Here is a description Softball History and how it started. These games were called Rounders and Townball. Rounders is the sixteenth century British version of a bat and ball game that dates back to "the dawn of time". In theory, it is a descendant of the bat and ball games played by our "cavemen" ancestors. This theory is a result of the observation that there is no culture in the world that does not have some form of a bat and ball game. Played in England as long ago as the 16th Century, Rounders was a popular pastime. A version of Rounders is still played by folks in the U.K and Ireland. By the 19th Century in America, the game had undergone many changes, and was commonly called Townball. Today we play still another variant called Baseball. The object of Rounders is as such: Each time a Defender successfully completes a foray and returns to the Castle with his gleanings (more food or weapons, etc.), he scores for his team. Tally is kept by marking a stroke for each score. In other words, Each Runner who makes it back into the Castle scores a "Tally". At the end of the game, the team with the highest tally (the most runs scored) wins. The game ends after each team has been In the same number of times -- there is no limit but exhaustion or darkness to the number of "In"ings. Some of the Rules of Rounders:

1.Infinite Swings. The Striker (the person hitting or "striking" the ball) has no limit on the number of tries to hit the ball. He keeps trying until the ball comes in contact with the stick.

2.Ball Must be Fed Where Striker Wishes. The Feeder (the person throwing or "feeding" the ball to the Striker) must throw the ball where the Striker wants it. If the Striker is unhappy with a Feeder, the Striker may request a new Feeder.

3.Any Hit - RUN! Any time the ball contacts the stick, even a "tip", it is a valid hit and the Striker must run. The ball may be struck anywhere. The Runners at the Sanctuaries may begin running as soon as the ball is struck -- whether it is a good hit or an Out doesn't matter, once the Runner begins to run, KEEP GOING!

4.Run Clockwise! Upon hitting the ball, the Striker then must run clockwise around the Sanctuaries. The runner does not need to touch any of the Sanctuaries and may run anywhere as long as he passes outside of each Sanctuary.

5.Striker is Out. The Striker is out if the hit is caught in the air or on one bounce.

6.Runner is Out. The Runner is out if he is plugged (hit with a thrown ball) while running. He is not out if he grasps a Sanctuary (that he hasn't used before - see Rule 7) before he is plugged. Note: the Striker becomes a Runner as soon as he begins running.

7.Sanctuarys Work Once. Once a Runner has touched a Sanctuary, he may not let go of it and then grasp it again - it has been used up for that Runner. (The idea here is that you are hiding -- if you suddenly pop out of hiding, everybody sees where you were hiding and it doesn't do you much good to try to hide there again.)

8.In until Out. A player is "In" until he has been gotten out. This also applies to the Castle - all players who are "In" must remain in the Castle (they are "Defenders"), if they step out they are "Out".

9.Undefended Castle is Vulnerable. If there are no Defenders in the Castle (for instance, the last Defender just struck the ball and is now a Runner) the Attacking team (the team in the outfield) may capture the Castle by plugging the Castle Stone.

10.Everybody Out. The teams change sides when the entire Defending team is Out, or when the Castle has been captured.

11.Two Rounders. If the last Defender hits the ball and makes it all the way back into the Castle in one run (a "Rounder") twice in a row then everyone on his team is back In again.

12.No Blockades. No Attacking team member may get in the way of a Runner in an attempt to prevent him from grasping a Sanctuary or proceeding around the Sanctuaries.

The Ball was made from four pieces of leather that were sewn together into the shape of a Ball. Before the ball was completely sewn shut, it was stuffed with whatever is handy. Use raw wool for a very bouncy, soft ball; old wool sock snippets for a less bouncy, less soft, but still a far travelling ball; leather snippets for a heavy, dead ball (for smaller fields and older players); or old nylons for a dead, soft ball (for smaller fields and young players). The Stick or Bat was a piece of wood 12" long or longer. Any shape will do, but flat sided ones seem to be the most popular. Make sure there is some sort of knob at the bottom to keep it from flying out of the Striker's hands.

Townball is the nineteenth century version of a bat and ball game that can be traced back at least as far as the 16th Century. In 16th Century England, the game called Rounders was a popular pastime. A version of Rounders is still played in the UK and Ireland. By the 19th Century in America, the game had undergone many changes, with regional variations abounding. Called "Townball" (because each town had their own version) or "Stickball", it was played all across America. You can see soldiers playing it in photographs from the Civil War. Our modern baseball is a variant of the version played in Cooperstown, New York. There is an active Townball organization in Cooperstown today, the Leatherstocking Base Ball Club. The Object of the game is the same as Rounders except instead of returning to a Castle, in Townball, you return to a Fort. The rules were basically the same except the Striker is called the Batter and the Feeder is called the Pitcher in Townball. The Sactuaries are called Hideouts in Townball. These extra rules however were added to Townball:

1.Hanging Out by the Hideout. If the runners have all stopped running and are hovering near a hideout, and if the Pitcher has the ball in his control by his stone, the play shall be deemed ended and the Runners shall grasp the hideouts and the next Defender is up. If either the runner has not stopped running or the Pitcher is not in control by his stone, the ball is still in play.

