Softball Definition Of Terms

Front 1

The governing body for softball

Back 1

ISF (International Softball Federation)

Front 2

A bat is altered when the physical structure of a legal bat has been changed.

Back 2

altered bat

Front 3

is a play or situation on which an umpire cannot make a decision unless requested by a manager, coach or player of the non-offending team.

Back 3

appeal play (live or dead ball appeal)

Front 4

the “Load force” in kilograms (pounds) required to compress a softball 6.5mm (0.25 inches) when measured in accordance with the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) test method for measuring compression-displacement of softballs.

Back 4

ball compression

Front 5

Coefficient of Restitution of a softball when measured with the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) test method

Back 5

ball cor

Front 6

a direct line between bases

Back 6

base line

Front 7

occurs when four pitches are judged by the plate umpire to be balls, including illegal pitches.

Back 7

base on balls

Front 8

a direct line between a base and the runner’s position at the time a defensive player is attempting (or about to attempt) to tag a runner.

Back 8

base path

Front 9

any ball that hits the bat, or is hit by the bat, and lands either in fair or foul territory

Back 9

batted ball

Front 10

an offensive player who enters the batter’s box with the intention of aiding his team to score runs.

Back 10

batter

Front 11

the area to which the batter is restricted while in position with the intention of helping his team to obtain runs.

Back 11

batter's box

Front 12

a player who has finished a turn at bat but has not yet been put out or touched first base.

Back 12

batter-runner

Front 13

the official listing of offensive players in the order in which members of that team must come to bat.

Back 13

batting order

Front 14

a batted, thrown or pitched ball that becomes lodged in the fencing

Back 14

blocked ball

Front 15

a batted ball not swung at, but intentionally met with the bat and tapped slowly within the playing field.

Back 15

bunt

Front 16

a legally caught ball

Back 16

catch

Front 17

that area within which the catcher must remain until

a. The pitch is released

b. The pitched ball is batted

Back 17

catcher's box

Front 18

types of charged conference

Back 18

offensive conference

defensive conference

Front 19

a team requests a suspension of play or delays play to allow the manager, or other team representative, to confer with any member of their team.

Back 19

offensive conference

Front 20

a team requests a suspension of play to allow a representative of the defensive team to enter the playing field to communicate with any defensive player

Back 20

defensive conference

Front 21

one that lodges in the umpire’s gear or in an offensive player’s clothing

Back 21

dead ball

Front 22

the team in the field

Back 22

defensive team

Front 23

a game situation in which the ball remains alive until the conclusion of a play

Back 23

delayed dead ball

Front 24

a starting offensive player who bats in the line-up for the FLEX PLAYER listed in the tenth (10th) position on the line-up card

Back 24

DP (designated player)

Front 25

a base displaced from its proper position

Back 25

dislodged base

Front 26

a play by the defense in which two offensive players are legally put out as a result of continuous action

Back 26

double play

Front 27

an area in dead ball territory designated for players, coaches, bat boys or girls, and official representatives of the team only

Back 27

dugout

Front 28

the act of any umpire ordering a player, official or any team member to leave the game and the grounds

Back 28

ejection (from the game)

Front 29

a legally batted ball

Back 29

fair ball

Front 30

that part of the playing field within, and including, the first and third base foul lines from home base to the bottom of the extreme playing field fence and perpendicularly upwards.

Back 30

fair territory

Front 31

a form of obstruction on a runner, while advancing or returning to a base, by a fielder who is not in possession of the ball

Back 31

fake tag

Front 32

any defensive player of the team on the field

Back 32

fielder

Front 33

any ball batted into the air.

Back 33

fly ball

Front 34

the starting player for whom the Designated Player (DP) is batting and whose name appears in the tenth (10th) position on the line-up card.

Back 34

flex player

Front 35

an out which can be made only when a runner loses the right to the base which he is occupying because the batter becomes a batter-runner, and before the batter-runner or a succeeding runner has been put out.

Back 35

force out

Front 36

the act of the plate umpire ruling that the game is over by declaring the non-offending team the winner.

Back 36

forfeit

Front 37

a legally batted ball which settles on foul territory between home and first base

Back 37

foul ball

Front 38

any part of the playing field that is not included in fair territory

Back 38

foul territory

Front 39

batted ball which goes directly from the bat to the catcher's hands.

Back 39

foul tip

Front 40

a player forced to leave the game (line-up) in accordance with the Replacement Player ruling.

