About Softball

Misconceptions

• "Softball is for old men who are past their glory days who just want an excuse to go out and drink beer."
  There are a lot of men over 35 who play softball with their company or in their hometown and some of them may go out for a drink after the game. However, this is hardly the majority of players and even those who play in work leagues are usually more interested in competing and winning than they are in the post-softball refreshment.
  "Softball is an easy game good for those who really aren't athletes."
  Non-athletes can make an attempt to play softball, but those who do well have decent-to-great athletic ability and also work at their skills. The game is highly competitive with skills like hitting, throwing, baserunning and fielding. A softball player can't just do these things because he may have played baseball 20 years ago or was once considered a decent athlete. In order to become proficient at the game, a softball player has to work on her skills.
  "It's easy to hit a softball."
  Instead of hitting a small baseball with a 9-inch circumference, softball players get to hit a softball that has an 11- or 12-inch circumference. Some look at the size of the ball and think it's easy to hit. When the softball is thrown at 70 miles per hour by some of the top female pitchers in the game from 45 feet away, it is the equivalent speed of a 95 mph baseball--which is anything but easy to hit. Top male performers can hit a softball nearly as far as the biggest home run hitters in baseball.

Benefits

• Softball allows many non-elite level athletes to play a game they normally wouldn't get a chance to participate in. Athletes in various levels of conditioning play the game. Those who are in great shape play the game at a very high level. Those who may have a bit of a belly may no longer be great athletes, but they can play the game for enjoyment. Great athletes who play softball have had the ability to represent their country in the Olympics since 1996. While it will no longer be an Olympic Sport in 2012, softball is popular throughout many parts of the world, including North America, Central America, Asia and Australia. Its growth has been dramatic and its impact on female athletes has been substantial.

Effects

• The women's sports movement has exploded since the early 1980s and along with basketball, softball has provided substantial opportunity for women to participate and benefit. College scholarships are available for top-level players and a professional softball league exists for the elite-level players. The women who play softball at the college and professional levels are sensational athletes capable of pitching a softball at about 70 miles per hour. That's about the equivalent of a fastball thrown by a top-level major league pitcher. As a matter of fact, major league hitters have tried to hit off U.S. Olympian Jennie Finch and many of the best players--including Ken Griffey Jr. and Chipper Jones--were unable to hit even one foul ball. Stars like Finch and slugger Crystal Bustos have inspired new generations of players, and the sport should flourish and grow for decades.

Time Frame

• Softball is a very fast-moving game that can take 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours to play a complete game. While baseball games often take more than three hours to play, umpires keep softball games moving and don't let players linger or step out of the batter's box to slow things down. This makes it possible to play four or five games in one evening at a particular field and give many teams a chance to play.

Expert Insight

• Softball is a game of skill that is being played at a higher level and by more great athletes now than it ever has been. It used to be looked at as a game for athletes who could not hit a baseball, but it is no longer a sport for "rejects." Instead, the best softball players are elite level athletes who have raised the level of the game. In order to play softball well, an athlete needs quickness, strength, excellent reactions and instincts. It requires practice, effort and hard work. It is a respected sport that can no longer be looked at lightly. Those who respect it and work hard at it have a chance to become world-class players.