softball secondary Intra-school/Level 1 Resource

Transcription

1 secondary Intra-school/Level 1 Resource softball Quick introduction Softball is a striking and fielding game played by two teams of 10 players. Teams score runs by getting players around the bases after hitting the ball. Think tactics Think about the strengths each fielder will need, i.e. first base needs to be able to catch well and outfielders need to be able to catch and throw well. Getting started The game is played on a diamond-shaped field with bases set out 65 feet apart. You will need a bat, two or three softballs or tennis balls, fielder s gloves for half the class (optional) and throw-down rubber mats for bases. The 10 fielders take up various positions in the field. The batter stands next to home plate and the ball should be pitched underarm in an arc reaching the batter between knee and shoulder height over the home plate. A pitch that passes through this area without the batter swinging, or is swung at and missed or swung at and hit into foul territory is a strike. A pitch that misses this area without being swung at is a ball. Three strikes and the batter is out; four balls and the batter advances to first base. If batters hit the ball into fair territory they have to run towards first base. A run is scored when the batter touches bases 1-4 consecutively not necessarily all in one go. A batter can be: caught out, struck out, tagged out (baserunner not standing on a base and touched by fielder holding the ball) and forced out (ball beats the runner to a base). An inning is completed when all 10 team members have batted. The field and batting team then change positions. Strike Zone. Left Field Short Stop Centre Field Second Base Right Field Third Base Pitcher First Base Catcher

2 Softball Organising the game Use other pitch markings to help set up the softball pitch, e.g. position the home plate on the corner of a football or hockey field. Alternatively you can mark out a pitch using rubber spots between bases. Ensure batters bat in the same order in each inning. Ensure transition between innings is quick (fielders need to know where their gloves are). Running on and off the field ensures maximum game time. Teams will need captains or teachers to decide the batting order and fielding positions. Umpires can help to ensure the game is run fairly by deciding when players are out. Young people can help keep score throughout the game. Young people can organise score sheets and match scheduling. Spirit of the Games: Excellence through Competition Keep it enjoyable Encourage players to celebrate when runs are scored Keep the game moving, with all players making a positive contribution. Making it easier Move the bases closer together. Allow batters to hit off a tee. Allow the pitcher to move closer to the batter. Safety Think inclusively Players waiting to bat should wait a safe distance Ensure there is an even split of boys and girls in the behind home plate (fourth base). After hitting the ball, the batter should drop, not throw, the bat to the ground before running towards first base. Officiating Young people can umpire the game from behind home plate by calling balls and strikes and deciding when players are out. Encourage all players to keep having a go. Everyone can succeed at softball if they keep trying all players can contribute something to the team. high fives are recommended! team and that fielding positions are allocated evenly, i.e. three boys and three girls are in the infield and two boys and two girls are in the outfield. Tag out. Force out. Runners can be introduced to support players with a visual or physical impairment. Use a bigger bat with more surface area for example, tennis racket or flat bat. This will help to include a young person with difficulties in hand-eye co-ordination. Consider playing on a hard surface (i.e. sports hall) when including SEN/disabled players. Caught out.

3 secondary Intra-school/Level 1 Resource Softball - progressive Quick introduction Progressive softball is a striking and fielding team game played with a minimum of 12 players in total. Players take it in turn to rotate through all positions on the field, both batting and fielding, so that every person has played in each position by the end of the game. Think tactics Hit the ball to gaps in the field and run directly between bases. Remain focused on the ball at all times, both when batting and fielding. Getting started The game is played on a diamond-shaped field with bases set out 65 feet apart. You will need a bat, two or three softballs or tennis balls, fielder s gloves for half the class (optional) and throw-down rubber mats for bases. Fielding players rotate around each position before each new batters turn. Once a batter is out or scores by reaching home plate, s/he should collect a glove and become a fielder. The remaining fielders move on by one position. The pitcher should pitch the ball in an underarm action in an arc towards the batter, who stands next to home plate. The pitch should reach the batter between knee and shoulder height and should pass across home plate. A pitch that passes through this area without the batter swinging, or is swung at and missed or swung at and hit into foul territory (outside the foul lines) is a strike. A pitch that misses this area without being swung at is a ball. Three strikes and the batter is out; four balls and the batter advances to first base. If batters hit the ball into fair territory (between the foul lines) they have to run towards first base. The batting team scores a run by a player touching first, second and third base and then home plate (fourth base) not necessarily all in one go. The four main ways in which batters can be put out are: caught out, struck out, tagged out (baserunner not standing on a base and touched by fielder holding the ball) and forced out (ball beats the runner to a base). Strike Zone.

