How popular is softball in Britain?
There are two types of softball: slowpitch and fastpitch. The slowpitch version of softball is the fastest-growing summer team sport in the country. There are more than 400 adult teams in leagues in most major cities in Britain. Fastpitch softball, which was an Olympic sport until recently, is mainly played by women. In Britain, the game is young but growing. Most clubs are in London and the South East.
Health benefits of softball
Softball is mainly a summer game, played from April to September, although there are also indoor leagues in the winter. Playing softball is a good opportunity to get out into the fresh air and sunshine. It's good exercise and will improve your fitness. It is also a sociable sport, played by both men and women, and can be a good opportunity to form friendships. Softball doesn't require a lot of running. It's based on skill rather than endurance.
What's the aim of the game?
The aim of the game is to score runs. A ball is thrown by a pitcher to a batter. In slowpitch softball, the ball is thrown underarm. In fastpitch it is thrown overarm. After the batter hits the ball, he or she runs in a circle, touching a series of bases on the way and returning to the "home" base. Fielders try to catch or collect the ball while the batter runs. When the batter returns to the home base, a run is scored. The batter is out if a ball is caught before it hits the ground. The team that scores the most runs after seven rounds of play (or innings) wins the game.
Training tips for softball
The three basic skills of softball are throwing, catching and hitting. Find a friend, a softball and two fielders' gloves and practise throwing and catching until you can do both with confidence and accuracy. Find or borrow a bat and get a friend to pitch (throw) a tennis ball or wiffle ball to you to practise the timing required to make contact with the bat. You will get more out of your training if you have received some basic coaching in these skills beforehand.
Advice on getting started in softball
There are softball leagues and teams in major cities and towns throughout England and Scotland. League play tends to be on weekday evenings after work during the summer, and there are weekend tournaments for keener teams.
Most leagues run beginner sessions and offer coaching to help people learn to play and find a team. For specific information on how and where to get involved, see the British Softball Federation's website.
What equipment do I need?
You probably don't need any equipment, since the team or club you start with will provide the essentials: bats, balls and fielders' gloves. If you continue to play, you may want to buy your own glove and bat.
Advice on getting into competitive softball
Most slowpitch softball leagues play for fun, with games scheduled on midweek evenings after work. For more serious teams and players, there are tournaments around the country on almost every weekend during the season. Both league and independent teams compete in these. If you do well, you could try out for an independent tournament team. There are annual trials for the GB slowpitch softball team and the GB development squad.
There are small junior and senior fastpitch leagues that play outdoors in the summer and indoors in the winter. Internationally, the GB women's softball team is ranked second in Europe. There are under-19, under-16 and under-13 GB youth teams, as well as a winter youth academy open to all interested players aged 10–19.
