The sport of softball is something that means the world to me. I have loved the game ever since stepping onto the t-ball field as a 4-year-old. This love has stayed all the way through college. Throughout all of my years of playing, I have often heard similar comments from people who aren’t familiar with the game about the sports. And they are most often wrong. Here are eight comments from people I hear almost on a weekly basis:
1. Baseball is harder.
Baseball and softball are pretty similar, but they also have big differences. It is hard to compare these two sports when the ball size and the pitching style differs so much. I don’t believe softball is necessarily the harder sport, but what I don’t like is when people who play baseball think they can play the game of softball so much better than us softball players can. If you need proof, look up Jenny Finch pitching to Albert Pujols (hint: he strikes out in three pitches).
2. Wow, nice tan lines!
I know I have a farmer’s tan, raccoon eyes, and pale legs. That is what happens when you wear full pants in 100-degree heat for eight hours straight. It doesn’t matter how many times I go to the pool because the ugly tan lines will still be on my body all summer long.
3. Wait, why do you have softball on the weekend?
As I have told countless people multiple times, softball tournaments always land on weekends, therefore, that is when we play our games. Yes, that always include the 4th of July. That also means I can’t stay up really late on Saturday night because I probably have an 8 a.m. game the next morning. My weekends are booked up all summer long.
4. Isn’t it a little cold to be practicing outside?
Even though some people may think so, the answer is no. Sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy -- it is basically never too bad outside to practice as many of my coaches would tell you. If it’s above freezing outside and the field isn’t in horrible shape, we will be practicing. Everything is different when you're outside, it is infinitely more game like and that is the most important thing when practicing.
5. You have man shoulders.
Yes, I know I have man shoulders. You must have strong arms to be a good softball player, so that comes with looking buffer than the typical female. I work on my shoulders so that they are strong enough to be powerful and so they can take the physical strain I put on them by throwing for hours every day. Putting on shirts that don't stretch can sometimes be difficult for us softball players.
6. Softball isn’t a contact sport; you’ll never get hurt like you will in other sports.
Yes, you might be right about the fact that softball isn’t a traditional contact sport, but it still is very dangerous. I have seen agirl break her wrist after catching a throw. I have seen girls get concussions from diving headfirst into a base. I have seen girls drop to the ground after being hit by a ball coming off a bat at 100+ MPH. Injuries can happen in all sports whether they are contact sports or not, it doesn’t matter.
7. Why do you have ice on your shoulder? Are you injured?
Just because you see me lugging big bags of ice around my body does not mean I’m injured. Ice helps reduce swelling and inflammation. So basically, it helps me not get injured.
8. Why didn’t you catch that? I thought you played softball.
Yes, I do play softball, but don’t expect me to catch every random object you throw at me, especially when I’m not paying attention. I use a glove for a reason, not my bare hands.
