was the first such league, launching in an era of experimentation in professional sports leagues. The APSPL was formed in 1977 by former World Football League executive Bill Byrne , who would go on to form
210-408: A "double-header". Because of the speed of these games, they were very popular with spectators. During those years, the women's games were popular and considered fun to watch but the real draws were the men's games. Pitchers that could hurl the ball in excess of 85 mph at a batter 46 feet away could strike out 15 to 20 batters a game. To make things even more difficult, the underhand delivery meant
315-417: A ball, a broom handle serving as a bat. This first contest ended with a score of 41–40. The ball, being soft, was fielded barehanded. Hancock is credited as the game's inventor for his development of a 17-inch ball and an undersized bat in the next week. The Farragut Club soon set rules for the game, which spread quickly to outsiders. Envisioned as a way for baseball players to maintain their skills during
420-435: A brief stoppage at any time when the ball is not in play (called a time out), or immediately following a play once its outcome is clear. The game is played in usually seven innings . Each inning is divided into a top half , in which the away team bats and tries to score runs, while the home team occupies the field and tries to record three outs ; then a bottom half , when the teams' roles are reversed. Some leagues play with
525-414: A catcher must have a strong arm and a quick throw. The catcher is the brains of the team, and carries it as a whole. The game of fastpitch softball is similar to baseball, and includes stealing bases and bunting . Unlike baseball, however, there is no "leading off" – the baserunner can only leave the base when the pitcher releases the ball. Most leagues use the " dropped third strike " rule, which allows
630-482: A foul ball does result in a strikeout. In some associations and leagues, bunting is not allowed and results in an out. Also, if a player has two strikes, swinging and partially hitting the ball can result in an out if the catcher manages to catch the tipped ball. The batter attempts to swing the bat and hit the ball fair (into the field of play). After a successful hit the batter becomes a base runner (or runner) and must run to first base. The defense attempts to field
735-413: A line drive is better than a ground ball. Fly balls come off the bat at a launch angle of 25–50° and these are good for power hitters. Fly balls are typically what a home run is made of. A pop up's launch angle is anything greater than 50°. There is never really an apparent reason to hit a fly ball, the best case scenario would be to foul it off out of play in a battle at the plate. It is always better to hit
840-475: A line drive than a ground ball, especially as the defensive game gets more competitive. It is always best to find a gap rather than hit it right at the defensive players. Associations which support fastpitch softball include: Each association plays under its own official rules. USA Softball was created in 1933 by the American Softball Association (ASA). It is still owned and operated by
945-493: A majority vote to stay. The two sports were the first to be cut since polo in 1936. One of the reasons softball was considered for elimination from the Olympics was because there was not enough global participation and not enough depth of talent worldwide to merit Olympic status. In the three Summer Olympics which included a softball competition, four countries won medals: the United States, Australia, China and Japan. In response to
1050-456: A mass between 5 and 5 + 1 ⁄ 4 ounces (142–149 g). ) The ball is covered in two pieces of leather or similar synthetic covering that are roughly the shape of a figure-8 and sewn together along a continuous seam. The core of the ball may be made of long fiber kapok , a mixture of cork and rubber , a polyurethane mixture, or another approved material. Before 1993, white balls were standard at all levels of play. In that year,
1155-404: A mass between 6.25 and 7.0 oz (177 and 198 g), while children under 12 use a ball with a circumference of 11 ± 0.125 in ( 27.9 ± 0.3 cm ) with a mass between 5.875 and 6.125 oz (166.6 and 173.6 g). A 12-inch circumference ball is generally used in slow pitch. (For comparison, a baseball is 9 to 9 + 1 ⁄ 4 inches (229–235 mm) in circumference and has
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#17328770906511260-441: A new, fluorescent optic yellow colored ball was first used in college softball. Yellow softballs have become the standard for all levels of play; white balls are also still allowed but are very uncommon today. In Chicago , where softball was invented, it remains traditional to play a variant of slow-pitch with a ball 16 inches (41 centimeters) in circumference . The fielders do not wear gloves or mitts. A 16-inch softball when new
1365-565: A possibility, the ASA created the World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City in 2005. This event allows the top countries in the world to compete on a yearly basis. The 2005 World Cup of Softball drew over 18,000 fans around the world for a competition between the top five international softball teams. The World Cup of Softball was later established as one of the premier events for the sport of softball. At
1470-447: A reduced number of innings or with a time limit, rather than the traditional seven innings. To start play, the offense sends a batter to home plate . The batting order must be fixed at the start of the game, and players may not bat out of turn. The defense's pitcher stands atop the rubber and pitches the ball towards home plate using an underhand motion. In fast pitch, the pitcher is allowed to take one step back prior to releasing
