How Has Softball Changed Over The Years

How Softball has Changed Over the Years The growing popularity of softball has intrigued young people around the world to participate in this entertaining sport. Family members come together to play or watch a game of softball. Softball has made many friendships no one thought they would ever have. This sport has had drastic changes to it over the years.. Like rules, equipment, and different types of leagues. The different changes to the sport shows how popular it is and how people care to continue to grow the sport. Softball started in 1887 by a man named George Hancock. George and his friends had just finished watching a game of football and wanted to play baseball. It was too cold outside, so George created the game softball. Mike Baldwin explains, “Hancock appended 19 special rules for the indoor version…” (Baldwin). Since then the has game became extremely popular and was being played all around. When people started playing other teams from other parts of the country the rules varied which presented many problems when they competed. In 1933, the International Joint Rules Committee finally came together to form the Amateur Softball Association. The ASA came together to organize tournaments and create a standard set of rules so people no longer argue and enjoy the game together.

When Hancock first played all he used was a broomstick and a boxing glove. Broomsticks eventually evolved to wooden bats and they were used for over a century. Aluminum bats were introduced in 1970 and got stronger each and every year. There are also different bats for slow pitch and fast pitch softball. They vary in different weights, length, and material to fit the needs of the game. They also used only one glove when the game started, but now they have many types of gloves ranging from first baseman gloves, catchers mitts, and outfielders