In This Guide
Softball: An Underhanded Way to Play
Created on Thanksgiving Day in 1887 as an ad hoc game of indoor baseball, softball has grown immensely over the past 120 years. Today it’s one of the most popular team sports in the United States, with more than 15 million Americans participating every year. We’ve compiled our favorite Web sites to help you learn about the game, follow competitive softball, and play the game yourself.
Expand All Guide SectionsRules and History of Softball
From a way to keep Chicago firemen busy during the bouts of inactivity between calls to an Olympic ... read more »
Softball Leagues and Tournaments
Softball is played competitively in more than 100 countries across the world, and there are ... read more »
Softball News
You don’t have to wait for the Olympics or College World Series to find coverage of ... read more »
Recreational Softball Leagues
There are leagues across the country for every kind of player: man or woman, old or young, casual ... read more »
Improving at Softball
Whether you’re a competitive player or just playing for fun on a company team, the Web has sites full of advice on how to become a better player. We’ve tracked down the best.
Dulcinea's Insight
- There is a distinct difference between the swing in a fast pitch game and the swing in a slow pitch game. In fast pitch, the swing must be short and quick to make contact with the speeding ball. The slow pitch swing often involves a long, slow coiling and uncoiling to generate as much power as possible.
- Softball clinics and camps are a great way to improve your game. To find one in your area, use a search engine or look on the “Parks and Recreation” section of your town or city’s Web site.
Dulcinea's Picks
For fast pitch …
The K-Zone
is the Web site of the Keylon Randolph Fastpitch Academy, offering advice on pitching, catching, fielding, training, and the college recruiting process. The advice is directed toward coaches, with workout suggestions and tips for evaluating players, but the information is just as useful for players.
Softball Clinics
offers advice for coaches, covering both on-field teaching and off-field management. There are downloadable resources available, such as pitching and hitting charts, and a pitch-grip page that can help a pitcher put the correct spin on the ball.
Fast Pitch Softball
features articles written by three successful NCAA coaches. There are a number of topics covered, including how to teach hitting and fielding, how to put players in the right position in the field and in the lineup, and how to approach coaching.
Girls-Softball
features articles written by a “player, coach, and fan” of softball. Much of the content focuses on preparation, strategy, and the mental side of the game, rather than on technique. The articles are easy to read, and the author often includes personal anecdotes to stress the importance of a particular point.
US Fastpitch Camps
has a few tips on hitting, throwing, and buying a glove. It focuses on the mental aspect of the game and each tip can be applied easily and immediately.
For slow pitch …
Swing Mechanics
teaches the art of the slow pitch softball swing. The most helpful parts of the site are the three-part swing tutorial and the explanation on how to hit fly balls, line drives, and ground balls. There are also videos to supplement the lessons, but be aware that there is some foul language in some of them.
Buying Softball Equipment and Apparel
Though it appears to use mostly the same equipment as baseball, competitive players require ... read more »
© 2012 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
