• Softball rules vary slightly from baseball rules.Softball glove image by paolanogueras from Fotolia.com
  
  Just like its relative baseball, softball has an extensive history that dates back more than 100 years. George Hancock is credited with playing the first game of what it now considered softball. Although the game is very similar to baseball, there are a few modifications that make softball distinctive. Today the sport thrives --- mostly within women's athletics --- and exists on a variety of levels, from Little League to collegiate sports.
  
  

Softball Size

• The first obvious rule about softball concerns the size of the ball, softball being played with a much larger ball (although similar in appearance) than baseball. Regulation softballs, depending on the level at which the game is played, are generally 12 inches in circumference. The weight of the ball is required to be between 6.25 and 7 ounces. By comparison, baseball is played with a ball that measures 9 inches in circumference and 5 to 5.25 ounces in weight.
  
  

Pitching

• Due to its larger size, softballs are difficult to throw overhand. Therefore, softball regulations state that the ball must be pitched underhand to the batter. This underhand pitching motion has also caused the evolution of a distinguished pitching mound. In softball, the pitcher's mound is kept at ground level to allow better coordination between the pitcher and batter. By comparison, baseball pitcher's mounds are raised 10 inches.
  
  

Field Size

• Softballs do not travel as far as baseballs due to their larger size. As a result, the field is reduced in size as well. Softball field sizes are roughly two-thirds that of a baseball field. The diamond-shaped infield is also shrunk down, measuring 60 feet between the bases (as opposed to 90 feet for baseball) and 40 feet between the pitcher's mound and home plate (60 feet in baseball).
  
  

Game Play

• Basic game-play rules consist of seven total innings, each with a bottom and top half. The visiting team bats during the top half. When three outs are achieved, the home team is then allowed to come off the field to bat (and vise versa). When a team is pitching, a strike is any missed pitch that travels directly over home plate between the batter's knees and hips. Three strikes equivocates to an out, and four balls --- balls that travel outside of the strike zone --- allow the batter to walk to first base.