Preparing to play softball for the first time is always exciting. Your mom or dad might get you a new glove, a new bat, some new cleats, but now what?

Now, it is time to learn the basic rules of playing softball!

Every softball player must know that there are 7 innings in one game. In one inning, the home team and away team each get a turn to bat and a turn to play defense. Once each team takes a turn playing offense and defense, it completes one inning.

   The home team will always play defense first and hit last in each inning. 

When playing on defense, you must get 3 outs before you can take your turn on offense. 

If you are on offense, you must try and score as many runs as you can before getting 3 outs. 

 Runs are counted as points. Every time a player reaches home safely, that is one point. 

When your team is on defense, there should always be 9 people on the field. The infield consists of 6 players and the outfield consists of 3. 

However, there are rules when playing softball at a young age that require 10 people on the field. The infield would consist of 6 players and the outfield consists of 4. 

Defense positions are represented by numbers. For example, the pitcher is numbered as 1, the catcher is numbered as 2, etc. 

Now when it is your turn to be on offense, there must be one player up to hit and the next player is waiting for their turn in the "on deck circle". 

This hitter is waiting in the on deck circle

If you hit a foul ball during your at bat, it is considered a strike. If there are 2 strikes, the count will remain the same. 

During an at bat, every batter is allowed up to 3 strikes and 4 balls which is called a hitters count. If the batter gets 3 strikes, they are called to be out. If the batter gets 4 balls, it is called a walk to first base.