4 Softball - progressive Organising the game Use other pitch markings to help set up the softball pitch, e.g. position the home plate on the corner of a football or hockey field. Alternatively you can mark out a pitch using rubber spots between bases. Number the positions before starting the activity. Make sure players know what position they are heading to next. Safety Players waiting to bat should wait a safe distance behind home plate (fourth base). After hitting the ball, the batter should drop, not throw, the bat to the ground before running towards first base. Officiating Add players in as home plate and base umpires. Encourage players to keep a running cumulative score Make sure that the changeovers between batting and fielding teams are quick and snappy. Making it easier Allowing the teacher to pitch can add consistency to the activity for all players. Batters can use a batting tee if necessary. Bases can be moved closer together. Think inclusively Batters can hit and have other players run for them. Batters can hit the ball from a tee. Spirit of the Games: Excellence through Competition Encourage respect for team-mates and opponents. Recognise that all players can make a contribution in all positions on the field. for the class. Keep it enjoyable Encourage players to celebrate with their team when a runner gets to home plate high fives are recommended!

5 secondary Intra-school/Level 1 Resource Softball - Home Run Hitter Quick introduction A fun activity for two teams of players to practise their hitting, running and throwing skills. It will also challenge the players ability to think and make decisions. Think tactics Hit the ball to gaps between fielders and run directly between bases. Getting started Two teams of approximately 10 players. One team bats, the other fields. The game is played on a diamond-shaped field with bases set out 65 feet apart. Fielders can take up different positions including all bases. Batter s hit the ball off a batting tee into fair territory and then run around all the bases and back to home (fourth base). If the ball lands in foul territory the batter hits again. The fielder at each base needs to catch the ball while touching the base with their foot. They then throw to the next base. A run is scored if the runner reaches home before the ball arrives. The runner is out if the ball beats the runner to home plate but the runner can only be out at the home plate. After all batters have hit, swap over. The team with the most runs after both teams have batted wins the game. Left Field Centre Field Right Field Short Stop Second Base Third Base Pitcher First Base Some players may want to use a tee. Catcher

6 Softball - home run hitter Organising the game Keep it enjoyable Use other pitch markings to help set up the softball A pitcher can be used instead of hitting the ball from pitch, e.g. position the home plate on the corner of a football or hockey field. Alternatively you can mark out a pitch using rubber spots between bases. Ensure the fielders know the order in which they will be throwing the ball from base to base. Ensure all players understand what is fair, and what is foul territory. Safety Runners should touch the part of the base inside the diamond when running. Players waiting to bat should wait a safe distance behind home plate. After hitting the ball, the batter should drop, not throw, the bat to the ground before running towards first base. Officiating Have an official at home plate to decide if the ball or batter got there first. Have an official keep a running score for the batting team. Have an official on each base to ensure that the fielders touch their base before throwing to the next base. a tee. Encourage players to see how far they can hit the ball each time. Perhaps include a distance competition as part of the game. Making it easier Use different types and sizes of bats and balls, depending on the players abilities. You could also shorten the distance between bases. Think inclusively Runners can be introduced to support players with a visual or physical impairment. Consider playing on a hard surface (i.e. sports hall) when including SEN/disabled players. Reduce the number of bases a SEN/disabled player has to reach to score a home run. Spirit of the Games: Excellence through Competition Did all players touch the bases when playing, i.e. did batters touch all four bases when running and did fielders touch their base before throwing to the next fielder?