The general rules for the softball throw parallel those of the javelin throw when conducted in a formal environment,[1] but the implement being thrown is a standard softball, which resembles the size of a standard shot but is considerably lighter.
The event was one of the standardized test events as part of the President's Award on Physical Fitness.[2] It is an official event for ages 9–12 in the Hershey Youth track and field program.[3] Other meets include it as a beginners event. It is a youth event for the World Dwarf Games.[4]
Certain divisions of the Special Olympics throw a softball, specified in the rules as having a 30cm circumference.[5]
Some Special Olympics programs contest the tennis ball throw as an alternative to the softball throw.[11][5]
Historical variations
Although the softball is the most common implement still used in non-Olympic-style competitions, during the 20th century there were variations of the event that were contested at the highest levels of open women's track and field in the United States. They were typically only held in women's competitions.[12]
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