Softball throw
{{Short description|Track and field event}}
The softball throw is a track and field event used as a substitute for more technical throwing events in competitions involving youth, Paralympic, Special Olympics and masters-level competitors.
The general rules for the softball throw parallel those of the javelin throw when conducted in a formal environment,{{cite book|title=Coaching Youth Track and Field|author1=American Sport Education Program|author2=USA Track & Field|author3=Hershey Company|year=2008|publisher=Human Kinetics|isbn=9780736069144|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6jVP3R5aY_EC}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.fitness.gov/pdfs/50-year-anniversary-booklet.pdf|date=25 May 2006|title=PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL ON PHYSICAL FITNESS & SPORTS The First 50 Years: 1956-2006|website=Fitness.gov|access-date=2014-06-01}} It is an official event for ages 9–12 in the Hershey Youth track and field program.{{Cite web |url=https://www.hersheystrackandfield.com/assets/pdfs/trackandfield/rulebook.pdf# |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512220514/https://www.hersheystrackandfield.com/assets/pdfs/trackandfield/rulebook.pdf# |archive-date=2014-05-12 |url-status=dead }} Other meets include it as a beginners event. It is a youth event for the World Dwarf Games.{{cite web|url=http://www.2013worlddwarfgames.org/PDF/RulesField.pdf|date=26 September 2012|title=2013 IDAF Rules|website=2013worlddwarfgames.org|access-date=2014-06-01}}
Certain divisions of the Special Olympics throw a softball, specified in the rules as having a 30 cm circumference.{{cite web|url=http://media.specialolympics.org/soi/files/resources/Sports-Rules-Competitions/Athletics2012.pdf|date=28 February 2012|title=Special Olympics Summer Sports Rules|website=Media.specialolympics.org|access-date=2014-06-01}}
While it is not in the official USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships program, it is often part of local senior competitions.{{cite web|url=http://www.mdseniorolympics.org/news/throwingskills_results09.html|title=Maryland Senior Olympics|website=Mdseniorolympics.org|access-date=2014-05-10}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nsga.com/state-games.aspx?state=north-carolina|title=National Senior Games Association - State Games|website=Nsga.com|access-date=2014-05-10}}{{cite web|url=http://www.myrecreationdistrict.com/assets/attachments/2013-SENIOR-GAMES-RESULTS.pdf|date=1 April 2013|title=2010 Palm Desert International Sports Festival and Senior Games|author=Rob Carson|website=Myrecreationdistrict.com|access-date=2014-06-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020000150/http://myrecreationdistrict.com/assets/attachments/2013-SENIOR-GAMES-RESULTS.pdf|archive-date=20 October 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.siaaustralia.com.au/_uploads/res/43_8608.HTM|title=2013 NSG Track & Field Records|website=Siaaustralia.com.au|access-date=2014-05-10|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513010807/http://www.siaaustralia.com.au/_uploads/res/43_8608.HTM|archive-date=2014-05-13}} Some competitions introduce a factor for accuracy.{{cite web|url=http://www.iowaseniorgames.org/Events/FootballSoftballThrowsAccuracyDistance|title=Football/Softball Throws | Accuracy & Distance|website=Iowaseniorgames.org|access-date=2014-05-10}}
Modern variations
Some Special Olympics programs contest the tennis ball throw as an alternative to the softball throw.{{cite web|url=https://media.specialolympics.org/resources/sports-essentials/sport-rules/Sports-Essentials-Athletics-Rules-2024.pdf|title=Athletics Sport Rules|website=Special Olympics|access-date=9 April 2025|page=10}}
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.
=Baseball throw=
The baseball throw has been contested at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships from 1923 to 1957. The championship record is held by Babe Didrikson at {{tf2|296|0}}, set at the 1931 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.{{cite web |title=Anne Harrington Sets New World Record for Baseball Throw |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-peninsula-times-tribune-anne-harring/160828337/ |publisher=The Peninsula Times Tribune |access-date=13 December 2024 |page=6 |date=15 Jun 1925}}{{cite web |title=USATF Outdoor Champions |website=USA Track & Field |url=https://www.usatf.org/resources/statistics/usatf-champions/usatf-outdoor-champions |access-date=4 December 2024}}
=Basketball throw=
The basketball throw was considered an indoor track and field analogue to the softball and baseball throws. It was contested at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships from 1927 to 1969. The championship record of {{tf2|135|2}} was set by Earlene Brown at the 1958 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships.{{cite web |title=USATF Indoor Champions |website=USA Track & Field |url=https://www.usatf.org/resources/statistics/usatf-champions |access-date=4 December 2024}}{{cite web |title=Delia Burchfield Sets Record But Finishes Third |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald-delia-burchfield-sets-record/160829131/ |publisher=Star-Herald |access-date=13 December 2024 |page=6 |date=28 Mar 1958}}