1575-469: A shorter version of baseball pants. At the back of the uniform, an Arabic numeral from numbers 0 through 99 must be visible. Numbers such as 02 and 2 are considered identical. Also, on the back of the uniform's players' names are optional. Fastpitch softball Fastpitch softball , or simply fastpitch , is a form of softball played by both women and men. While the teams are most often segregated by sex, coed fast-pitch leagues also exist. Considered
1680-434: A smaller barrel, which reduces mass and allows higher swing speed. Although there are a variety of bats used, there are several that are banned due to performance enhancement. For example, with a thinner wall, the ball recoils faster off the bat, allowing it to travel further. Many bats may be "doctored" or "juiced" by being end loaded, shaved, or painted. End loading of a cap refers to the addition of weight manually placed at
1785-457: A solid season included Larry Chiapetta (528, 12 HRs, 42 RBIs) and John Dunn (.525 BA). The true story of the season is that there were essentially two Clippers teams in 1977. More than halfway through the season, on July 29, with 20 games to go, team General Manager Steve Bernheim placed the bulk of the second-place team on waivers and team manager Strat Scarlotos left with the players. Poor attendance had led to team owner Sandy Scheman asking
1890-455: Is a contrast-colored "double base" or "safety base" intended to prevent collisions between the first baseman and the runner. The runner runs for the foul portion of the double base after hitting the ball while the fielding team tries to throw the ball to the fair portion before the runner reaches the safety base. However, not all softball diamonds have these safety bases and they are much more common in women's softball than in men's. The double base
1995-499: Is a direct descendant of Hancock's original game. Defensive players are not allowed to wear fielding gloves. Sixteen-inch softball is played extensively in Chicago, where devotees such as newspaper columnist Mike Royko consider it the "real" game, and New Orleans. In New Orleans, sixteen-inch softball is called "Cabbage Ball" or "batter ball" and is a popular team sport in area elementary and high schools. The first cork-centered softball
2100-405: Is achieved through different techniques which help the pitcher to maintain a certain consistency of body weight and balance. The pitch starts with the grip and ends with a follow through after the ball is released from the hand of the pitcher. An accurate pitch requires skill in six areas: the grip, stance, windup, stride, release and follow through. A perfect grip depends on which pitch the pitcher
2205-403: Is also recorded any time the batter does not swing at a pitch that crosses home plate within an area known as the strike zone . In fast pitch, to be within the strike zone, the pitch must cross over home plate, and as it crosses it must be above the knees and slightly below the shoulders (roughly the armpit or the shirt logo). The strike zone therefore varies from batter to batter. In slow pitch,
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#17328770906512310-420: Is also used for wheelchair softball. The bat used by the batter can be made of wood, aluminum, or composite materials such as carbon fiber. Sizes may vary but they may be no more than 34 inches (86 cm) long, 2.4 inches (6 cm) in diameter, or 38 ounces (1.1 kg) in mass. The standard barrel diameter for both slow pitch and fast pitch softball bats is 2 + 1 ⁄ 4 inches. Many players prefer
2415-399: Is more complex, as particular situations (number of outs and positions of base-runners) and particular batters call for different positioning of fielders and different tactical decisions. The defense may decide to allow a run if it can achieve one or multiple outs. The playing field is divided into fair territory and foul territory . Fair territory is further divided into the infield , and
2520-691: Is pitched overhand on what they call a 'mound'. A baseball mound is typically a pile of dirt with a rectangular pitching rubber on top, where the pitcher will then throw overhand and downward to the batter. The Original Softball Gloves were Bare Hands: In the early days of softball, players often played bare-handed or with rudimentary gloves. It wasn't until the sport evolved that manufacturer started creating gloves tailored for softball's larger ball size. Softball Pitching Styles were originally overhand: While modern softball emphasizes underhand pitching, early games allowed overhand throws. The First Softball Uniforms included dresses: In women's softball leagues during
2625-459: Is played competitively at club levels, the college level, and the professional level . The game was first created in 1887 in Chicago by George Hancock . There are two rule sets for softball generally: slow-pitch softball and fastpitch . Slow-pitch softball is commonly played recreationally, while women's fastpitch softball was a Summer Olympic sport and can be played professionally . Softball
2730-454: Is required in the U-18 Women's Softball World Cup . The infield consists of the diamond and the adjacent space in which the infielders (see below) normally play. The outfield is the remaining space between the baselines and between the outfield fence and the infield. The infield is usually "skinned" (dirt), while the outfield has grass in regulation competitions. Near the center of the diamond
2835-417: Is rough and hard, with hand and finger injuries to fielders frequent if they do not "give" when receiving a ball, but the ball "breaks in" slightly during a game and continues to soften over time with continued play. A well-broken-in ball is called a mush ball and is favored for informal "pick-up" games and when playing in limited space, such as a city street (because the ball does not go as far). A 16-inch ball
