Softball Equipment
Equipment required in softball includes a ball, a bat, gloves, uniforms and protective gear, including helmets for the offensive team and a helmet and chest protector for the defensive catcher.
Ball
Despite the sport's name, the ball itself is not soft. The size of the ball varies according to the classification of play; the permitted circumferences in international play are 12 in (30 cm) and 11 in (28 cm). The ball is most often covered in white leather in two pieces roughly the shape of a figure 8 and sewn together with red thread, although other coverings are permitted. The core of the ball may be made of long fibre kapok, or a mixture of cork and rubber, or a polyurethane mixture, or another approved material. In 2002, high-visibility yellow "optic" softballs were introduced. Yellow is the color of official NCAA and NAIA softballs. Yellow softballs are fast becoming the standard for all levels of play.
Bat
The bat used by the batter is made of metal or composite materials (carbon fiber etc). It may be no more than 34 in (86 cm) long, 2.25 in (6 cm) in diameter, or 38 oz (1.08 kg) in weight.
Gloves
All defensive players wear fielding gloves, made of leather or similar material. Gloves have webbing between the thumb and forefinger. The first baseman and the catcher may wear mitts; mitts are distinguished from gloves in that they have extra padding, and no fingers. Except for the pitcher, whose glove cannot be white or grey (this confuses the batter), gloves and mitts can be any colour. Gloves used in softball are generally larger than the ones used in baseball.
Uniform
Teams can elect to wear distinctive uniforms, although these are not required in Oxford. The uniform includes a cap, a shirt, an undershirt, tight sliding under-shorts, and shorts or pants; these are the components for which standards are set. Sliding kneepads are also optional.
Caps must be alike and are mandatory for male players. Caps, visors, and headbands are optional for female players, and must be the same colour if more than one is worn. A fielder who chooses to wear a helmet (see below) is not required to wear a cap.
Including for softball players, most players use "sliding shorts" otherwise known as compression short for other sports like soccer, football etc. These shorts help, and protect the upper thigh when sliding towards second, third, or home plate.
At the back of the uniform an Arabic number from 1-99 must be visible. Numbers like 02 and 2 are considered identical. Players' names are optional.
Jewellery, except for medic-alert-style bracelets and necklaces, cannot be worn during a game.
All players are required to wear shoes. They may have cleats or spikes. The spikes must extend less than 3/4 inch (19 millimetres) away from the sole. Rounded metal spikes are illegal, as are ones made from hard plastic or other synthetic materials. Detachable metal cleats are forbidden at any level of play.
Many recreational leagues prohibit the use of metal cleats or spikes in order to reduce the possible severity of injuries when a runner slides feet-first into a fielder. At all youth (under 15) levels, in co-ed (the official terminology for mixed teams) slow pitch, and in modified pitch, metal spikes are not allowed.
Protective equipment
All batters are recommended to wear batting helmets, in Oxford players under 18 must wear a helmet. Batting helmets must have two ear flaps, one on each side, and a protective cage. Cages are required at most age levels except the youngest level but are mandatory at higher levels of youth softball. The cage prevents balls from hitting the batter's face. Helmets and cages that are damaged or altered are forbidden.
In slow pitch, the catcher must wear mask at youth levels. At adult levels, there is no formal requirement for the catcher to wear a mask, although the official rules recommend it. In Oxford all catchers must wear a mask.