9+1 Positions In Softball (Full Guide & Required Traits)

If you are a fan, beginner, or intermediate softball player, it can be hard to remember all the positions, responsibilities, and optimal attributes. Luckily, when time passes, and you get more familiar with softball, you will remember everything easily. To get you well started, I have listed all the softball positions below and how to choose your own.

So, what are the softball positions? There are nine softball positions: pitcher, catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, left fielder, center fielder, and right fielder. The second base and left fielder are considered the easiest positions to play, whereas shortstop or pitcher is the hardest.

To further understand these positions, roles, and best attributes, take a look below, and I’ll walk you through each one!

Related: Where To Put The Weakest Player In Softball? (2 Choices)

9+1 Positions In Softball

In softball, there are six infields and three outfielders. Oh, and one offensive position. I’ll start with the pitcher!

1. Pitcher (P)

Pitchers are the #1 scorers on a softball team.

The objective of a pitcher is to throw the ball from the pitcher’s mound to the catcher so that the batter cannot bat the ball, eventually striking him out. However, pitches need to be legal, meaning that the throw must be within the batter’s strike zone (from the batter’s shoulders to knees).

Required Skills & Attributes

Windmill throwing motion
Excellent hand-eye coordination
Powerful & strong throwing arm
Mastering many different types of throws
Comfortable with responsibility & pressure
Ability to take the role of a leader

2. Catcher (C)

Catchers are the mental support on a softball team, and the physical part isn’t easy either.

The objective of a catcher is to catch the balls that the pitcher throws. Catchers require physical strength, especially on the legs and knees, as they are in a squatted position right behind the batter. Also, catchers offer emotional support and advice to the pitcher and signal strike counts to the team.

Required Skills & Attributes

Great leg & bone strength
Good overall strength and athleticism
Excellent hand-eye coordination
Good reflexes
Great catching arm
Supportive and helpful to the team, especially to the pitcher
Ability to take the role of a leader

3. First Base (1B)

First basemen are the most powerful throwers on a team, so they are often big and strong.

The objective of a first baseman is to stand at first base on the right side of the pitcher. As the batters always try to proceed to the first base, they are in contact with the ball. This requires fast reflexes, good hand-eye coordination, long reach, and a very powerful throwing arm.

Required Skills & Attributes

Very strong throwing arm
Long reach around the first base and infield
Positioning him or herself in a good receiving target to other team members
Fast reflexes
Good at reading the game
A left-handed throwing arm would be a bonus

4. Second Base (2B)

Second basemen are quick and smart but often don’t have the best throwing arm.

The objective of a second baseman is to catch balls at the second base, field groundballs alongside the shortstop, and help burn players where ever it is needed, especially with the first baseman. Generally, second basemen are right-handed and very fast, as it is optimal for their position.

Required Skills & Attributes

Agile speed
Great throwing accuracy
Intelligent sense of the game and infield
Great teamwork skills, especially with the shortstop and first base.

5. Third Base (3B)

The third basemen are equipped with strong throwing arms and great pressure tolerance ability.

The objective of a third baseman is to secure third base. In addition, they need to throw the ball with great power and accuracy for long distances. In most instances, the third baseman is responsible for throwing the ball to home plate when an opposing player is running to score.

Required Skills & Attributes

Powerful throwing arm
Very good hand-eye coordination and accuracy
The mental toughness of throwing the most critical throw in the game (from third base to home plate)
Good at covering the area around third base
Great catching arm

6. Shortstop (SS)

Shortstops are arguable the hardest and most important positions in softball.

The objective of a shortstop is to catch and field the infield and play well with the whole team. Shortstops are most in contact with the ball, so they need to be athletic, fast, strong, and aware of their surroundings. Shortstop is the most difficult position on the field, so mental toughness is required.

Required Skills & Attributes

Very fast and agile
Great catching skills
Excellent throwing arm
Clear awareness of the game, teammates, and opponents
Mental toughness and can withstand pressure
Good leadership skills

7. Left Field (LF)

The left fielder is considered the easiest position on the outfield, but they still require a great catching and throwing arm.