2940-486: Is smaller than the catcher's, typically 12 inches to 13 inches for fast pitch softball or 12 to 15 inches for slow pitch. An infielder's glove is the smallest, typically from 11.5 inches to 13 inches. A pitcher's glove is typically 11.5 to 12.5 inches for fast pitch or 11.5 to 13 inches for slow pitch. No part of the glove is allowed to be the same color as that of the ball, including that of its seams. Pitchers are also not allowed to have any white on their gloves including
3045-405: Is the pitching plate, or colloquially "rubber". In fastpitch, a circle 16 feet (4.9 meters) in diameter known as the pitching circle is marked around the pitching plate. A field is officially required to have a warning track between 15 and 12 feet (4.6 and 3.7 meters) from the outfield fence. However, if the game is being played on a field larger than required, no warning track is required before
3150-452: Is throwing. For a normal fastball, it is beneficial to hold the ball firmly with your fingertips, but not so that the ball is pushed deep into your palm of your hand. In fastpitch softball, there are several types of grips for various pitches. There is not one correct way to hold or throw a pitch, it all depends on the pitcher. Some grips are easier for individuals due to the size of their hand while others find certain grips more difficult. This
3255-403: Is typically 11 or 12 inches (28 or 30 centimetres) in circumference, though this also depends on specifics of the competition. Softball rules vary in certain aspects from those of baseball. The game moves at a faster pace than traditional baseball due to the field being smaller and the bases and the fielders being closer to home plate. Softball is pitched underhand from flat ground, whereas baseball
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3360-416: Is usually composed of a dirt or brick dust infield that contains the shape and running areas of a diamond and a grass outfield . However, the field can consist of other solid and dry surfaces such as artificial turf or asphalt. There are four bases on the infield: First base , second base , third base , and home plate . The bases are arranged in a square and are typically 60 feet (18 m) apart. Near
3465-461: Is why younger pitchers who have not developed into their normal hand size start with more basic grips such as the fastball. The main pitches involved in fastpitch softball are as follows: fastball, change-up, curveball, drop ball, and rise ball. Other pitches include both the drop curve, and well as the drop screw, and the backdoor curve. The pitcher's stance is also important when pitching. In different types of competitions, different rules concerning
3570-517: The 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia , US. In America, the ASA responded by developing a coaching pool consisting of the best coaches in the country along with a selection committee which would recruit the most talented US softball players. The selection committee was responsible for making the final cuts to decide which players would compete for the US team at all international competitions throughout
3675-476: The 2020 Summer Olympics held in 2021. Other sanctioning bodies of softball are AAU, NSA, PONY, Babe Ruth League , ASA , ISC, USSSA and Triple Crown. Fastpitch softball is played between two teams on a large field, with nine players (in 10u and above; 8u and below is usually played with ten players on a field at once) from one team on the field at a time. Slow-pitch softball is played with ten fielders but can be played with nine if needed. The softball field
3780-707: The Detroit Caesars were paying former Detroit Tigers Norm Cash and Jim Northrup . New York struggled to a 20-36 (.357) regular season record but advanced to the playoffs having finished second in the eastern division to the Baltimore Monuments . Baltimore beat the Clippers 2-0 (15-14, 10-9) in the best of three first-round of the APSPL playoffs. The Monuments would advance to the APSPL World Series, losing 4-0 to
3885-569: The Detroit Caesars with Mike Nye of Detroit honored as series MVP. Benny Holt (.690, 89 HRs, 187 RBIs) of the Chicago Storm won the triple crown and the inaugural league MVP award. Frank Cammailere (.520, 16 HRs, 54 RBIs) made the all-pro team for 1977 for New York. Contributing were Gary Richter (587, 24 HRs, 71 RBIs) who won a Player of the Week award, Mike Foley (.585, 32 HRs, 85 RBIs) and Jim Galloway (.455, 26 HRs, 58 RBIs). Other players who had
3990-610: The Women's Professional Basketball League . Former New York Yankees player Whitey Ford was brought on to serve as league commissioner. New York home games were played at Memorial Stadium in Mount Vernon, and the Clippers had signed local softball star, the "King of Slow Pitch," Jim Galloway. The team had offered Ron Swoboda , formerly of the New York Mets , the managerial position but he declined after comparing his salary offer to those
4095-424: The outfield . The field is defined by foul lines that meet at a right angle at home plate . The minimum length of the baselines varies classification of play (see below for official measurements). A fence running between the baselines defines the limits of the field; distance from home plate to the fence varies by field. The widest part of the field is the distance between the foul poles , which are erected where
4200-661: The 16-inch (41 cm) ball used by the Farragut club, and eventually the Minneapolis ball prevailed, although the dimensions of the Minneapolis diamond were passed over in favor of the dimensions of the Chicago one. Rober may not have been familiar with the Farragut Club rules. Fire Station No. 19 in Minneapolis, Rober's post from 1896 to 1906, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in part for its association with
