Softball is an exciting team sport enjoyed by many who play ball in all different types of leagues, including recreational leagues and high school and college teams. As softball players grow and learn, vocabulary and knowing what those terms mean becomes very important. Check out a list of common softball terms that you should know in order to learn softball and enjoy the game more fully.
Altered bat: A bat that has undergone structural changes or tweaks after being approved by officials.
Approved bat: A bat that has gone through testing in order to meet the high standards of an official organization of the sport such as the National Softball Association (NSA).
Backstop: A fence, screen, or other barrier located behind home plate.
Ball: A pitch that moves through the strike zone without the player swinging at it.
Base: One of the four corners located in the infield that a player must touch when attempting to score a run. First, second, and third are known as bases or bags, while home is known as home plate.
Base path: The white line drawn between the bases to connect them.
Batted ball: A hit pitch that travels into either fair or foul territory.
Batter's box: The designated space a player must stand in at home plate when attempting to hit a pitch.
Batting average: A statistic that reflects the number of hits a player receives divided by the number of at bats.
Batting order: A list that includes the name, jersey number, and position of every offensive player in the order they will bat.
Bunt: When a player holds the bat parallel to the ground in order to tap the ball into play.
Catcher: The defensive player who crouches behind home plate to signal and catch pitches.
Change-up: A very slow pitch meant to throw off the rhythm of the batter.
Coach's box: A space near first and third base where each base coach stands during play.
Count: The tally of balls and strikes for the player who is at bat.
Curveball: When a pitcher releases the ball in a way that causes it to arc through the air.
Defensive team: The group of players currently on the field.
Designated hitter: A player who goes up to bat to hit in place of a teammate on the official lineup roster.
Double(play: A circumstance where one ball is hit followed by two outs.
Earned run: A batter gets a run based on their skill instead of as a result of another player's error.
Error: A misplay or fumble by a defensive player that results in a runner getting on base or moving to the next one.
Fair ball: A ball that lands within legal territory.
Fly ball: A ball that soars high in the air and goes into the outfield.
Foul tip: A player hits a ball that's immediately caught by the catcher.
Grand slam: When a batter hits a home run with players on all of the bases.
Ground ball: A ball that bounces on the ground after it's hit.
Hit: A batter moves to first base after hitting a ball into fair territory.
Hit by pitch: When the batter is struck by a pitch and gets to move to first base.
Home run: A batter hits the ball into fair territory and runs all four bases.
Infield: The diamond-shaped area that includes all four bases.
Inning: A portion of the game in which the teams alternate between defense and offense. Each team gets three outs per inning.
Line drive: When a batter hits a ball that moves swiftly and directly into the playing field.
No-hitter: A pitcher completes an entire game without allowing a batter to hit.
On-deck: The location where the next player on the roster waits to bat.
Outfield: The space outside the base path of the diamond-shaped field.
Pinch hitter: A player who substitutes as a batter for another teammate.
Pitcher: The player who throws the ball to the batter at home plate.
Rubber: A place in the middle of the pitching mound where the pitcher puts their foot as the ball is thrown.
Run: When a player crosses home plate and is declared safe by the umpire.
Scoring positions: A scenario in which players are on both second and third base, ready to run and score.
Steal: When a baserunner moves to get onto the next base as the pitcher is letting go of the ball.
Strike zone: The space at home plate where the pitcher aims the ball.
Tag out: When the player with the ball either taps a runner or touches a base to get them out.
Triple play: A scenario where there are three outs on one hit ball.
Windmill: The underhand throwing style of fast-pitchers.
Find more about the author: Kim Hart
