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Softball is one fantastic sport that has left many people interested in it – men and women, kids and adults. The game isn’t played only at local and international stages; sometimes, you will find it in high schools and colleges. Being one of the safest sports, it is quite a great deal, and everyone that participates gets a thrill of fun.
College softball recently became a big deal because there are new interested players every day. If you are a player or interested in becoming one, the significant thing you should never forget is: “practice as much as you can.” Softball can be competitive, and there is no doubt that you would want to be a better player. To become better, you need to improve your skills.
Read on how to slide in softball.
Asides from training regularly, you should try as much as possible to spend time on the local softball diamond. Also, it would be best if you read articles and publications regarding tournaments. While you are at this, you become knowledgeable about everything that concerns softball. Who knows? You may discover something about college softball base distance and more.
What is College Base Distance for Softball?
Ideally, Softball has a base distance depending on the category of people playing, i.e., women or men. However, a standard softball baseline is 60 feet apart; it is shorter than that of baseball, which is about 90 feet apart. Knowing this piece of information is consequential because it improves your play experience on the diamond. Likewise, it gives you a chance to upscale your skills.
When modifying or designing a softball diamond, the base distance is a significant factor often considered. In this case, it is measured always as 60 feet, following the standard of the Official International Softball Federation field sizes.
How to Measure College Softball Baselines?
When measuring college softball baselines, a few important pieces of equipment are used. It is always pertinent to be accurate with these measurements because the ease of practicing base running and sliding drills depends on that distance. If you also have any other technique you want to try out, the baseline distance is dependent on that.
Somehow, 60 feet looks easy to measure; however, you may get it all wrong without the right procedures. What you do is start taking measurements from the back of the home-plate right to the back right corner of the first base. Afterward, take another measurement from the middle of the second base to the back right corner of the third base.
Take a final measurement from the back right corner of the third base to the home base’s back. That way, 60 feet is measured.
What are the Other Distances You Should Know?
Apart from college softball base distance, there are other distances you should know of to become a better player or coach. For instance, you need the distance between the home base and the pitchers’ mound; the home plate and the back stop, and; the home plate and fences.
Home Base to Pitchers’ Mound
The distance between the home base and pitcher’s mound is another important one because it either opens or closes an advantage to either a pitcher or a hitter. Based on standards, it is 43 feet in measurement. It requires measuring from the home base to the front of the pitching rubber.
Home Plate to Back Stop
The distance between the home plate and the back stop opens an advantage to the catcher. For college softball, it ranges between 25 feet to 30 feet. The more the distance, the safer the playing on pop-ups in foul area.
Home Plate to Fences OR Outfield
Playing on a softball diamond means you should also be aware of the distance between the home plate and the fences, also called outfield. On average, it should be 220 feet in measurement; however, 10 feet before the fence, there should be a warning track.
Home to Second Base
In a bid to measure college softball base distance, it is required to measure the distance between the home plate and the second base. It must be 84 feet and 10 ¼ inches based on field standards; it shares synonymity with the distance from home plate to third base. In the end, the baseline should form a clean square.
Home to Pitching Rubber Front
As mentioned above, the distance between the home base and the pitcher’s mound depends on the distance between the home and the pitching rubber front. In that case, the white slab should be 24 inches long and 6 inches wide.
Pitcher’s Circle and Rubber
There is a circle surrounding the pitching rubber, and it is called the Pitcher’s circle. It is also important to measure the radius for accuracy in pitching softball. From a diameter of 16 feet, it is pretty easy to measure the radius.
Conclusion
These pieces of information about softball distances are not nerdy stuff; instead, they help you understand better where you have an advantage or not. Finally, an accurately measured softball diamond depends on these measurements for the ultimate experience.