4305-501: The 1978 all-APSPL squad with Trenton. Jim Galloway of the Clippers is a member of the American Softball Association Hall of Fame, inducted in 1985. Softball Softball is a popular variation of baseball , the difference being that it is played with a larger ball, on a smaller field, and with only underhand pitches (where the ball is released while the hand is primarily below the ball) permitted. Softball
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4410-629: The ASA, and includes the USA Men's, Women's, Junior Boys' and Junior Girls' National Team. In addition, it also oversees 150,000 amateur teams nationwide. There are 15 players on the USA Softball roster along with 3 replacement players. USA Softball offers recreational, league, tournament and National Championship play for fast pitch softball. Before the 1996 Summer Olympics, the USA Softball National Team Selection Committee
4515-697: The Amateur Softball Association sent the Connecticut Brakettes of Stratford, Connecticut , to compete in the International Softball Federation's (ISF) Women's World championship in 1965. The Brakettes were the ASA's first women's softball team and they finished the competition with a record of 8–3 and a silver medal. After the championship, the Brakettes travelled to many locations around the world to serve as ambassadors for
4620-463: The Bug" 7. Follow Through and Finish. There are many drills as well that can help aid in the advancing of one's mechanisms including hitting of a tee and soft toss drills. The swing must be very concise and compact since the ball is coming very fast and there is little time to react. Hitting is also an important aspect of softball. Hitters will approach the plate based on a very thought out line up assigned by
4725-539: The Farragut Boat Club at a gathering to hear the outcome of the Yale University and Harvard University football game. When the score was announced and bets were settled, a Yale alumnus threw a boxing glove at a Harvard supporter. The Harvard fan grabbed a stick and swung at the rolled-up glove. George Hancock , a reporter there, called out "Play ball!" and the game began, with the boxing glove tightened into
4830-563: The United States by 1930. By the 1930s, similar sports with different rules and names were being played all over the United States and Canada . A tournament held in 1933 at the Chicago World's Fair spurred interest in the game. By 1936, the Joint Rules Committee on Softball had standardized the rules and naming throughout the United States. Sixteen-inch softball , also sometimes referred to as "mush ball" or "super-slow pitch" and
4935-488: The aforementioned data could decrease shoulder forces, thus translating to lower rates of time-loss injury in this group of athletes. The fastest pitch on record was thrown by Eddie Feigner of "The King and His Court" who was clocked at ⁿ90 mph. Feigner was at his best in the 1950s, and it is doubtful if this figure is correct. The fastpitch swing can be broken down into seven components: 1. Stance 2. Grip 3. Bat Position 4. Shift of Weight 5. Hand Position 6. "Squishing
5040-413: The arm at the hip. A common way to be taught how to pitch is using the motions, 'repel', 'rock', 'kick', 'drag', 'toss'. The pitcher then brings the ball in a circular motion over the head, completes the circle back down at the hip, and snaps the hand. A "modified" fast pitch is identical to a "windmill" pitch except the arm is not brought over the head in a full windmill motion, but instead is brought behind
5145-406: The ball and may throw the ball freely between players, so one player can field the ball while another moves to a position to put out the runner. The defense can tag the runner, by touching the runner with the ball while the runner is not on a base. The defense can also touch first base while in possession of the ball; in this case it is sufficient to beat the batter to first base and an actual tag of
5250-420: The ball during the forward movement. The batter attempts to hit the pitched ball with a bat , a long, round, smooth stick made of wood , metal or composite . If the pitcher throws three strikes against a batter, then the batter is out and the next batter in the order comes up to bat. A strike is recorded any time a batter swings at and misses a pitch or when a batter hits a ball foul (out of play). A strike
5355-444: The ball must land on a carpet or marked area behind the plate, therefore standardizing the strike zone. A pitch outside the strike zone is a ball . If the batter reaches four balls, the batter is awarded the first base in what is known as a "walk". The umpire behind home plate is the sole arbiter of balls and strikes. A foul ball may or may not result in a strikeout dependent upon what association and local league rules. However, bunting
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#17328770906515460-456: The ball was rising as it approached the plate and a talented pitcher could make the ball perform some baffling aerobatics on its journey to the batter's box. The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) was formed in 1934 and held a National tournament each year to determine the best softball team in America. Soon there were state and regional tournaments all over the country selecting teams to vie for
5565-511: The ball with an underhand motion at speeds up to 77 miles per hour (124 km/h) for women. Monica Abbott set this record while playing with the Chicago Bandits in June of 2012. The pitching style of fastpitch is different from that of slowpitch softball. Pitchers in fast-pitch softball usually throw the ball using a "windmill" type of movement. In this style of pitching, the pitcher begins with
