What Is Softball Cricket? Rules, Kit and How to Start Playing
What is softball cricket? It is a short, friendly form of cricket played with a soft ball and no pads, where teams of six to eight bat in pairs and start on 200 runs. It is designed so women of any age or ability can play.
Key Takeaways
- Softball cricket uses a soft ball and non-wooden bats, so no pads, gloves or helmet are needed
- Teams have 6–8 players who bat in pairs, and every team starts on 200 runs (ECB)
- Each wicket costs 5 runs, so nobody sits out after one mistake
- The ECB launched 180 women's softball festivals in 2017
- Derbyshire held a record 30 softball festivals in 2026, including one at Charlesworth & Chisworth CC
- Our ladies team plays in the High Peak Ladies Softball League, with no age limit and a free first session
Softball cricket is a beginner-friendly cricket format played by women and girls across England and Wales, and it is the format our Charlesworth & Chisworth CC ladies team plays near Glossop. This guide explains what softball cricket is, how the rules work, how it differs from hardball cricket, and how to try it.
What is softball cricket?
Softball cricket is a short, friendly form of cricket played with a soft ball, mainly by women and girls. Sussex Cricket describes it as a short format using a soft cricket ball and non-wooden bats.
It is not the same as American softball, which is a version of baseball. It is also different from women's hardball cricket, which uses a standard leather ball, pads and helmets, as Wikipedia's softball cricket entry notes.
Where does softball cricket come from?
Softball cricket took off in 2017, when the ECB launched 180 free women-only softball festivals across England and Wales. Middlesex Cricket reported that the festivals celebrated the Women's World Cup being held in England that summer.
The response was strong from the start. Kent Cricket welcomed more than 200 women in 35 teams at seven festivals that first year. Since then, many counties have built leagues so that women can play regularly, not just at one-off events.
How is softball cricket played?
Softball cricket is played by small teams who bat in pairs, and every player bats, bowls and fields. These are the core rules from the ECB's festival guide:
- Teams have six to eight players.
- Batters play in pairs, and each pair faces two or three six-ball overs.
- Every batting team starts on 200 runs, and five runs are deducted each time a batter is out.
- Bowlers can bowl overarm or underarm, and each player is encouraged to bowl at least one over.
- Wides and no-balls are worth two runs to the batting side.
- You cannot be out lbw unless you deliberately block the ball with your leg or foot.
- A festival game should last no longer than an hour.
Because you start on 200 and only lose a few runs when you are out, nobody sits out after one mistake. That is the point of the format.
How does softball cricket differ from hardball cricket?
The biggest differences are the ball, the kit and the length of the game. This table compares the two formats.
| Feature | Softball cricket | Hardball cricket |
|---|---|---|
| Ball | Soft ball that will not hurt if it hits you | Hard leather ball |
| Protective kit | None needed: no pads, gloves or helmet | Pads, gloves and helmet for batters |
| Team size | 6–8 players | 11 players |
| Batting | In pairs, for a set number of overs | Until you are out |
| Scoring | Start on 200, lose 5 runs per wicket | Start on 0 |
| Bowling | Overarm or underarm | Overarm as standard |
| Game length | Up to an hour at festivals; around 90 minutes in our league | Several hours |
What does softball cricket look like near Glossop?
Softball cricket is busy locally. The Derbyshire Cricket Foundation ran a record 30 women's softball festivals in 2026, including one hosted by Charlesworth & Chisworth CC on 21 June. It says festival playing time is usually two to four hours, and a club needs eight players to enter a team.
Our ladies team plays in the High Peak Ladies Softball League. League matches are usually around 90 minutes, with shorter boundaries and a soft ball, and everyone bats, bowls and fields. There is no minimum or upper age limit.
What are the common misconceptions about softball cricket?
The first is that softball cricket is only for complete beginners. It is designed to be welcoming, but leagues and tournaments are genuinely competitive, and experienced cricketers play it for a midweek game.
The second is that you need to be fit or sporty. Softball cricket has no fitness bar, and the format keeps everyone involved without long spells of running. The third is that you need expensive kit. Trainers and comfortable clothes are enough.
How can you start playing softball cricket near Glossop?
The easiest way to start is to join a club team. At Charlesworth & Chisworth CC, your first session is free, and membership is £40 a year, or £35 for students or the unemployed. It includes a sponsored club shirt.
2027 training days will be confirmed in the New Year. Email teams@charlesworthchisworthcc.co.uk or use the form on our club info page, and we will let you know as soon as dates are set. Thinking about the wider club? Visit our homepage, read how to join a cricket club as an adult, see junior cricket and All Stars for girls, try our cricket nets near Glossop, explore senior cricket, or check fixtures and league tables.
Try softball cricket with our ladies team
No experience, no kit and no pressure. Email teams@charlesworthchisworthcc.co.uk and a captain will normally reply within 24 hours. Visit the ladies softball page for more.