Back 40

withdrawn player

Front 41

a play in which a ball is thrown from one fielder to another, and cannot be caught nor controlled, is not blocked and remains in play

Back 41

wild throw

Front 42

a pitch so high, so low, or so wide of the plate that the catcher cannot, or does not, stop and control it with ordinary effort.

Back 42

wild pitch

Front 43

begins when a player first enters the batter's box and continues until the batter is put out or becomes a batter-runner

Back 43

turn at bat

Front 44

a continuous action play by the defense on which three offensive players are put out.

Back 44

triple play

Front 45

a. A legally batted fly ball or line drive that hits the ground or a fence prior to being caught, or

b. A legally batted fly ball that is caught against a fence with the glove or bare hand,

Back 45

trapped ball

Front 46

the term used by the umpire to order the suspension of play during which the ball is dead.

Back 46

Time

Front 47

the act performed by a fielder when throwing the ball to another fielder.

Back 47

throw

Front 48

a player who may run for the catcher of record from the preceding half inning, who is now on base with two out.

Back 48

temporary runner

Front 49

includes any person authorized to sit on the team bench.

Back 49

team member

Front 50

action of a runner returning to his base, or remaining on his base, before he legally advances on a batted fly ball that is first touched by a fielder.

Back 50

tagging up

Front 51

listed on the official line-up card, who is:

a. A non-starting player who has not been in the game, other than as a Replacement Player.

b. A starting player who has left the game once and who may legally return to the line-up.

Back 51

substitute

Front 52

that space over any part of home plate between the batter's armpits and the top of his knees when he assumes his natural batting stance.

Back 52

strike zone

Front 53

the act of a runner attempting to advance during or after a pitch to the batter.

Back 53

stealing

Front 54

play in which the offensive team, with a runner on third base, attempts to score that runner by means of the batter contacting the ball.

Back 54

squeeze play

Front 55

a batted ball that has been struck with a controlled short, chopping motion rather than with a full swing.

Back 55

slap hit

Front 56

player of the team at bat who has finished a turn at bat, reached first base, and has not yet been put out.

Back 56

runner

Front 57

player required to enter the game for a defined period of time to replace a player who must leave the game to attend to an injury that is causing bleeding.

Back 57

replacement player

Front 58

the act of the umpire declaring a player ineligible for further participation in the game, other than as a coach, as a result of an infraction of the rules.

Back 58

removal (from the game)

Front 59

the act of any of the starting players, returning to the game after being legally or illegally substituted.

Back 59

re-entry

Front 60

one made by the pitcher with the obvious attempt to catch the batter off balance.

Back 60

quick return pitch

Front 61

(separate from an appeal) is the action of a defensive or offensive team objecting to:

a. The interpretation or application of a playing rule by an umpire, orb. The eligibility of a team roster member.

Back 61

protests

Front 62

a meeting held at the home plate area, at a pre-determined time, between the umpires and the head coaches/managers or team representatives of the respective teams.

Back 62

pre-game meeting

Front 63

the term used by the plate umpire to indicate that play shall begin or be resumed when the pitcher holds the ball and

a. is within the pitcher's circle.

Back 63

play ball

Front 64

that foot

a. with which the pitcher pushes off the pitcher's plate.

Back 64

pivot foot

Front 65

the area within 2.44 m (8 ft.) of the pitcher's plate.

Back 65

pitcher's circle

Front 66

the act performed by the pitcher in delivering the ball to the batter.

Back 66

pitch

Front 67

a pitch that should have been held or controlled by the catcher with ordinary effort

Back 67

passed ball

Front 68

a play in which a ball is thrown from one fielder to another, resulting in the ball a. Going beyond the boundary lines of the playing field, or b. Becoming blocked

Back 68

overthrow

Front 69

the act of an offensive player when as a runner he over-slides a base he is attempting to reach.

Back 69

over-slide

Front 70

that portion of the field that is outside the diamond formed by the baselines or the area not normally covered by an infielder and within the foul lines beyond first and third bases, and boundaries of the grounds.

Back 70

outfield

Front 71

play in which the offensive coach/manager is given the choice of taking the enforcement of the illegal action or the result of the play.

Back 71

option play

Front 72

area the last half distance between home and first base where a batter-runner must run to avoid being called out for interfering with a thrown ball from the home plate area, or with a fielder’s attempt to take such a throw, while running to first base.

Back 72

one meter (three foot line)

Front 73

that area where the on-deck batter may warm-up or takes practice swings, while waiting his turn to enter the batter’s box.

Back 73

on-deck circle

Front 74

the offensive player whose name follows the name of the batter in the batting order.