5670-405: The bases. Catchers can also "frame" pitches by pulling the ball towards the center of the plate to convince the umpires to call the pitch a strike. Catchers are protected by a chest guard, helmet, mouth guard, leg protectors, and a specialized mitt. This is due to the proximity of the batters to the catcher. Catchers are responsible for throwing runners out when they try to steal bases, meaning that
5775-439: The batter is unnecessary. A runner is said to be "thrown out" when the play involves two or more defensive players. Runners generally cannot be put out when touching a base, but only one runner may occupy a base at any time and runners may not pass each other. When a ball is batted into play, runners generally must attempt to advance if there are no open bases behind them; for example, a runner on first base must run to second base if
5880-430: The batter puts the ball in play. In such a situation, the defense can throw to the base that the lead runner is attempting to take (a force out ), and the defense can then also throw to the previous base. This can result in a multiple-out play: a double play is two outs, while a triple play , a very rare occurrence, is three outs. Runners with an open base behind them are not forced to advance and do so at their own risk;
5985-400: The batter to attempt an advance to first base when the catcher fails to catch the third strike. Fast pitch softball became a very popular sport in the US during the 1930s and 1940s. Commercial and semi-pro leagues sprang up all over the country in large cities and small towns alike. Both men's and women's leagues were popular and it was not unusual for both to be playing on the same night in
6090-553: The body and is then thrust directly forward for the release. Another type of pitching movement is the "figure 8". With this style, the ball is not brought over the head at all but down and behind the body and back in one smooth motion tracing out a figure eight. There are many different pitches which can be thrown, including a two-seam fastball , four-seam fastball , changeup , two different riseballs , two dropballs, curveball , offspeed, screwball , knuckleball and more. These pitches can be taught in many different styles, depending on
6195-435: The body to keep control of the pitch. This can be performed because the pitcher's lower body is pivoting in a straight line. The release is one of the most important motions for the effectiveness of the pitch. The release technique consists of wrist-snapping and allowing the ball to roll off the fingertips when arm reaches the hip. If the snap also twists the wrist, the ball will move laterally or up and down, which can benefit
6300-422: The center of this square is the pitcher's circle , and within the circle is the "rubber", a small flat rectangular plate a foot and a half in length. The rubber distance from the plate in fastpitch can be as short as 35 feet for 10u players up to 43 feet for ages 14 and older. In slow pitch softball, the rubber distance can be 43, 46 or 50 feet depending on age level and the league one is playing in. The object of
6405-416: The coach. They will have a helmet and a bat made out of a specific composite material based on the hitter's preference and contact styles. An important technique to remember about hitting is the launch angle that the ball takes off of the bat at contact. The launch angle for a ground ball is anything less than 10° while a line drive is 10–25°. These launch angles are best for slap hitters or contact hitters, and
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#17328770906516510-420: The coveted National Championship. Competition was fierce with teams competing not only on the field but in recruiting the best "fire baller" around. It was not unusual for a talented pitcher to be recruited by the winning team after his team was eliminated from a tournament. It was rumored that some of these "amateurs" were making fair living from playing softball. Fast pitch softball started to lose popularity in
6615-441: The defense from recording multiple force outs by deliberately dropping an easy catch. Offensive strategy is mostly just to hit the ball skillfully to let the batter reach base and advance other runners around the bases to score runs. The count of balls and strikes indicates how aggressive the batter should be. The offense may try to sacrifice , with the batter deliberately making an out in order to advance runners. Defensive strategy
6720-403: The defense must tag such runners directly to put them out rather than tagging the base. A ball hit in the air and caught before hitting the ground, in fair or foul territory, puts the batter out. A fly ball is a ball hit high and deep, a pop fly is a ball hit high but short, and a line drive is a ball hit close to the horizontal. After the catch, runners must return to their original bases; if
6825-400: The defense throws the ball to that base before the runner returns, the runner is out as well, resulting in a double play. A runner who remains on the base until the ball is touched, or returns to the base ( tags up ) after the catch, may try to advance to the next base, at the risk of being tagged out between bases. As in baseball, the infield fly rule applies in some game situations to prevent
6930-446: The defensive catcher. Also cleats, sliding shorts, face masks and knee sliders may be worn for softball. Despite the sport's name, the ball is not actually soft, though it does have a lower density and greater coefficient of restitution than a baseball. The size of the ball varies according to the variety played and age of the participants. The circumference for fastpitch for adults is 12 ± 0.125 in ( 30.5 ± 0.3 cm ), with
7035-433: The end of the barrel to distribute more weight at the tip. Shaving bats require machine use in order to remove the inner walls of the bat to improve elasticity. Lastly, illegal bats may be painted to resemble legal ones. All defensive players wear fielding gloves, made of leather or similar material. Gloves have webbing between the thumb and forefinger, known as the "pocket". Gloves used in softball are typically larger than
