Softball has been around since a man named George Hancock first invented the game in 1887 in Chicago. It took over 100 years, but women’s fast pitch softball became an Olympic event in 1996.

Fast pitch is different from the looping, relaxed pitch often used in recreational softball leagues. Fast pitch players must hit a ball traveling at about 70mph. This is slower than baseball, but certainly much faster than the meandering slow pitch game. However, since the pitcher’s mound and the home plate are much closer than in baseball, (40 feet versus 60 feet) the player must react to the pitch just as quickly.

The first softball, a spur of the moment creation in that long-ago first game, was a boxing glove tied into the shape of a ball. Today’s softball is 12″ in diameter, significantly bigger than the standard base ball at 9″, and all white. Softball is actually a misnomer, as the ball used in the game is no softer than a baseball, just larger.

The playing diamond is much smaller than baseball’s, with only 60 feet between bases. Baseball diamonds have 90 feet between each base. This makes for a faster, more active game than baseball, a fact that many softball enthusiasts cite as one of the reasons they enjoy the game so much.

Softball games are also two innings shorter than baseball games. However, like baseball, softball seems to inspire devoted fans and players. Many truly love their softball and pursue the game with an almost fanatic passion.

In 1996, women’s fast pitch softball made its first appearance at the Atlanta Olympic Games. The United States team took the first gold medal in the sport, beating China in the gold medal game 3-1. An orthopedic surgeon from Florida, Dot Richardson, hit the first Olympic softball home run ever to win the game for the United States, an achievement she calls her most memorable.

After being an Olympic sport for the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic games, softball was recently dropped from the 2012 London Olympics by a tied vote of 52-52 with one member abstaining. Only a simple majority of 53 votes were needed to keep softball in the Olympics, and softball supporters are trying to get the vote reconsidered.

Unfortunately, the Olympic committee doesn’t seem very interested in recasting this important ballot. Although the softball federation will certainly have something to say about this, the situation doesn’t look hopeful for girls fostering an Olympic fast pitch softball dream.

Perhaps confusion on the part of the Olympic committee caused them to drop women’s fast-pitch softball from the London games. There has been speculation that the committee members thought that women’s softball was just a female version of baseball, and not popular enough to matter. Whatever their motivations, we hope that the committee will reconsider and reinstate women’s fast pitch softball.

Can you imagine if someone throws a ball to you but you don’t know what to do to protect yourself? Catching a ball involves anticipation and a certain amount of decision-making on your part.  In order to get the best defensive skill, particularly the catching and throwing, you need to be able to be a big part of the softball life. Playing sports particularly in softball can help you deal with the progress. Plus, when you are on a team, you have friends who support you both on and off the field. You’ll never have to be worried over and over again when someone throws a ball at you.

One of the best exercises to strengthen the hitting power is the very popular softball game. It is a team sport popularized in the United States and is considered as a high recreational league of sport. Since softball is a sport that can be a natural mood lifter and a great way to relieve stress and fight depression, it is played by almost everyone in all ages.

When you want to perform vigorously and safely in softball, you should be reminded of the following softball pitching tips. They are sure to keep the balls rolling. Boost your game with these performance ideas.

Constantly try to make your pitching arm pass over the head (12 o’clock position) while your weight is on the drive leg. Then, constantly try to swing the arms up with the body. Land with your stride leg pointed between 30 and 45 degrees. Try to release the ball at the hip. Push your drive leg off the pitching rubber.

For fast pitcher to improve or adjust on their drop, rise, and curve and changeup, take these surefire tips with you: Take a shorter stride to release your point. Keep your pitching arm close to your body to avoid injury. When releasing the ball, lean a bit forward so that your head and shoulder are over your foot. In dropping the ball, decrease your speed to 90 percent of your maximum speed.

In pitching a fast pitch rise and to increase the rise in your fast pitch, try spreading your fingers more and squeezing the ball out of your fingers as you release. Doing this will give your pitch more spin. Don’t try to force the ball to rise; it is the spin that should control this. Shorten your stride and monitor where you are releasing the ball. Always make sure that you are not holding the ball for too long.

These powerful resources and quick steps to prevent under performance in softball should be taken seriously. Who knows, these might be the start of your endless journey to a more productive play in the softball courtyard.