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NFHS SOFTBALL ACTUAL EXAM
2026-2027 |150 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS |
ALREADY A GRADED | NEW AND
REVISED
1. The primary purpose of NFHS softball rules is to
A. Promote entertainment and competitiveness
B. Provide uniform standards emphasizing safety and
fair play
C. Reduce the authority of game officials
D. Standardize professional-level play
Italicized rationale: NFHS rules prioritize student-athlete
safety, fairness, and uniform application across high
school competition.
2. A regulation NFHS softball game consists of
A. