Softball Vocabulary and Terms PDF

SOFTBALL VOCABULARY and TERMS
1. Ball: a pitch that does not pass through the strike zone and is not swung at by the batter.
2. Base Hit: a hit that allows the batter to safely reach first base (single); second base
(double); or third base (triple).
3. Base Path: the running lane for base runners. It is three feet wide.
4. Bases Loaded: the situation when base runners occupy first, second, and third base.
5. Baselines: the two lines that run from home plate through first and third base. They
separate fair territory from foul and extend beyond the bases to become the right and left
field foul lines.
6. Batter’s Box: a three foot by seven foot area on the right and left sides of home plate in
which the batter must stand when at bat.
7. Batting Order: each batter must bat in the assigned order. A batter who bats out of
order is out.
8. Bunt: a ball not fully swung at but lightly tapped to the infield.
9. Clean-up Batter: person with the best hitting…bats fourth in the line-up.
10. Distance Between the Bases: sixty feet.
11. Double Play: two defensive players put out two base runners in the same action.
12. Fair Ball: a batted ball that lands in or is touched by a player in fair territory, infield or
outfield, or first lands in foul territory and then rolls fair into the infield and stops there.
Any ball hitting the foul lines or first or third base is considered fair.
13. Fair Territory: the playing field within and including the foul lines.
14. Fielder’s Choice: a defensive play in which the batter reaches base as a result of a
defensive player opting to make a play on another base runner.
15. Fly Ball: a batted ball that has not touched the ground. A caught fly ball is an out.
16. Force Out: the fielder with the ball in hand touches the base before the runner, who
was forced to run, arrives. A runner is forced to run when he/she loses the right to be
on a base and must move ahead because the batter or another base runner is coming to
occupy that base.
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Softball Vocabulary and Terms
17. Foul Ball: a batted ball that lands in an area outside the foul lines and stays there.
18. Foul lines: extend from home plate past first and third base.
19. Foul Territory: the area outside the foul lines.
20. Grand Slam: a home run hit with the bases loaded.
21. Ground Rule: a rule changed or added for a specific place (like Nobel) or a specific
situation (like a safety rule).
22. Grounder (ground ball): ball hitting the ground.
23. Home Run: a hit that allows the batter to run around all the bases, cross home plate,
and score.
24. Infield: area within the baseline.
25. Infield Fly Rule: a fly ball hit in the infield with runners on first and second base or first,
second, and third base and one or no outs. The batter is out even if the ball is not caught.
26. Infielders: pitcher, catcher, first, second, and third baseman, and short stop.
27. Inning: each team has a turn at bat and is allowed three outs before going outfield. A
completed inning is when both teams have had their “ups.”
28. Mound: area the pitcher stands on.
29. Out: when a batter or base runner is prevented from safely reaching or advancing bases.
30. Outfield: area beyond the baseline.
31. Outfielders: left, center, and right fielders.
32. Overthrow to First Base: runner may advance only one base.
33. Run: scored each time a base runner touches first, second, third base and home plate
before the third out in an inning.
34. Scorekeeper: the person who keeps a record of the game including batting orders, base
hits, outs, and runs scored.
35. Stealing: the act of advancing one base after the ball is released from the pitcher’s hand.
36. Stealing Bases: you may leave when the ball is released from the pitcher’s hand.
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Softball Vocabulary and Terms
37. Strike: a pitch that is swung at and missed, the ball is hit into foul territory, or the batter
does not swing at a ball that enters the strike zone. A foul ball only counts as a strike for
the first and second strike. The batter is out after three strikes.
38. Strike Zone: imaginary rectangular space above home plate between the batter’s
armpits and the knee tops when in a natural batting stance.
39. Tag Out: this happens when a fielder tags the base runner (touches the runner with the
ball or with the ball in the glove) before the runner arrives at a base or between the bases.
40. Tagging Up: the act of a base runner returning to touch a base after a fly ball is caught.
The runner may then attempt to advance to the next base.
41. Umpire: the person who makes decisions on plays at the bases, on fair or fouls balls, and
other rulings.
42. Walk/Base on Balls: four balls allow the batter to go to first base.

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What is the difference between a force out and a tag out?

What are some examples of ways a batter can reach base safely?

SOFTBALL VOCABULARY and TERMS

10. Distance Between the Bases: sixty feet.

19. Foul Territory: the area outside the foul lines.

22. Grounder (ground ball): ball hitting the ground.

24. Infield: area within the baseline.

28. Mound: area the pitcher stands on.

30. Outfield: area beyond the baseline.

31. Outfielders: left, center, and right fielders.

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