• Along with the four "major" sports, softball is one of the United States' most popular sports for recreational leagues as well as serious, official competition. Depending on the league and the game, there may be different quirks, but the majority of rules about the field, equipment, positions and the game are generally the same.
  
  

Playing Field and Equipment

• At all levels of softball, the base paths measure 60 feet, according to the United States Specialty Sports Association's Official Fast Pitch Playing Rules and By-Laws. The pitching distance depends on age and gender, ranging from 35 feet for coach pitch and girls age 10 and under to 46 feet for men's games. There is typically a pitcher's circle, not a raised mound like baseball. Another thing that differentiates softball from baseball is a double first base that allows first basemen and runners to use different bags on plays at first.
  
  Different participants also change the dimensions of the field itself: 200 feet from home plate to the outfield edge is used for a majority of levels of USSSA games. For men's leagues, fields measure 225 to 265 feet.
  
  The ideal ball for softball is 11 to 12 inches in diameter. Bats cannot be longer than 34 inches and cannot weigh more than 31 1/2 ounces.
  
  

Positions

• To start a softball game, teams should have at least nine players, fielding the following positions: pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, left fielder, center fielder and right fielder, with designated hitter and up to two more players permitted. If a team is "playing short" with just eight players, an out is recorded each time through the lineup.
  
  Officially, nine fielders is the maximum allowed, although some recreational leagues allow for extras, with players occupying left-center and right-center field.
  
  Unlike baseball, softball permits re-entry. If a player is pinch-hit or pinch-run for or is substituted for in the field, he or she can re-enter the game one time as long as it is in the same position in the batting order.
  
  

The Game

• The vast majority of softball rules are similar to baseball's, with three outs per inning and three strikes to an out. The USSSA allows for stolen bases, although some leagues do not permit stealing or even leading off.
  
  There are seven innings in a regulation softball game, although a tie game extends it. If the home team leads after 6 1/2 innings, the game ends. Also, there is a run rule that cuts a game short, typically if a team is up by 12 or more runs after three innings, 10-plus after four innings or eight-plus after five innings. There are some exceptions, and it varies by league.