Back 74

on deck batter

Front 75

considered to be any equipment (bats, gloves, helmets, etc.) in current use by the defensive or offensive team in the course of play

Back 75

official equipment

Front 76

the team at bat

Back 76

offensive team

Front 77

a player in the batting order, other than the FLEX, for whom the DP is playing defense.

Back 77

offensive player only (OPO)

Front 78

the act of:

a. A defensive player or team member who hinders or prevents a batter from striking at or hitting a pitched ball.

b. A fielder who impedes the progress of a runner or batter-runner who is legally running bases while: Not in possession of the ball

Back 78

obstruction

Front 79

the list of players who are currently involved playing offensive and defensive positions in the game, including the DP and FLEX PLAYER

Back 79

line-up and line-up card

Front 80

a ball in flight that is batted sharply and directly into the playing field.

Back 80

line drive

Front 81

occurs when a fielder catches a batted, thrown or pitched ball, provided it is not caught in the fielder's part of his uniform. It must be caught and firmly held in the hand(s) or glove

Back 81

legally-caught ball

Front 82

the action of a fielder in touching (or tagging)

Back 82

legal touch (tagging)

Front 83

the act of a pitcher that causes him to be airborne on his initial move and push from the pitcher’s plate.

Back 83

leaping

Front 84

the act of

An offensive player or team member that impedes, hinders, or confuses a defensive player attempting to execute a play.

Back 84

interference

Front 85

fair fly ball, including a line drive or a bunt, with less than two outs and a runner on first base, which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, and the infielder intentionally drops, after it is controlled with a hand or a glove.

Back 85

internationally dropped fly ball

Front 86

occurs when the defensive team desires to place the batter on first base without the requirement to deliver four pitched balls.

Back 86

international base on balls

Front 87

that portion of a game within which the teams alternate on offense and defense, and in which there are three outs for each team.

Back 87

inning

Front 88

a fair fly ball (not including a line drive or an attempted bunt) that can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort when first, second, and third bases are occupied, before two are out.

Back 88

infield fly

Front 89

a defensive player, including the pitcher and catcher, who is generally positioned anywhere near or within the lines of the base paths forming fair territory.

Back 89

infielder

Front 90

that portion of the field in fair territory that includes areas normally covered by infielders.

Back 90

infield

Front 91

a term indicating that the ball is in play and an offensive player may be put out.

Back 91

in jeopardy

Front 92

describes any batted, thrown, or pitched ball that has not yet touched the ground or some object other than a fielder.

Back 92

in flight

Front 93

a player who may NOT enter the game to replace a player who must leave the game to attend to an injury that has caused bleeding.

Back 93

ineligible replacement player

Front 94

a player who may no longer legally participate in the game, because the umpire has removed him.

Back 94

ineligible player

Front 95

occurs when a fielder catches a batted, thrown, or pitched ball with his cap, mask, glove, or any part of his uniform while it is detached from its proper place.

Back 95

illegally caught ball

Front 96

occurs when the batter hits the ball fair or foul:

a. While his entire foot is completely out of the batter’s box, on the ground, when he makes contact with the ball.

Back 96

illegally batted ball

Front 97

a player who has entered the game without being announced to the umpire.

Back 97

illegal substitute

Front 98

occurs when:

a. A starting player returns to the game a second time after twice being substituted.

b. A starting player returns to the game after being substituted but not in his original position in the offensive line-up.

Back 98

illegal re-entry

Front 99

A player who takes a position in the line-up either on offense or defense, who has not reported to the plate umpire

Back 99

illegal player

Front 100

a player legally in the game, but one who may not pitch as a result of being removed from the pitching position, by the umpire, as a result of the defensive charged conference limit being exceeded

Back 100

illegal pitcher

Front 101

one who violates any of the provisions of Rule 4, Sec. 6.

Back 101

illegal extra player

Front 102

one that does not meet the requirements of Rule 3. Sec. 1.

Back 102

illegal bat

Front 103

the team on whose grounds the game is played, or if the game is played on neutral ground, team shall be designated by mutual agreement or by a flip of a coin.

Back 103

home team

Front 104

one at which the batter strikes downward with a chopping motion of the bat so that the ball bounces high into the air.

Back 104

chopped ball

Front 105

a person who is responsible for the team’s actions on the field and he represents the team in communications with the umpire and opposing team

Back 105

coach

Front 106

defined as the act of a pitcher who does not push off from the pitcher's plate to deliver the ball.

Back 106

crow hop