10 and under teams typically use a softball with a circumference of 11 inches and diameter of 3.5 inches. 11 and up age teams typically use a softball with a circumference of 12 inches and a diameter of 3.8 inches.

What is a 12-inch softball?

12 Inches. The 12-inch ball is the standard for slow-pitch softball. The ball is a little softer than the 11-inch version. The softness and its size, which makes it slightly harder to throw than a smaller ball, slows the speed of the game just a little bit compared to a game using an 11-inch ball.

How big is the circle around the softball mound?

Pitcher's circle and rubber — The radius of the pitcher's circle around the pitcher's rubber is 8 feet. Of course, this makes the diameter of the pitcher's circle 16 feet. As for the rubber, the rules state it should measure 24 inches by 6 inches and be level with the ground.

What is the biggest softball size?

16-Inch Softballs

The largest softball approved by the ASA for regulation play is 16 inches in circumference and used in men's 16-inch softball games. The 16-inch softball dates back to the beginning of the sport, when the first balls used to play were 16 inches in diameter.

What is the official softball size?

What is the diameter of a softball? 10 and under teams typically use a softball with a circumference of 11 inches and diameter of 3.5 inches. 11 and up age teams typically use a softball with a circumference of 12 inches and a diameter of 3.8 inches.

Softball diamond easy marking plan

Why is it called 16-inch softball?

Game play for 16-inch softball is mostly consistent with standard softball game play. In contrast to standard, or 12-inch (30.48 cm) softball, it is played with a ball 16 inches (40.64 cm) in circumference.

What is the softball circle?

The Softball Pitcher's Circle is the location of the Softball Field where the Softball Pitcher stands to pitch the ball to the batter. The Softball Pitcher's Mound is placed at the middle of the infield and although its name suggests it is a mound, it is physically a flat circle.

How do you make a softball pitching circle?

The softball pitching circle is a 16′ diameter circle.

The center is located along an invisible line extending from the apex of home plate through the center of 2nd base. The front, center edge of the pitching rubber is located in the center of the 8′ radius pitching circle.

What is the circle rule in softball?

On any base hit, the runner is allowed to continue advancement even if the pitcher has received the ball back in the circle. Again, in this case, a stoppage will cause a count to commence. The attempt to advance must be one continuous motion without a stoppage at a base.

How far can you hit a 16 inch softball?

Any softball rules not covered or found in this section will be covered or found in Part I of the current edition of the official NSA Rulebook. The official 16 inch diamond base lines will be sixty (60) feet. The pitching distance will be thirty-eight (38) feet. All batters start with 0-0 count ● No Extra foul balls!

What is unique about 16 inch softball in Chicago?

The Game Of 16-Inch Softball

At that size, players are able to play the game without the need to use gloves. Plus, a 16-inch softball doesn't travel as far as the smaller one when it. This makes playing games a lot easier in the Chicago landscape where there are plenty of smaller parks and playgrounds.

What is the most popular size softball in inches?

Today the game of softball is played worldwide with standard sets of rules. There are still three sizes of balls in use: 12-inch, 14-inch, and 16-inch. The 12-inch ball is the most popular.

What are the different softball sizes?

SIZING. The league you're in will determine which size softball is appropriate for play. Generally, competitive league softballs range from 10″-12″, while some slow pitch city leagues can use softballs as large as 16″. For youngsters, softballs are usually 11″ or 12″.

What size is a high school softball?

Use the Right Equipment

The high school fast-pitch softball is 12 inches in circumference and weighs between 6 1/4 and 7 ounces. Players typically use metal bats which must meet Amateur Softball Association of America standards.

Why is softball mound flat?

Because it started indoors, there was no mound for a softball pitcher to play off of. Throwing from a flat surface for multiple pitches and innings at a time has the potential to damage an athlete's arm, so the delivery became underhand.

What kind of dirt is used for pitching mound?

Our experts prefer using two types of clay: a harder clay on the plateau and landing area of the mound and a regular infield mix clay for the sides and back of the mound. The harder mix has more clay and is typically made up of 40 percent sand, 40 to 50 percent clay, and 10 to 20 percent silt.

What does the circle around the softball mound mean?

The look-back rule is in effect when the ball is live, the batter-runner has touched first base and the pitcher has possession and control of the ball within the circle. In the above case both runners were off and stopped. The effect is that the ball is dead and the offending runner is out.

How far are the bases in softball?

Distance between bases: Measure 60 feet between first, second and third bases. Home plate to the front of the pitching rubber: The distance from the back tip of home plate to the pitching rubber should be 43 feet.

How are softball bases measured?

Measure 60 feet toward the third-base area and mark a short arc. Fasten the tape at the center of second base and measure 60 feet toward first and third bases and strike arcs. Where these arcs intersect the first two arcs struck at first and third bases will be where first and third bases will be located.

How big is a Chicago softball?

16-inch softball is an official sport in Chicago Public Schools. Only the boys play 16-inch whereas girls play fast-pitch, according to the Chicago Public Schools website. “We got the (public) high schools to start it as a lettered sport about 20 years ago,” said Al Maag, co-founder of the 16-inch softball Hall of Fame ...

Why is it called softball?

The name "softball" was given to the game in 1926 because the ball used to be soft; however, in modern-day usage, the balls are hard. A tournament held in 1933 at the Chicago World's Fair spurred interest in the game.

How big is a 16-inch softball?

Ball Size. 1. The most notable difference between Chicago softball and standard softball is the size of the ball. The Chicago softball is 16 inches in diameter, compared with the 12-inch standard-size softball.