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Lesson 1 of 6
  • Year 10

Softball and basic rules

I can apply fundamental softball rules and safety considerations to games.

Lesson 1 of 6
New
New
  • Year 10

Softball and basic rules

I can apply fundamental softball rules and safety considerations to games.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Move: pitchers send the ball directly over home plate and between the batter’s armpits and knees, into the strike zone.
  2. Think: batters make quick judgements about a pitch’s trajectory to avoid striking out.
  3. Think: dropping the bat carefully before running after a fair hit will avoid other players getting injured.
  4. Feel: learning skills and rules for a new game from a different culture can be exciting.
  5. Connect: by drawing on the experience within a group, you can support each other to grasp new rules/techniques/tactics.

Keywords

  • Strike - when a batter swings at a pitch but fails to hit it, or when a batter does not swing at a pitch that is accurately over the plate

  • Pitch - a ball delivered by the pitcher to the strike zone for the batter to attempt to hit

  • Pitcher - the fielder responsible for pitching (bowling) the ball

Common misconception

For many pupils, softball may be a totally new game. It's a game with a lot of different rules from the striking and fielding games they will already know such as rounders and cricket.

Learning the intricacies, language and rules of the game in the first lesson and playing a version which includes most of the main rules, will allow pupils to relate to, and see sense in what they learn later in the unit, to the game itself.


To help you plan your year 10 physical education lesson on: Softball and basic rules, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Have some fun making the umpiring calls! Enthusiastic calls of "stee-rike one!" "play ball!" "safe!" and "you're out!" can really help create an engaging atmosphere around the game.
Teacher tip

Equipment

additional materials. softball gloves, balls, bat, softball bases

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - physical activity

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Prior knowledge starter quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
What must members of a batting team do when running?

take their time
ignore teammates
Correct answer: communicate between them

Q2.
What do we call it when fielders work together to get the ball back from a deep position?

Correct answer: relaying
passing
chasing

Q3.
What is the safest way for a fielder to catch the ball?

with non-dominant hand
with dominant hand
Correct answer: with two hands

Q4.
How do we ensure the batter has a fair opportunity to hit the ball from the bowler?

must bowl slowly
must bowl wide
Correct answer: must bowl accurately

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
How can we support others when learning a new game?

ridicule their mistakes
Correct answer: reminders about rules
concentrate on yourself

Q2.
Where, in relation to the batter, must a pitch be delivered to hit the strike zone?

Correct answer: knees and armpits
feet and hands
head and hips

Q3.
What decision do you need to make if you think the pitch is going outside of the strike zone?

Correct answer: don't swing
swing for it
hesitate

Q4.
What is an important safety consideration after you hit the ball as the batter?

run fast
fielders catch it
Correct answer: drop bat carefully

Additional material

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