Fastpitch Versus Slowpitch Softball
How fastpitch and slowpitch softball differ in pitching, hitting, baserunning, defense and equipment, who plays each version, and how to choose between them as a player, parent or fan.
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High School Softball and the Road to College
A practical guide to how softball recruiting works, from the five levels of college play and the grade-by-grade timeline to contacting coaches, evaluating offers and avoiding common mistakes.
How Fastpitch Softball Works
A clear introduction to fastpitch softball: the field, the ball and bat, the underhand windmill pitch, hitting and baserunning rules, a seven-inning game, and how it compares with baseball.
NCAA Softball Tournament Format and Selection
How the NCAA Division I softball tournament works, from the 64-team field and the selection committee to regionals, super regionals, the Women's College World Series and the best-of-three final.
Professional Softball in the United States
A history of professional softball leagues in the United States, from the 1970s through National Pro Fastpitch and the newer leagues, with the reasons the game has struggled to last and how to check current status.
Slowpitch Softball Leagues and Strategy
How adult slowpitch softball works, how leagues are organized, and the hitting, pitching, defense and lineup strategies that win games, written for first-time players and captains alike.
Softball at the Olympics: Its History and Return
Women's softball was an Olympic sport from 1996 to 2008, returned for the Tokyo Games and is slated for Los Angeles in 2028. This guide covers the medalists, the 2005 vote, the gaps and what to check before you plan around it.
Softball Bats, Gloves and Equipment
A buying guide to softball bats, gloves, helmets, catcher's gear and footwear: how to read bat specifications, size a glove, check league certifications and avoid the common purchase mistakes.
Softball Pitching Rules and Distances
How fastpitch softball pitching works, from the 43-foot distance used in high school, college and international play to the shorter distances for younger players, the legal delivery and common illegal-pitch calls.
Softball Positions and Defense
A position-by-position guide to fastpitch softball defense, covering what each fielder does, bunt coverage, relays, the DP/FLEX rule, how slowpitch adds a tenth player, and how to read fielding statistics.
Softball Versus Baseball: Dimensions, Equipment and Strategy
How fastpitch softball differs from baseball in field size, pitching distance, ball, bat, baserunning rules and strategy, with the geometry worked out so you can see why each difference matters.
Slap Hitting in Softball
Slap hitting turns a left-handed hitter's speed into infield hits by starting her run before contact. The footwork, the swing, the targets, the rules to watch and the practice steps, with advice to confirm details with a coach.
The Windmill Pitching Motion Explained
How the fastpitch windmill delivery works, from the stance to the follow-through, what the rules allow, how the pitches spin, and general arm-care principles for pitchers, parents and coaches.
The Women's College World Series
How the NCAA softball championship works, from the 64-team field to the eight teams in Oklahoma City and the best-of-three final, with its history, its rules of play and how to follow it as a fan.
Title IX and the Growth of Softball
How the 1972 federal law on sex discrimination in education helped turn softball from a recreational pastime into a school and college sport with national championships, an Olympic history and a path to the pros.
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