Creating an environment of safety and protection, potential injury can be reduced more affectively. There are many hazards in the game of softball. Hard flying balls. Swinging steel bats. By knowing the rules, modifying those rules for children, using protective equipment, and making sure the grounds, equipment and facilities are safe to use, an athlete's chances of sustaining an injury can be reduced.
Rules of Softball
By knowing the rules of softball, one can reduce the risk of injury as they know the ways in which to play the game. The rules are set in place to increase the quality of the game and also to protect the athletes. The rules of softball can be found at the Softball Australia website <http://www.softball.org.au/page/Softball-rules-x-19577-1-15875.html>
Modified Rules for Children
When children play softball, they do not have the adequate skill or development to perform at the same level as adults or even teenagers. Modified versions of the game have been developed to allow children to learn the basic skills of softball in a safe environment. The diamond size is reduced, the ball is changed, and the rules are different. Some official versions include T-Ball and Modball. T-Ball is a modified game of both baseball and softball to allow children to learn basic skills such as throwing, catching and batting without the risk of a pitcher or a hard ball. The general rules can be found here <http://baseball.com.au/Get-Involved/Play/Aussie-T-Ball/Rules> although most clubs change the rules to fit there players and organisers. Modball is a specific adaptation of softball that involves a coach or parent pitching slow pitches to their own team. This reduces the risk of injury to the batter and also to a pitcher as the technique of pitching is very particular. Each club has their own rules of modball and also have different levels. One example of the rules that a club has made to modify the rules of softball for children is found here <http://www.sutherland.softball.org.au/_uploads/res/4992_64456.PDF>
Use of Protective Equipment
Softball is a sport that has many risk factors involved. Even though it is called softball, the ball is anything but soft. Protective equipment is utilised so that players reduce their chances of injury. As apart of the rules, there are compulsory protective equipments that every player wear have to participate. They are:
Catchers also have to wear their full gear which consist of a helmet, chest plate and leg guards (shown below).
- Glove: this is used to catch the ball and reduce direct injury to the hand
- Helmet: a helmet must be worn at all times when batting and running the bases to reduce direct injury to the head
- Shin pads/guards: these must be worn throughout the entirely of the game to reduce direct injury
Catchers also have to wear their full gear which consist of a helmet, chest plate and leg guards (shown below).
There is also optional protective gear that can be worn by players to reduce injury. The more common include:
- Mouthguard to protect one's teeth from direct contact with the ball
- Face guard to protect the face from direct contact with the ball
- Thumb guard to reduce injury to the thumb inside the glove
- Arm guard to reduce direct injury to the arm
- Batting gloves are mainly used to reduce the formation of blisters and calluses
Safe Grounds, Equipment, and Facilities
Local councils have the responsibly to make sure that the diamonds are able to be played on. If there is too much water or mud on the diamond then play should not be allowed to continue as players could slip or get caught and injury themselves. It is a rule that softball is not allowed to be continued if there is lightening but can still be played in the rain. However, coaches and umpires should work hand in hand to stop the game if the field becomes unsafe.
Before each game, the umpires will make sure that each player has the compulsory equipment and that is in the right condition. They will also tell players to remove jewellery. If a player has unsafe equipment then they are told to use someone else's. A player who does not wear the appropriate gear will not be allowed to play unless the equipment is worn.
Most diamonds, have a fence around the back of home plate to stop the ball from hitting spectators and scorers. However, some do not continue this fence around the benches where the other players are waiting for their 'at bat' or are not in the field. This can cause injury when a ball is hit 'foul' to the spectators or other players. Caution should be taken when using fields without adequate fencing.
Before each game, the umpires will make sure that each player has the compulsory equipment and that is in the right condition. They will also tell players to remove jewellery. If a player has unsafe equipment then they are told to use someone else's. A player who does not wear the appropriate gear will not be allowed to play unless the equipment is worn.
Most diamonds, have a fence around the back of home plate to stop the ball from hitting spectators and scorers. However, some do not continue this fence around the benches where the other players are waiting for their 'at bat' or are not in the field. This can cause injury when a ball is hit 'foul' to the spectators or other players. Caution should be taken when using fields without adequate fencing.