7140-638: The expressed concern that there was not enough talent depth worldwide, the ISF began to introduce the game in places where softball is not traditionally played. For example, the US team donated equipment and hosted coaching clinics in the Middle East, Africa and Europe. The US team's Jessica Mendoza has also delivered equipment and conducted clinics in other countries such as Brazil, the Czech Republic and South Africa. After softball's elimination from 2012 Olympics became
7245-580: The foul lines meet the fence and are about 310 to 420 feet (94 to 128 m) apart depending on the length of the foul lines. Home plate is one corner of a diamond with bases at each corner. The bases are cushions 15 inches (38 cm) square, of canvas or a similar material, and not more than 5 inches (13 cm) thick. The bases are usually securely fastened to the ground. The bases are numbered counterclockwise as first base, second base, and third base. Often, but not always, outside first base (that is, in foul territory) and adjacent and connected to it, there
7350-456: The game is to score more runs (points) than the other team by batting (hitting) a ball into play and running around the bases, touching each one in succession. The ball is a sphere of light material, covered with leather or synthetic material. It is 11 to 12 inches (28–30 cm) (or, rarely, 16 in or 41 cm ) in circumference. The game is officiated by one or more neutral umpires . Players and umpires are generally free to ask for
7455-637: The majority of kinematic parameters have low magnitudes and vary among pitchers during the windup phase. In a follow-up study, Werner et al. examined the parameters of the second and third phases, which they termed the "delivery phase". They found 7 specific parameters of pitching mechanics that correlate to risk of shoulder injury: shoulder abduction, shoulder flexion, knee flexion angle at SFC, stride length, stride angle, and elbow and hip angles at REL. Monitoring these kinematics would aid in reducing shoulder stress. Mean shoulder abduction and shoulder flexion angles at SFC were 155° ±16° and 168° ±35°, respectively. As
7560-442: The mid-20th century, players often wore skirts or dresses as part of their uniforms. This attire was mandated to maintain a "feminine' appearance. The Sport was once called "Kitten Ball": Before settling on the name "softball," the sport went through several names, including "kitten ball", "mush ball", and "pumpkin ball". The earliest known softball game was played in Chicago , Illinois, on Thanksgiving Day, 1887. It took place at
7665-407: The mid-50s for a variety of reasons. More and more families were getting television in their homes and so games drew smaller crowds. More teams were starting to play "slow pitch" with its greater emphasis on fielding. Although men's fast pitch softball is still played, the game is now mostly played by women. One of the most important milestones in softball and American softball history occurred when
7770-676: The most competitive form of softball, fastpitch is the format played at the Olympic Games . Softball was on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) program in 1996 , 2000 , 2004 , 2008 , and 2020 . The fastpitch style is also used in college softball and other international competition. It is the form which will be used in the American Women's Professional Fastpitch league, a women's professional league whose inaugural season began in June 2022. Pitchers throw
7875-639: The nation. This provides an opportunity for competitors to play Division 1 softball in every state across America. 64 teams compete in the NCAA tournament, only 16 teams make it to the Super Regionals and 8 teams compete in the College Softball World Series , hosted each year in May and June in Oklahoma City . As the worldwide participation in softball continued to grow, the sport was eventually included in
7980-440: The ones used in baseball to account for the larger ball. No glove larger than 14 in (36 cm) can be used in ASA (American Softball Association) sanctioned play. While extremely rare in recreational play, there are sometimes different size gloves for different positions on the field. Catchers and first baseman have what is called a mitt, whose pockets are larger than other gloves. These are more padded. An outfielder's glove
8085-407: The outside corner of the plate, the pitcher will pivot, stride with the opposite foot, and land slightly outside of the "power line"; if the inside corner is aimed, the pitcher will land slightly inside. If the movement is very subtle, the batter will probably not be able to notice the change of angle. In most leagues during the pitcher's delivery, the pivot foot must drag along the ground in order for
8190-435: The pitch to be legal. If the drag foot lifts off the ground, an illegal pitch will be called for crow hopping. In this case, the batter is awarded with one ball to the count, and all base runners advance to the next base. In international play – and in most men's leagues – the pitcher is allowed to jump with the pivot foot. A crow hop here is considered legal. The windup is performed with the throwing arm and happens prior to
8295-408: The pitcher by confusing the batter. The follow through is the last motion of a pitch. This is the point when the pitcher bends the throwing arm at the elbow, and the hand moves upward, finishing in front of the pitcher's face. Windmill pitching consists of three phases. The first phase, or "wind up" involves initiation of the motion until the top of the back swing (TOB). The second phase lasts from
