Softball is a game similar to baseball, played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Softball matches move at a faster pace since the dimensions are smaller. While pitchers throw overarm in Baseball, they do so underarm in Softball.

The object of the game is to score more runs (points) than the other team by batting (hitting) a ball into play and running around the bases, touching each one in succession.

Softball is a women’s only sport at The World Games 2022 with eight participating teams.

The winner of the game is the team that scores more runs than the other team scores in a game, at the end of the last inning.

- Two groups of four teams. Single Round robin games in both groups.

- 3rd and 4th placed teams from both groups compete in crossed consolation matches.

- The two winning teams from this match up to compete for the 5th position. Losing teams compete for the 7th position.

- The two best teams from each group qualify for crossed semi-finals.

- Losing semi-finalists compete for Bronze.

- Winners of semi-finals match up in the finals to compete for Gold and Silver.

Games take place over seven innings. Each inning is divided into a top half, in which the away team bats and tries to score runs (offence), while the home team occupies the field and tries to record three outs (defence); then a bottom half, when the teams' roles are reversed.

To start play, the offence sends a batter to the home plate. The pitcher is allowed to take one step back from the rubber prior to releasing the ball during the forward movement. The batter attempts to swing the bat and hit the ball fair (into the field of play).

After a successful hit, the batter becomes a base runner (or runner) and must run to first base. At the same time, other runners try to reach the next bases. Only one runner may occupy a base at any time, and runners may not pass each other. Runners must advance around all four bases to score a run without being put out.

If the pitcher throws three strikes against a batter, then the batter is out. An inning is over when three batters have been declared out. Subsequently, all athletes leave their bases without scoring points.

A game that is tied at the end of seven innings will continue by playing additional innings until one side scores more runs than the other at the end of a completed inning or the home team scores more runs before the third out in the bottom of the inning is made.

The batting order must be fixed at the start of the game, and players may not bat out of turn.

The batter attempts to swing the bat and hit the ball fair (into the field of play). After a successful hit, the batter becomes a base runner (or runner) and must run to first base.

The defence attempts to field the ball and may throw the ball freely between players, so one player can field the ball while another moves to a position to put out the runner. The defence can tag the runner, by touching the runner with the ball while the runner is not on a base. The defence can also touch first base while in possession of the ball; in this case it is sufficient to beat the batter to first base and an actual tag of the batter is unnecessary.

A runner is said to be "thrown out" when the play involves two or more defensive players. Runners generally cannot be put out when touching a base, but only one runner may occupy a base at any time and runners may not pass each other. When a ball is batted into play, runners generally must attempt to advance if there are no open bases behind them; for example, a runner on first base must run to second base if the batter puts the ball in play.

In such a situation, the defence can throw to the base that the lead runner is attempting to take (a forced out), and the defence can then also throw to the previous base. This can result in a multiple-out play: a double play is two outs, while a triple play, a very rare occurrence, is three outs.

Runners with an open base behind them are not forced to advance and do so at their own risk; the defence must tag such runners directly to put them out rather than tagging the base.

Two umpires, for the plate and base, referee the match.

When the Plate Umpire judges four pitches to be balls, including illegal pitches. The batter is awarded (walked to) first base. The ball is live.

A strike is recorded any time a batter swings at and misses a pitch, or when a batter hits a ball foul (out of play). A strike is also recorded any time the batter does not swing at a pitch that crosses home plate within an area known as the strike zone.

The pitch must cross over home plate, and as it crosses it must be above the knees and slightly below the shoulders (roughly the armpit or the shirt logo). The strike zone therefore varies from batter to batter.

Athletes crossing the home plate score one point.

Team Women

1. Team CUB
2. Team VEN
3. Team COL

Team Women

1. Team USA
2. Team TPE
3. Team NED

Team Men

1. Team USA
2. Team USA
3. Team CAN

Team Women

1. Team USA
2. Team CAN
3. Team BAH