Girl Softball Rules

Pitching--Arm motion

• Softball pitchers can use a windmill delivery, but this is not a requirement. A pitcher may pull her arm back to shoulder height and deliver an underarm pitch to home plate. However, if she wants, she may bring her arm around in a loop so it makes a complete revolution before delivering the ball. The windmill is the preferred way to pitch in softball.

Pitching--Angle of delivery

• There are two vertical lines next to the pitcher's circle in softball. At least one foot must touch or be inside this line after the pitcher delivers the ball. To gain a better pitching angle, many girls step to the right or left when they deliver the ball. The rules prevent the pitcher from getting too much of an advantage by restricting the angle. If one foot is not inside or touching one of the lines, the pitch is called a ball unless the batter gets a hit. In that case, the hit stands.
  When delivering the ball from the rubber in the pitcher's circle, she cannot end up outside the circle. Though this is unlikely, an umpire would rule this an illegal pitch and a ball would be called. For their part, pitchers would not want to be in front of the circle because it would leave them in a vulnerable spot where they could be injured.

Stealing

• Girls may only attempt to steal once the ball has crossed the plate. The field's shorter dimensions--60 feet between bases--would make it impossible to throw out a base runner if the runner was allowed to leave once the ball left the pitcher's hand.

Uniforms

• Players must be in full uniform for softball games in high school and college. Required parts of the uniform include the shirt, shorts, socks and shoes. However, the uniforms do not include hats. Girls can wear hats, visors or go hatless.

Base-running rules

• Runners cannot run backward when a ball is put in play. Though this seems obvious, it is not. Say there is a runner on third base with one out. The batter bunts toward the first baseman, who wants to tag the batter and throw to the catcher to get the oncoming runner. To slow down the play, the batter stops after three steps and takes a step backward. The umpire would rule the play over, call the batter out and send the runner back to third because the batter violated the base-running rule by going backward.
  This would not apply on a straight steal if the runner thinks she is going to be out on the throw and reverses her field. That's because the ball has not been put in play by the batter.

Hitting--Slap technique

• One of the primary ways a softball player tries to reach base is with the slap technique. This refers to left-handed batters who do not attempt a full left-handed swing, but instead slap the ball in the infield and try to beat the throw to first base. The girl actually takes her first step to the base as contact is made (or an instant afterward), and her front foot can leave the batter's box if it is within an instant of contact. The umpire will not call her out or call a strike for leaving the batter's box too early.

Substitution rules

• Most softball associations have liberal substitution rules. Coaches can use a designated player to run for the pitcher or the catcher when either reaches base. This allows players in those vital positions to save energy and strength. Designated players bat for certain players, but they do not play in the field. Also, when a substitute enters a game for a position player, the position player may re-enter the game later. However, once the substitute comes out, she may not re-enter. The substitution rule also holds true for pitchers. A pitcher can leave the game in the second inning and return in the fifth inning.