Softball

Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams on a diamond-shaped field, who take turns batting and fielding. There are two primary forms: Fast-pitch and slow-pitch. In both forms, the pitcher throws the ball underhand to batters. In fast-pitch, the ball is typically thrown with a "windmill" motion and releasing the ball at hip level. Pitchers throw balls up to 77 miles per hour (124 km/h). Fast-pitch is played at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels. Women's fast-pitch softball was introduced to the Summer Olympic Games in 1996. Softball was not included in the 2024 Summer Olympics but will return for the 2028 Summer Olympics. Slow-pitch softball is commonly played in recreational leagues, with the ball being pitched at slow speeds and slightly simplified rules, making it an accessible sport for people of many ages. Depending on the variety being played and the age and gender of the players, the particulars of the field and equipment will also vary. While distances between bases of 60 feet (18 m) are standard across varieties, the pitcher's plate ranges from 35 to 43 feet (10.7 to 13.1 m) away from home plate, and the home run fence can be 220 to 300 feet (67 to 91 m) away from home plate based on the players' age. The ball itself is typically 11 or 12 inches (28 or 30 centimetres) in circumference, though this also depends on specifics of the competition: for younger age categories, the ball is smaller. Softball rules vary in certain aspects from those of baseball. The game moves at a faster pace than traditional baseball due to the field being smaller and the bases and the fielders being closer to home plate. Softball is pitched underhand from flat ground, whereas baseball is pitched overhand from a raised pitcher's...