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The game of softball started at a Harvard-Yale football game. A fan rolled up a glove into a ball, which was hit with a broom. Gloves weren't needed yet because the ball was soft. Thus, the indoor game of softball was introduced
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Every sport has a set of rules to follow. The Farragut Club took it upon themselves to write the rules for softball.
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Softball was then moved outdoors because firefighters needed some extra exercise. More leagues began to form and the sport was officially played outside.
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Women began playing softball shortly after the game was introduced. The first women's softball team was at a high school in Chicago. Women started gaining more independence at this time, so playing a sport that was similar to one that men played helped this independence.
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This sport was originally named "kitten ball" and then "diamond ball" when it was moved outside. The official name Softball came in 1922 in order to get more attention with a more professional name.
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The first softball association, ASA, was formed. This stands for Amateur Softball Association. Today, the ASA is in charge of regulating and changing the rules for softball.
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Melbourne, Australia held the first international women's softball tournament. After this, the sport spread all around the world.
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The first Olympic softball tournament was held in Atlanta. In 2004, the USA team won and were named "The Real Dream Team".
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As this sport became more popular, colleges began giving women more opportunities for scholarships. This helped the sport turn into a pro league.
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The International Women's League was formed. It only lasted until 1980, but it had such a great impact on women's lives that they still continued to play.
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40 million Americans still play this sport once a year. Today, the International Softball Federation 127 member countries.
