Softball
About Softball
Softball is a Summer sport played from October through to March in most states, by boys and girls of all abilities and ages. Children can start playing from as young as 5 or 6, in modified games that introduce softball-specific skills through fun game based activities. A softball game generally lasts for 90 minutes (a regulation game lasts for seven innings). The game's format is similar to baseball, with one team fielding whilst the opposing team is batting. It's an anaerobic sport that involves strength, power, agility, speed and a range of skills. Theoretically all members f the tem are required to bat and field, whilst pitching is left only to the specialist pitchers. The fastest female softball pitcher in the world throws at around 118km/hour and the fastest male at around 150km/hour. Australia is the only softball nation in the world to have all their national teams ranked in the top three in the world.
Author: Accredited Sports Dietitian Leanne Hammond (Qld) with input from Tanya Harding (Australian softball representative and three-time Olympian)