2.Pulling Up the Hideouts. If a Runner, in his or her exuberance, pulls out the Hideout stake, that Runner is automatically Out! Notify someone of a loose stake before this happens to you.

3.Letting Go of the Hideout Between Plays. If a Runner mistakenly lets go of a Hideout after the play has ended but before the Defender has hit the ball, that Runner is automatically Out!

The ball and stick used in Townball were basically the same as the ones used in Roundball. You can now see the slight similarities between these games as they developed from Roundball, to Townball and then into Softball.

The descriptions of Rounders and Townball were written by Chris Monser.

Softball is a version of baseball (itself a version of Rounders, via Townball) that is played by mixed-sex mixed-ability teams; although it can be played at a very serious level in a highly organized way, it is also very suitable for recreational play. It needs only a modest outlay in equipment, and can be played in more or less any wide open space (there is also a winter indoor version). Softball was invented around the beginning of the 20th century by American professional baseball players who wanted to keep in practice during the off-season late fall and winter months; the substitute game was played indoors.

Toward the end of the second decade of the century, Canadian amateur players began to play the new game outdoors, on playgrounds or other suitable fields; the game then rapidly became popular in Canada and obtained a foothold in the United States.

Extensive interest in softball began in the United States about 1930. The first national amateur softball tournament took place in Chicago, Illinois, in 1933 in connection with the world's fair then being held in that city. After about 20 years, when fast pitching began to dominate the game, slow-pitch softball was developed in order to give batters a better chance at hitting the ball.

The popularity of slow-pitch softball spread abroad, especially in Mexico, Cuba, Japan, and Australia. Also in 1933 the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) was founded to standardize the rules and govern the sport; it is still the governing body for softball in the United States.

In today's present day world, there are many more organizations today such as the USSSA, NSA, ISA, etc. But the ASA is the official governing body of the US Olympic Committee and the NCAA . Under the ASA, annual tournaments for both fast-pitch and slow-pitch softball are held for men and women.

Softball has become increasingly popular among women, particularly at the youth and collegiate levels. More than 600 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) member institutions sponsor women's softball teams, and national championship tournaments for women are held for three collegiate divisions.

In 1991 women's fast-pitch softball was selected to debut as an event at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1996.

Before Walter Hakanson, a former YMCA director in Denver, Colorado, gave softball its present name in 1926, the game had a variety of names. They included kitten ball, playground ball, army ball, indoor-outdoor, lightning, mushball, big ball, and nightball.

In the spring of 1888 George Hancock brought his indoor baseball game outdoors. It became indoor-outdoor, with the distances on the diamond enlarged to 30, 35, or 45 feet. The game had become so wide spread by 1897, especially in the Midwest, that American Sports Publishing Company of New York issued an official Indoor Baseball Guide.

Great impetus was given to the sport by Lew Rober in 1895 with his 'kitten ball' in Minneapolis. After that there were sporadic attempts to call the game playground ball. In 1908 the National Amateur Playground Association of the U.S. was formed, with a rule book and guide issued. Some of the rules from the first guide:

- The first batter to get on in an inning could run either to first or third base. All following batters in that inning had to run in the same direction.

- A legal game consisted of five, seven, or nine innings, at the option of the teams involved.

- Teams could play points instead of runs. A point was scored every time a runner reached a base.

- Bases were 35 feet apart, and the pitche's mound or box, as it was called then was 30 feet from home plate. Size of the ball was 12 to 14 inches in circumference.

- Baserunners couldn't leave the base until the ball crossed the plate, and only three balls were needed for a walk.

With the development of municipalities, playground ball flourished in various parts Of the United States. Prior to the founding of the ASA, and through its early years, spikes were not allowed, and only the catcher and first baseman could wear gloves. A runner couldn't score on a passed ball; bunting wasn't allowed; and the third strike - even when the catcher missed the ball - was an out. Like today's slow pitch teams, each squad consisted of ten players. Because of the short bases, two of the players, the "right shortstop" and "the left shortstop", often played within ten feet of home plate. Out of doors, the shortstop played in his normal position, but the tenth player, or short-fielder, was retained, playing anywhere on the field. This position was just right for a player with a strong, quick arm who could come in fast on a ground ball and throw out a batter at first base. The short-fielder is still used today, although not as regularly as in the past, especially at the major slow pitch level. The short- fielder becomes the right-center fielder in today's four-man "umbrella" outfield. Although as these big major softball teams are playing more games on full-sized baseball fields, some of the teams have begun to use three fast outfielders and five infielders.

