| A softball match has seven innings at least, and in | | | | deemed as a dead ball and no plays may be |
| a single inning, each team bats until three batters | | | | made until the pitcher receives the ball again, and |
| are out. Teams take turns while batting. A | | | | the home plate umpire shouts "Play ball." Leaping |
| decision for the team batting first is made by | | | | or crow-hopping acts are considered illegal, and if |
| tossing a coin. However, a league may make a | | | | a pitcher does them, a ball is awarded to the |
| decision at its discretion. Generally, a home team | | | | batter. |
| bats second. In all forms of softball, a defensive | | | | A batting team sends one batter at one time to |
| team is the fielding team and an offensive team | | | | home plate. The batting order must remain same |
| is batting and trying to score runs. | | | | throughout a game. Substitutes, if any, have to |
| A softball game begins with an umpire saying | | | | bat in the same place as the player they are |
| "Play Ball." After a batter is all set, and all fielders, | | | | substituting. In a co-ed game, boys and girls must |
| except a catcher, are in fair territory, a pitcher | | | | bat alternately. |
| stands at a pitching plate, and attempts to throw | | | | A batter stands facing the thrower inside a |
| a ball past the batter to the catcher at the back | | | | batter's box, and bat is held with both hands, over |
| of home plate. A throw must be made with | | | | a shoulder and away from a pitcher. Once a ball is |
| underarm motion. Strike zone has slightly varying | | | | hit into fair territory, a runner must try to move |
| forms in different types of softball. A throw that | | | | forward to first base or beyond. There are |
| passes through that zone is a strike, and a throw | | | | various other rules also. In a nutshell, the reason |
| that is not a strike, and which the batter does not | | | | for the popularity of softball is the ease of |
| swing at, is a ball. The number of balls and strikes | | | | modification of the rules, thereby allowing this |
| is referred to as the count. If a ball lands foul, it is | | | | game to be adapted to a variety of skill levels. |