8400-450: The pitcher releasing the ball. Throughout the entire pitch, the upper body should remain upright, rather than bent over. The pitcher's throwing arm begins at the hip. Some pitchers move the throwing arm back as they shift their weight back, but it is not necessary throw an effective pitch. From the hip, the throwing arm moves up in a circle, brushing the ear, and returning to the hip prior to the release. The pitcher's arm should remain tight to
8505-416: The pitching coach's method and the player's abilities. Catching is also a very important part of fast pitch softball. Without a fast-paced catcher, the pitcher will not succeed. The catcher needs to be able to recognize the batters, their hitting style, and the right pitches to call. If there is a bad pitch that hits the ground, the catcher needs to block it so runs do not score, and runners do not advance on
8610-603: The players to accept deferred payment on the season. The players refused, the team waived the professional roster and then signed the new Clippers, bringing on the Jets of Westchester, an amateur team who had won the 1976 New York state American Softball Association championship. New Clippers outfielder Tony DiCairano said "In the amateur tournaments we played in, the other teams would have one or two all-world players. The teams we're going against now have eight or nine." The new Clippers proceeded to then lose their first 8 games, finishing
8715-402: The rubber with the pivot foot, pivoting that foot in a 30 to 40 degree, clockwise angle as the opposite leg moves out into a stride. The stride leg must land along the "power line", which means that the pitcher's body is in line with the plate, with the pitcher's hips facing the third base line. The angle of a pitch can be altered in different ways through the stride. If the pitcher is aiming for
8820-407: The same side as the throwing arm (also called the pivot foot) on the front edge of the rubber, and the toes of the alternate foot shoulder width apart and toward the middle or back side of the rubber. A stride is performed from the beginning stance by rocking back, shifting the weight back to gain momentum and then moving the weight forward onto the ball of the pivot foot. The pitcher then pushes off
8925-444: The same uniform. Caps, visors, and headbands are optional for female players, and have to be the same color. Caps are mandatory for male players. A fielder who chooses to wear a helmet or face mask is not required to wear a cap. Many players use "sliding shorts", otherwise known as compression shorts in other sports. These can be outfitted with a pouch for fitting a protective cup for male players. These shorts also help to protect
9030-417: The seams. The umpire has discretion to determine whether any coloring on the glove interferes with or hinders the batter from seeing the ball clearly. Each team wears a distinctive uniform. The uniform may include a cap, a shirt displaying team colors and the players' number, sliding undershorts/compression shorts (optional), socks, and pants/athletic shorts. The team is required to have all of its members wear
9135-558: The season and were the team swept in the playoffs by Baltimore in the first-round. Jim Parker of the new Clippers hit .571 in 9 in his nine games. The team folded at the end of the season. Several of the Clippers professionals would reappear in the APSPL the next season - Richter, Dunn, Foley, Galloway and Chiapetta with the Trenton Statesmen ; Cammilere and pitcher Sam Sapienza with the New England Pilgrims . Mike Foley made
9240-479: The second World Cup of Softball, the attendance record was broken and the television ratings were higher than in any previous US Softball event on ESPN and ESPN2 . Fastpitch softball, however, was added to the 2020 Summer Olympics . Many countries have expressed interest in the addition of softball especially to the Olympic games, with collegiate softball and semi-professional games growing. Olympic level softball
9345-605: The sport's development. The first softball league outside the United States was organized in Toronto, Ontario , in 1897. The name "softball" dates back to 1926. The name was coined by Walter Hakanson of the YMCA at a meeting of the National Recreation Congress. (In addition to "indoor baseball", "kitten ball", and "diamond ball", names for the game included "mush ball", and "pumpkin ball". ) The name softball had spread across
9450-440: The sport. During the trip, the coaches and players held softball clinics to give a diverse group of people a better understanding of softball. The number of Division I softball teams in the US grew from 222 in 1997 to 277 in 2007. The number of youth teams also increased from 73,567 in 1995 to 86,049 that same year. Currently, there are 286 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 (D1) softball colleges across
9555-407: The stance apply. In college, professional, and Olympic games , pitchers must place both feet on the rubber when starting the pitch. Other competitions require having only one foot on the rubber. The pitcher's feet are placed at a distance that is not larger than the width of the shoulders, with either one foot or both feet on the rubber. A common stance for pitchers is to have the ball of the foot on
9660-439: The stride foot contacted the ground, the knee demonstrated a mean value of 27°±9° of flexion. Stride length averaged 89% ±11% of body height. Stride position varied between subjects, with a mean value of −3 ±14 cm; this indicates that when the foot contacted the ground, on average it landed slightly to the first-base side of home plate for right-handed pitchers, and to the third-base side for left-handers. The elbow flexion angle
