Easy-Out Softball

Baseball/Games: Easy-Out Softball

Ursula Yanchak

Here's a great variation for those days when you don't have enough players to make two teams, but your class really wants to play softball.

In Easy-Out Softball, all the participants actually play against each other, so it can become very competitive.

How to Play
Assign each student a number (i.e. from one to 10). Players use the number as their place in the batting order. Since batters are called to bat according to their number, there are never more than four players up to bat at once (i.e. a batter and three base runners would be the maximum).

Students can play any position on the field, and they rotate as players leave the field to bat. The teacher pitches and the catcher is a waiting batter.

All softball rules apply and players score each time they come home. Players stay at bat until they are put out on strikes or tagged while baserunning.

We've played softball with as few as six players indoors (using a volleyball and giant mats as bases).

Note
Suppose number one is up to bat, but numbers two, three and four are put out. When number one is put out, s/he becomes number 11 in the batting order. Sometimes you must review the batting order to keep things from becoming too complicated.

Editor's Variation
Instead of having students remember numbers, you could have them rotate through the defensive positions until it's their turn to become batter. For example, a batter who is out assumes right field, then moves to center field, left field, third base, second base, first base, pitcher and is then next in line to bat again.

Contributor: Ursula Yanchak was a physical education teacher at Parkdale Collegiate Institute in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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