The objective of a left fielder is to catch balls that go beyond the infield and throw it to where it is required. The left fielder has considered the easiest outfield position, as the closest players are the third baseman and shortstop. Regardless, they need great catching skills and strong throwing arms.

Required Skills & Attributes

Strong throwing arm
Great catching skills
Decent agility
Good sense of the game

8. Center Field (CF)

Centerfield is the hardest outfield position to play, and they need to be fast, strong and possess excellent hand-eye coordination.

The objective of the center fielder is to cover the largest area of the outfield, which requires fast speed, excellent catching skills, long reach, and a strong throwing arm. They are located in the center of the outfield, and they do a lot of teamwork, especially with the shortstop and the second base.

Required Skills & Attributes

Explosive and fast travel speed
Good overall athleticism
Very strong throwing arm
Great catching skills
Good at determining fly balls

9. Right Field (RF)

The right field is like the left field, but the skillset needs to be slightly higher as they work mostly with the second and first base.

The objective of a right fielder is to cover the right side of the outfield. Generally, right fielders aren’t as skilled as center fielders overall, but they tend to have a stronger throwing arm as they need to throw the ball to the first base.

Required Skills & Attributes

Strong throwing arm
Great catching skills
Decent agility
Good sense of the game

(10). Batter (B)

Then, of course, there is the batter. I saved it to the end, as it is the only offensive position. Each offensive player bats the ball on their turn to advance in the field to reach home plate in mind.

The individual’s batting skills are often related to their defensive position, so some people are more accurate, powerful, and quick at striking the ball than others.

Each batter has three attempts to strike or bunt the ball. When the bat makes contact with the ball, they must immediately drop the bat and run to the first base before the defensive team gets the ball there. The same principles are in play at first, second, third, and home plate.

Required Skills & Attributes

Good accuracy
Powerful swing
Explosive speed
Good at reading when to advance bases

How to Choose a Softball Position?

Choosing the right softball position for yourself isn’t an easy task. It can be very overwhelming. Luckily, there is an easy way to determine a couple of positions from the total nine, which is a great start.

1. Think about where you are good at

The first step in choosing a softball position is to think about where you are good at. What are your skills, attributes, and best features? You can determine this pretty much by yourself but also think about your history. What has somebody ever congratulated and praised about you?

There are five basic skills that all players need in softball:

Throwing
Catching
Hitting for contact
Hitting for power
Running

Every softball player needs all of these skills. However, you can get closer to your ideal position by thinking about what is your strongest ability. When you have thought of a couple, refer back to the positions above and see what sounds interesting and matches your skills.

2. Think about what you like to do the most

Even if you are good at something, you might not like it. Although most people like doing things they are good at, that isn’t always the case.

Here are some additional attributes you can think of:

Agility
Speed
Strength
Intelligence
Responsibility

There are ideal positions in softball for all of this, and most of the positions require multiple of these skills. Add these five skills to the basic five skills needed in softball, list out where you are best and what you like the most, and you are very close to the best position for you.

Here You’ll Find My Favorite Softball Equipment

Thanks for reading this article. I hope that it brought you great value that you can implement into your own life! Here are my top softball equipment recommendations that I think will take your game to the next level. You can find my favorite fastpitch bat, softball, and glove.

Bat: My absolute favorite certified fastpitch softball bat is the Easton Ghost. This bat has a double-barrel construction which is incredible if you are looking for a great feel and are a fan of satisfying pop and sound. The technology used for this bat provides great durability and flexibility. The handle is a great bonus as it’s great to hold on to and very thin. This bat comes in various styles and sizes.
Softball: The best softballs, in my opinion, are the Franklin Sports Official Softballs. These affordable yet official featured balls are perfect for practice if you want to train with a similar ball as in a real game. Therefore, these balls have the official 12-inch circumference and weight. The yellow color makes it easy to spot, and the flat seams enable minimal air resistance so that they will fly consistently and far.
Glove: Rawlings Liberty Advanced Fastpitch Glove should be introduced to every softball player out there. The 12.5″ size makes it a breeze to catch and secure softballs. Oh, and the glove is very comfortable as it’s made from full-grain leather, and the pull-staps will perfect the fit. The design is breathtaking as well. Be prepared for a little break-in time tho.

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