Diagram field: Bases, diamond, infield, batter’s box, coach’s box, on deck circle, pitcher’s rubber, foul line.

Dimensions:

• Baseball: Bases 90' apart, pitching rubber 60'6"
• Softball: Bases usually 60', pitching rubber 38-50'

Batting

• 3 strikes and you are out: A strike can be either a called strike by the umpire or a swing and miss strike. A foul ball is a strike. However a player cannot be called out for hitting a foul ball.
• 4 balls equals a walk
• Strike zone: For slow softball the ball generally must travel 6-12 feet high, drop between the batter’s front knee and back shoulder, and land behind the plate. Different associations have different rules. Some allow a strike to land on the plate. Some all In baseball and fast pitch softball, the ball must cross the plate between the batters knees and chest.
• Some associations count a foul ball with 2 strikes as an out.
• A foul tip is a strike and the batter is out if the catcher catches it before it hits the ground.
• A fouled bunt attempt with 2 strikes is an out. Players are not allowed to bunt in slow pitch.

Foul ball

• The baselines and all bases, including home late, are in fair territory.
• A ground ball bouncing directly over first or third base is a fair ball, even if the first bounce beyond the base is outside the baseline.

Base running

• Runner is out when tagged by a defensive player while the runner is not in contact with a base.
• In a force situation, only the base may be touched by a defensive player holding the ball to get an out.
• A force out situation is created when the batter batting the ground ball (or fly ball which is not caught) and becoming a base runner “forces” runners to advance to the next base.
• Plays made on the batter attempting to reach first base is always a force plays.
• No baserunner except the batter is forced if first base is occupied.
• If a succeeding runner is forced out, the “force” is removed for the preceding runners and preceding runners must be tagged.
• A baserunner in baseball may lead off bases before a pitch. In softball some allow the runner to leave when it leaves the pitchers hand and others allow only after contact by the batter. Some softball leagues allow stealing of bases.

Pitching

• Balk is illegal pitch due to illegal action. All runners advance 1 base. Pitcher cannot pump twice, stop or alter windup motion, lift the pivot foot clearly off pitcher’s plate. Pitcher must set and hold and may not separate the hands without immediately delivering a pitch or throwing to an occupied base.
• Softball pitchers must deliver with at least one foot touching the rubber.