The Game

• Softball consists of nine players on a team, similar to that of baseball. An official game lasts seven innings with three outs per inning and can include additional innings thereafter if necessary.
  
  

The Field of Play

• The four baselines all measure 60 feet in length. The distance of the pitching mound to home plate in collegiate and Olympic play is 43 feet for females and 46 feet for males. For high school levels and younger, the distance in 40 feet for females and the same 46 feet for males.
  
  

Batting

• Each team must follow their batting order, submitted to the officials prior to the start of the game. All batting substitutions must be reported to an official during the course of the game. A batter is called out by a strikeout, a ground out or a fly out. A batter may not step outside of the batter's box during a pitch or he/she may be automatically given a strike.
  
  

Pitching

• A pitcher must have both feet on the pitching rubber at the start of their motion. They may take one step forward while keeping one foot on the rubber for the duration of the pitch. To start, a pitcher must have both hands (glove and free hand) on the ball and must throw the ball in an underhand motion.
  
  

Base Running

• When base running, a runner may only overrun first base when advancing. If any other base is overrun, they may be tagged out during any time off of the base. There is no leading off of a base in softball under any circumstances. A runner may only attempt a steal once the ball has reached home plate. A runner may attempt to advance bases on a fly out once he/she has touched the initial base they were on after the ball has been caught. In addition, a runner may not run more than three feet outside of the base path to avoid a tag or they are deemed out.