Softball: 12 in (30.5 cm) circumference. Field is

Baseball: 9 - 9.25 in (23 - 23.5 cm) circumference

Players: A team consists of ten players, but may start and play a game with nine. A team may have any number of substitutes, but the substitute must report to the umpire before entering the game. A substitute may enter the game as a batter, fielder, runner, or pitcher, but must take the place in the batting order of the person they are replacing. A player who leaves a game may not re-enter (re-entering is allowed in physical education classes). The ten positions shall be named as shown in the following diagram.

1. Pitcher

2. Catcher

3. First baseman

4. Second Baseman

5. Third Baseman

6. Shortstop

7. Left Fielder

8. Center Fielder

9. Right Fielder

10. Short center fielder

(only utilized when playing with a 16" softball)

Definitions and Terminology:

Ball: A legally pitched ball that does not enter the strike zome or touch the ground before it reaches home plate and is not swung at or a legally pitched that does not have a perceptible arc of 6", or has an are more than 12" high from the ground.

Blocked Ball: A ball that is batted or thrown beyond the field of play and is touched by a person or object not engaged in the game. One base is given to all base runners (Not a foul).

Dead Ball: A ball that is not in play and is not considered in play again until the pitcher holds it in the pitching position and the umpire callsd "play ball".

Double: A two base hit 

Double Play: A defensive play that results in two outs.

Error: An avoidable misplay which in the scorer's opinion could have been made.

Force Out: This results when the base runner is forced to advance by reason of the batter hitting a fair ball. The base runner need not be tagged, but may be put out by the being thrown to the base to which the base runner was advancing and merely touching the base.

Foul Ball: A legally batted ball that settles in foul territory or lands fair and rolls foul in the infield. It is also a ball that first lands in foul territory in the outfield regardless of where it bounces or stops. This hit counts as a strike on the batter until two strikes have been called. The batter may hit any number of fouls without penalty. The base runners may not advance off a foul ball.

Foul Tip:  A foul ball which goes directly from the bat, not higher than the batter's hat into the catcher's hands and the cathcer holds the ball. This is called a strike on the batter and the batter is out if this occurs on the third strike.

Homerun: When the batter legally touches all of the bases in order without stopping and without being put out.

Infield Fly Rule: When there are less than two outs with runners on first or second or bases loaded. The batter is automatically called out by the umpire if the batter hits a fly ball that can easily be caught by an infielder. This rule is to protect the batting team. All base runners may advance at their own risk.

Inning: That portion of a game during which each team gets a turn at bat.

Overthrow: Any ball thrown from one fielder to another to retire a runner, but goes into foul territory on a play at first, third, or home. As a result the base runner may advance any number of bases with liablilty of being put out.

Single: A one base hit.

Strike Out: A total of three strikes on a batter during one at bat.

Triple: A three base hit.

Walk: A base on balls (four)

Batting Order

The established batting order must be maintained throughout the game. If a sub is entered into the game, they must take the batter's place in the batting order.

The Batter is Out When:

1. Three strikes are called or made.

2. Any fair or foul fly ball is caught.

3. A foul tip is caught on the third strike.

4. The batter is hit by their own batted ball in fair territory before it is played by a fielder. (The batter must be out of the batter's box in order to be out.)

5. The batter steps out of the batter's box while hitting the ball.

6. If any member of the team at bat interferes with a fielder attempting to catch a foul fly ball.

7. the ball reaches first base and is caught before the runner reaches first base.

8. The batter interferes with the catcher.

9. The batter is tagged with the ball before reaching any base.

The Batter Becomes a Base Runner When:

1. A fair hit is made.

2. A pitcher pitches four balls to one batter.

3. A fielder makes an error and is unable to throw the ball to first base before the runner touches the base.

4. The catcher interferes with the batter.

Base Runners:

A runner must touch each base in order and may overrun only first base, without being put out. Before a runner may advance, they must return and touch the base when a fly ball, fair or foul, is caught. A base runner must stay within three feet of the baseline except when going around a fielder playing the ball. A runner will not advance to the next base if there is another runner on it unless forced and they will not pass a preceding runner. The base runner may advance to the next base if it is unoccupied when played on by the pitcher or catcher while leading off.