Slowpitch softball is a recreational, social and enjoyable mixed-gender team sport, suitable for adults of all ages and abilities. 

It’s easy to learn and play and you don’t have to be incredibly fit or have much experience of team sports to get the most out of the game. One of the sport’s main attractions is its varied player-roles on the team – there will be a place for you and your particular set of skills on the field!

Softball is a variant of baseball, played with a larger ball and on a smaller diamond, with the ball ‘pitched’ (or bowled) to the batter underarm, instead of overarm. In slowpitch softball, that underarm pitch must create a slow arc – this leads to lots of hits, lots of fielding, and lots of scoring.

The aim of softball is to score more runs than the other team at the end of 7 innings (an inning is over when 3 players are out on each team). A run is scored by a batter-runner reaching the home-plate. Unlike in rounders, the batter-runner does not need to pass all four bases off their own hit to score – you can run from any base to home-plate off your teammate’s hit, and that’s still a point for your team!

When you are batting you try and hit the ball before you get three strikes against you and attempt to advance around four bases to score a run. Meanwhile the fielding team is trying to get you out by catching balls hit into the air (like in rounders), throwing the ball to the base you’re attempting to reach (also like rounders), or by tagging you with the ball while you are off a base (like tag?). As with cricket, the batting order is fixed for the match, but unlike cricket, the batting order rolls over until the game is done – you will bat multiple times and a similar number of times to your teammates, whether you were safe or not.

Softball bats are metal or, more commonly nowadays, composite versions of baseball bats. Fielders use baseball gloves when fielding and catching the ball. Each team is made up of 10 players and the aim is to have 5 men and 5 women on each team with an equal distribution of each in the batting line-up and fielding positions.

The fact that men and women play together in the same team and on an equal level gives the sport a social buzz, and helps build a strong community within teams and across the league. 

Softball encourages new friendships and team-building. It is a great social activity as well as a sporting competition so why not give it a try!

You can read more about softball here (look for slowpitch softball).