Family › Softball words
Softball words
Plain meanings for the words you will hear at the field. Some details, like the run rule and the infield fly rule, change between leagues, so ask your coach.
B
- Back up a play
- Run behind a teammate in case the ball gets past her.
- Ball
- A pitch the batter doesn't swing at that is outside the strike zone. Four balls and the batter walks to first base.
- Batter's box
- The marked area right next to home plate where the batter stands.
- Bunt
- Holding the bat out and tapping the ball softly so it rolls a short way.
C
- Changeup
- A slow pitch thrown with the same arm motion as a fast one, to fool the batter.
- Count
- The number of balls and strikes on the batter. The umpire says balls first, so "2 and 1" means 2 balls and 1 strike.
- Courtesy runner
- A player who runs the bases for the pitcher or catcher so they can rest and get ready for defense.
- Cutoff
- An infielder who stands between an outfielder and a base, to catch a long throw and pass it on.
D
- Double play
- Two outs on one play.
- Dugout
- Where a team sits when it isn't batting or playing in the field.
E
- Error
- A fielder mistake, like a dropped catch or a bad throw, that lets a batter or runner move up.
F
- Fair ball
- A ball that lands inside the white lines, or on top of a white line.
- Force out
- An out made by touching the base a runner has to run to.
- Foul ball
- A ball that lands outside the white lines.
- Full count
- 3 balls and 2 strikes.
G
- Grounder
- A ball hit on the ground.
H
- Hit
- When the batter hits a fair ball and reaches base safely, without a fielder making an error.
- Home run
- A fair ball hit over the outfield fence without bouncing. The batter and every runner score.
I
- Infield fly
- A rule for easy pop-ups with runners on first and second and fewer than 2 outs. The batter is out, even if the ball is dropped. Your league decides the details.
- Interference
- When a runner bumps into a fielder who is trying to field the ball. The runner is out.
L
- Lead runner
- The runner who is farthest around the bases.
- Line drive
- A ball hit hard and low, flying through the air in a straight line.
O
- Obstruction
- When a fielder without the ball stands in the base path and blocks the runner.
- On-deck circle
- The spot where the next batter waits and warms up.
P
- Pickle
- When a runner is stuck between two bases and the fielders try to tag her.
- Pitcher's circle
- The circle in the middle of the infield where the pitcher stands to throw.
- Pop-up
- A ball hit high in the air that doesn't go very far.
R
- RBI
- Run batted in. The batter gets credit when her hit lets a runner score.
- Run rule
- Sometimes called the mercy rule. If one team is far ahead after enough innings, the game ends early. Your league sets the details.
S
- Scoring position
- A runner on second or third, close enough to score on a hit.
- Slapper
- A left-handed batter who runs forward in the box as she swings, to get a head start to first base.
- Steal
- A runner leaving her base to run to the next one, when the pitcher lets go of the ball.
- Strike
- A pitch in the strike zone that the batter doesn't hit, a swing and a miss, or a foul ball. Three strikes and the batter is out.
- Strike zone
- The space over home plate, between the batter's armpits and the top of her knees.
T
- Tag out
- An out made by touching a runner with the ball when she isn't on a base.
- Tag up
- Waiting on a base until a fielder first touches a caught fly ball, then running to the next base.
- Top and bottom
- Top of an inning: the visiting team bats. Bottom: the home team bats.
W
- Walk
- When the pitcher throws four balls and the batter goes to first base.
No words match. Try fewer letters.