According to the official rules developed early in the history of softball, and eventually defined by the International Softball Federation, there are 9 players on the field at a time. The players take the positions of pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, shortstop, third baseman and outfielder. Usually, there are three outfielders holding the positions of right fielder, left fielder and center fielder. However, slow pitch softball allows for a fourth person in the outfield. Similar to baseball, the team with the most runs at the end of the seventh inning is named the …show more content…
The field is divided into four bases: first base, second base, third base and the home plate. The bases are set at a distance of approximately 45 to 65 feet from one another. The pitcher's circle is marked equidistant from the four bases. The objective of softball is to score more runs than the opposing team, by hitting the ball 'into play' and covering all the bases. While running counterclockwise around the bases, the player is expected to physically touch each one in the order of succession. The softball used today is around 12 inches in circumference. It is covered with leather or any light, synthetic fabric. The rules and regulations on the field are adhered to in the presence of one or more umpires. Each one of the official seven innings involve both teams playing 'offense' and 'defense'. Each inning comprises 'top half' and 'bottom half'. While the offense bats to score runs, the defense team fields and attempts 'run-outs'. The teams switch roles at each declared