NB: Baseball (hardball) is not suitable for the physical education setting.

Supervision

• On-site supervision is recommended following initial skill instruction and after all safety concerns have been emphasized.

Instructional Considerations

• Students should be taught to lay down or drop the bat after hitting and to not release it during the follow-through of the swing.
• Non-fielding players should stand well back of the batter’s box or behind a screen or fence. (Keep fingers away from the screen.)
• A commit line should be used at home plate.
• If an umpire is used, he/she should not be positioned behind home plate. He/she should stand behind the pitcher, behind the screen or outside the baselines.
• Back catcher should be located a safe distance behind home plate. A back catcher is not intended to catch the pitch but rather to retrieve the ball. Only a back catcher (not a catcher) should be used for in-class activity softball.
• Bats should be stored behind backstop when not in use.
• Students should not be allowed to slide into bases.
• Force play rule at all bases including home plate should be used.
• Students should be taught to use proper grip (not cross-handed) when batting.

Equipment/Facilities

• Bats should be free of cracks and have a proper grip.
• Aluminum bats should have adequate grip.
• Slow pitch balls or restricted flight balls only should be used.
• If using a regulation softball, batters and base runners should wear helmets, and fielders should wear gloves.
• Metal and compound cleats must not be worn.
• Molded baseball cleats or running shoes may be worn.
• For soccer-baseball or volley-baseball, do not use a bat.
• Catcher's mask and chest protector should be worn for softball and T-ball.
• Short bats with a wide diameter and larger lightweight balls are an appropriate adaptation for Pre-Kindergarten/ECS Program students.