Benefits of Playing Softball – What will you Gain playing this great Sport?
Softball is a sport that comes in a variety of different forms.
It can be the highly competitive version that young women play at an extremely fast pace.
It can also be the slow moving game that older men and women play to stay active and spend time with their friends.
Whether you play the fastest of fastpitch or the slowest slow pitch, the game of softball has plenty of benefits.
Physical Activity
The first of many benefits that you won’t notice is that it allows players an opportunity to be active.
Softball players get to use their time on the field to run, throw, catch, and hit. While doing this, they move a variety of large and small muscles.
The fact that softball pitchers get to throw underhand allows them to throw pitches without worrying about major shoulder or elbow injuries, like baseball pitchers have. Softball players get to stretch out their muscles, work on quickness, and develop their hand-eye coordination at all ages.
Playing for a Lifetime
Softball is sport that can be played for a lifetime. Not many sports offer this much flexibility.
The game is played in the same way at all ages, but it slows down as the players need it to slow. Young children can begin playing softball when they are five or six years old. It is common to find retirees enjoying softball games well into their 70s and beyond.
Building Lifelong Friendships
Softball builds camaraderie.
It is easy for teammates to bond, simply because they love the sport. Since softball players spend so much time together in the dugout, friendships are quick to develop. It is common for fastpitch softball players who played together in high school to remain friends throughout their adult lives.
It is common for them to continue playing together in slow-pitch tournaments because the skills they learned at a young age easily transfer into the slow version of the game.
It is also common for family members to play slow-pitch softball together and for some families, softball games are one of the few times that family members can get together.
Developing Mental Toughness
Softball not only builds physical fitness, it also builds mental toughness.
One of the most difficult things to do in sports is hit a baseball (or softball), so softball players can get anxious when they are up to bat. In baseball, the odds of hitting the ball are 3 out of 10. In softball, the odds are more favorable for the hitter, but it is still difficult.
The fear of striking out can paralyze anyone, so developing the mental toughness to even approach the mound is a benefit. Learning to face tough situations in team sports only makes players mentally stronger when tough situations arise in everyday life.
Building Trust with Teammates
Along with the mental toughness, softball forces players to learn to trust their teammates.
No one can win a softball game on their own (unless the pitcher throws a perfect game), so it is important to trust that teammates will do their jobs.
It is important to learn how to work with the team during the ups and downs of the season. These social skills will carry over into the workplace where people have to work in teams on a regular basis.
Boosting Self-Confidence
Another benefit of softball is the idea of self-confidence. This is different from mental toughness.
It requires players to understand their strengths and weaknesses. This way, they can work on building up those weaknesses as well as their strengths.
Teammates can help players work on their self-confidence. That self-confidence (especially for female athletes) will show them that they can be successful in a variety of circumstances. It also teaches them to support their teammates, no matter what the situation.
Adding Time for Play and Fun
Finally, softball provides time for fun.
In our busy worlds, there is little time for adults to get together and play. During softball games, adults get to spend time in the sun, catching and throwing, running, and hitting.
There are not too many other opportunities for adults to get out and play in the dirt and grass – especially with other adults! Then, after the game, they get to spend time going out to celebrate the win or the loss.
As you can see there are many great benefits to the great game of softball. So get out there and enjoy it!