Fast pitch continues to use the standard nine players. During softball's early years, the rules, such as those governing the distance between the bases and between home plate and the pitcher's mound were in a constant state of flux. In fact, in a tournament held in Milwaukee in 1940, every one of the teams had played by different rules at least once during the year.

The ASA, formed in 1933, gradually brought about standardization of the rules in every part of the country. But before the ASA, the first major attempt in this direction was made by the National Recreation Association at the request of confused recreation officials. Earnest W. Johnson of St. Paul, Minnesota, headed the rules committee. This Joint Rules Committee originally consisted of representatives from the National Recreation Association, YMCA, NCAA, and the American Physical Education Association.

In 1943 the JRC membership was expanded to include the ASA, the National Softball Association, the Catholic Youth Organization, and the Young Men's Hebrew Association. That same year, the "Official Rules of Softball" were published by the American Sports Publishing Company. Their rules included:

- No bunting

- Ten players instead of nine

- Underhand piching only

- Limited bat size

- Baserunners couldn't leave the bases until the ball had passed the batter

- Seven innings instead of nine

- Shorter distances between bases

- Baserunners couldn't score on a wild pitch or a passed ball

- Larger ball

The JRC set the distance between the bases at 60 feet for the 12-inch ball and 45 feet when the 14-inch ball was used. the pitching distance was 37 feet, 8 1/2 inches, and the batter's box was three feet by five.

In the years that followed, many changes came about. For instance, in 1926 the ban on spiked shoes were removed, even though rubber-soled shoes were recommended. the spikes couldn't be more than three-eighths of an inch long. The pitching distance was changed to 40 feet to offset the dominance of the windmill pitchers, who had too much of an edge on the batters and were turning the game into a pitcher-catcher show instead of the all-around contest that the fans wanted.

In 1937 the baserunners were allowed to leave the base as soon as the ball left the pitcher's hand, instead of waiting until the ball crossed home plate. The following year, bunting was permitted, and pitchers whose teams wore light grey or white had to wear a contrasting color.

In 1939 pitchers were barred from wearing white or light grey accessories, such as sweatshirts or scarves. Wearing a mask became mandatory for catchers, and a mask and chest protector made mandatory for women's play. The pitching distance was extended to 43 feet in 1940, and the batter's box was enlarged to six by three. The catcher now had to catch the third strike, or the batter became a baserunner -unless of course first base was occupied with less than two out. The quick pitch was barred, and the pitcher was required to come to a full stop in his delivery immediately before delivering the ball to the batter.

The pitcher's uniform underwent a drastic change in 1941, as the hurlers came to look more like undertakers, with uniforms all black or dark blue with no lettering or trim of any kind on the front. This was applicable for day as well as night games. First and third base coaches were restricted to instructing or encouraging their own baserunners. They were prohibited from making disparaging or insulting remarks about the opposition, the umpires, or the fans - directly or indirectly.

In 1946 the girls' pitching distance was set at 35 feet; the men's remained at 43. The batter's box was enlarged to seven by three; and the distance between bases was shortened to 55 feet. Two years later the distance between bases was back to 60 feet.

In 1950 the men's pitching distance was set at 46 feet. For women the distance was set at 38 feet in 1952 and its present 40 feet in 1964.

In 1977 the two second pause for fast pitch was instituted, and the pitching arc in slow pitch was returned to 12 feet. The previous year in slow pitch, the arc was unlimited. Pitchers would throw rainbow pitches some 40 feet in the air that would land in for strikes. In the years to come, who knows how many more rule changes will be adopted, but for now it seems that both fast and slow pitch rules are settling into stability.

Slow pitch rules have changed more recently than fast pitch due to different organizational adaptations. For instance, most all of the slow pitch organizations now set the pitchers mound at 50 feet. The ASA Super Division uses 70 feet bases along with the USSSA. The lower level ASA divisions use 65 feet bases as well as the NSA and ISA. The ASA and NSA slow pitch arc is 6-12 feet. The USSSA arc is 3-10 feet and the ISA arc is 4-10 feet. Some women's slow pitch organizations now use an 11 inch softball.

In addition to fast pitch and slow pitch softball, there is also modified pitch, which uses 10 fielders and the pitcher can pitch as fast as he can with out using the windmill delivery. Monster Ball or 16-inch softball is played like slow pitch, only few of the fielders use gloves.

The sport of softball has changed tremendously over the years. The description of Softball was written by BILL PLUMMER of the Amateur Softball Association (ASA). Bill has been involved with the game for many years and has done some amazing things at the ASA. He was inducted into the ASA Hall of Fame in 1999 for all that he has accomplished over the years.