9765-425: The temporary outfield fencing. Located in foul territory outside both baselines are two coach's boxes. Each box is behind a line 15 feet (4.6 meters) long located 12 feet (3.7 meters) from each baseline. Equipment required in softball includes a ball, a bat (composite, metal or wooden), gloves, uniforms and protective gear. For example, helmets for the offensive team and a helmet, shin guards, and chest protector for
9870-479: The top of the back swing until the instant of stride foot contact (SFC). The third phase occurs between the SFC and the instant of ball release (REL). Knowledge of the kinematic parameters of these phases is critical for physicians , physical therapists , and athletic trainers to devise better diagnostic and rehabilitative protocols that are specific to the athletes. A previous study by Alexander et al. demonstrated that
9975-476: The upper thigh when sliding into a base. "Sliders" may also be worn for similar protection. These are somewhat padded shin guards that extend usually from the ankle to the knee of the wearer and wrap all the way around the leg(s). They protect the shin, calf, etc. from getting bruised or damaged while sliding into home plate and make it much more comfortable to slide into the plate. Some male players use long, baseball-style pants. However, some female players now wear
10080-417: The winter, the sport was called "Indoor Baseball". Under the name of "Indoor-Outdoor," the game moved outside in the next year, and the first rules were published in 1889. In 1895, Lewis Rober Sr. of Minneapolis organized outdoor games as exercise for firefighters ; this game was originally known as kitten ball. Rober's version of the game used a ball 12 inches (30 cm) in circumference, rather than
10185-412: The year. The strategy was successful as the United States won their first olympic gold medal in softball against China with a 3–0 win. This success was followed by two more olympic gold medals and seven World Championships. In July 2005, IOC members voted 52–52 (with one abstention), to remove softball (along with baseball) from the Olympic program after the 2008 Olympic Games. Softball and baseball needed
10290-592: The youth focus and increasing interest in the newly added sports. Originally scheduled to take place from July to August 2020, the 2020 Summer Olympics was postponed in March 2020 and pushed forward to 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic . In August 2021, the IOC announced that softball would not be part of the 2024 Paris Olympics . Softball pitchers at any level require a level of accuracy with their pitches. An accurate pitch
10395-658: Was 18° ±9° and the lower trunk (hip) angle moved toward a closed position of 52°±18° at REL. This indicated that greater degrees of shoulder abduction at SFC and greater stride angle decreased the magnitude of shoulder compression force. Conversely, longer stride, open REL hip position, and greater degrees of elbow flexion at REL and of shoulder and knee flexion at SFC all increase shoulder compression force. Normative ranges for kinematic parameters have been established for an elite population of windmill pitchers. Specific pitching mechanic parameters correlate with clinically significant injury patterns. Interventions that take into account
10500-600: Was created in Hamilton, Ontario , Canada, by Emil "Pops" Kenesky . By the 1940s, fast pitch began to dominate the game. Although slow pitch was present at the 1933 World's Fair , the main course of action taken was to lengthen the pitching distance. Slow pitch achieved formal recognition in 1953 when it was added to the program of the Amateur Softball Association , and within a decade had surpassed fast pitch in popularity. The first British women's softball league
10605-422: Was established in 1953. The National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum was opened in Oklahoma City , United States, in 1957. In 1991, women's fast pitch softball was selected to debut at the 1996 Summer Olympics . The 1996 Olympics also marked a key era in the introduction of technology in softball. The IOC funded a landmark bio-mechanical study on pitching during the games. In 2002, sixteen-inch slow pitch
10710-404: Was established to make the final cuts for the team that would represent the US at every international competition. The selected 1996 United States softball team won the olympic gold medal with a 3–0 victory over China in the 1996 games. The United States women's national softball team won three consecutive gold medals at the 1996, 2000, and 2004 Summer Olympic Games. In the 2008 olympic games,
10815-457: Was not included in the 2024 Summer Olympics but will return for the 2028 Summer Olympics . Depending on the variety being played and the age and gender of the players, the particulars of the field and equipment will also vary. While distances between bases of 60 feet are standard across varieties, the pitcher's plate ranges from 35 to 43 feet away from home plate, and the home run fence can be 220 to 300 feet away from home plate. The ball itself
10920-522: Was on the Summer Olympic program from 1996 to 2008. The sport of softball was later removed from the programme for 2012 and 2016, but was slated to be re-added for the 2020 Summer Olympics . Along with softball, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had added baseball , skateboarding , karate , sports climbing , and surfing to the Summer Olympic games. The IOC expressed consideration of
11025-520: Was written out of the International Softball Federation (ISF) official rules, although it is still played extensively in the United States under The Amateur Softball Association of America , or ASA rules. The 117th meeting of the International Olympic Committee , held in Singapore in July 2005, voted to drop softball and baseball as Olympic sports for the 2012 Summer Olympics . They were reinstated for
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