What are the rules of softball?

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I have a little sister in Softball but am not a sports fan so I don't know the rules of the game and was hoping someone here could help me understand some things. I know SOME but am confused on other things. Sorry if I sound stupid I'm totally NOT a sports fan!

Home Run= Hit a ball WAY out there and your batter runs all 4 bases YA!

Strike= You swing and miss

That's as far as my knowledge goes sorry.

1) What 's "Ball?" (Besides the thing they throw to each other?)

2) What is "Out"

3) What is a "run?"

4) For some reason this "Out" thingy or the Strikes not sure lead to only 1 teammate on the opposing team to go up to bat IMO I thought this was unfair since MY sisters team I believe went through there batters twice!! !! !!

4) If you hit the ball to the left/right it's FOUL or if you tap it and it goes behind you FOUL! IMO FINE! But when the pitcher misses the empire (or whatever that catcher by the batter is called) Everyone OMG! Scrambles for the ball!! !! ! UH?! Why isn't that a "foul" The pitcher missed the umpire (or whatever the catcher by the batter is called!! !!)

5) Also more Aspie/NT issue here. A few weeks ago I said YA! Good Job! For the opposing team running 3 bases OMG! your sister missed catching the ball!! !! But tonight when the opposing team made a hit THERE FIRST HIT of the entire GAME my mom/dad said Good hit. I looked at her glaringly and she said good hit. I think hitting it once out of the entire game is not a big deal it just means YOU SUCK/YOUR TEAM SUCKS! The opposing team hitting it way out there and running 3 bases now THAT'S A GOOD PLAY! I'll never understand NT's.

Thanks!! !! ! Sorry if I sound stupid I'm not much of a sports fan.

Well, I'm a huge baseball player and fan and I'm pretty sure the rules would be the same for girls' softball. Let me try to answer your questions.

1) A ball is when the pitcher throws a pitch that is out of the "strike zone" - or in other words, a pitch that would've been very difficult for the hitter to hit with their bat. It can be too low, too high, too close, or too far. If the batter gets 4 balls, they get a free pass to first base, which is called a "walk".

2) Out is when the batter/runner has to go back to the dugout after hitting the ball not well enough to get to base. There are a few ways for a batter or runner to get "out". The first way is a strikeout, if the batter gets 3 strikes, they are out. Another is a flyout - when the batter hits the ball and any of the defensive players (aka fielders) catch it before it hits the ground. Another is a groundout - when the batter hits the ball and it rolls on the ground to one of the fielders, and they throw to 1st base before the batter reaches 1st base. Also, if a fielder is holding the ball and tags someone running the bases, that baserunner is out. When the defensive team makes 3 outs, the inning ends.

3) A run is when a batter makes it to home plate. "Run" is the baseball term for "point" and whichever team gets the most runs scores. The home run is the most obvious way to score a run, but a baserunner could stop at one of the bases after they hit and take a few turns before they have the opportunity to make it home for the run.

4) I'm not quite sure what you mean but my guess is that the defensive team made 3 outs and then got to bat.

4) (You made two 4's ) The umpire is the referee, who calls balls, strikes, outs, safe, and all other such calls. They stand at the way back of the plate are not allowed to touch the ball. The player the pitcher is throwing to is simply called the catcher. One of the catcher's duties on defense is to make sure they catch every pitch the pitcher throws, unless the batter hits it. So if the pitcher throws a pitch that goes behind the catcher, the catcher has to go get it. During that time, the baserunners also can take a chance at going to the next base.

5) Well, in sports, people typically cheer for only the team they want to win - which, in your case, I'm guessing is the team your sister plays on. Saying "nice hit" quietly isn't really cheering, it's more of a neutral sign of respect. If the opposing team makes a good play, the best thing to do is sit quietly, even if it looks exciting.

I hope I explained that well enough If you've any more questions, feel free to ask - no question is a stupid question, plus baseball is one of my "Aspie special interests".

Thank You VERY MUCH! I was hoping/thinking I'd find an Aspie with a special interest in baseball. Sorry I made 2 #4's whoops!! !! ! With how you explained it I understand the rules better. Since "run" is running all the way to home and the final score was 29-0 Yes when I said "YOUR TEAM SUCKS!" I meant it for tonight. Our team ran across home so much I lost track! 1,2,3, next batter ,1,2 next batter etc.

Almost all of our batters were hitting! It was awesome although I agree with my dad I like a close game not a game where we skunk the other team. We had to finish 4 innings or the runs wouldn't count but we finally played 4 innings. (Four innings are the rule for our team division I know baseball itself goes up to 9 innings but they are preteen girls that do get tired out there so we usually only play about 4 anyway. Thanks! Again!! !! You were VERY helpful!! !!

sign,Brandy

We are actually competing for "Runs" against another local team to go to finals and it's not the amount of games you win if you win all your games but how many "runs" you have. We don't know what the other local teams "runs" are but were told we had to play 4 innings or the "runs" wouldn't count. With a 20+ lead we told the girls to strikeout LOL!! !! ! Yet WHAM! One of the girls hit a home run LOL!! !! !! Then we found out we had to let the other team up to bat and to get "Out" to finally end the game. It'd be torture if they were 9 innings LOL! Thanks!

I'm glad I could help No offense but yelling "your team sucks!" would be considered rude, especially with a bunch of teenage girls. Although, you would hear 1,000,000x worse at an MLB game. Also, 29-0 is a ridiculous score, most baseball or softball games are like 7-4 or something.

Ya I believe the opposing team made like 2 players "Out" and then they went to the field and the whole team didn't get to bat only like 2-3 players compared to MY Sister's team which got "Balls" and "Runs" we went through our team of I think 8-10 players twice!! !! !! I guess it's possible to go up to bat twice if you still haven't made any "Outs" or enough "Balls" (since a hit and run is not a ball you go on to the next player to either get "Out" "Run" or "Ball" Thanks!! !!

LOL! Ya 29-0 was crazy! Some of the games are like that though. Also I know saying "Your team SUCKS!" is wrong I'd never say that out loud and I'm sure professional sports fans are at each others throats. People gamble over a winning team for goodness sake!! I'll better understand the game next time. I'll be more engaged in it. One of the girls is a great pitcher and when it's thrown just right she can hit a home run she's good at that. We also have another great pitcher. My sister Katelyn is either outfield or batter but she's too scared of the ball coming at you at 1,000mph! We practice at home and at a ball machine practice place but still that ball comes flying towards you I feel mentally she freaks out but I would too! LOL!