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.

The Throwing Skills to Pay the Bills. Of the key elements of a well-rounded softball player, a good throwing arm is definitely near the top of the list. While some are lucky enough to be born with throwing skills, even they won’t be hurt by softball throwing drills which aim to improve distance and accuracy.

Too often in any sport, a coach will have his/her team go through drills without paying attention to what the players are doing. This happens in softball too. Drills are not any good if a coach doesn’t watch what’s happening and correct the mistakes. All drills require coaching. The three broad categories for softball coaching drills are hitting, throwing, and fielding.

Softball bats were at one time made chiefly of wood, but advances in technology have introduced materials such as aluminum, graphite, and composites. Each material has its positive and unique features. Wood: Wood softball bats are very rare but are slowly regaining favor with softball enthusiasts who would rather hear a whack and not a ping when the bat meets ball.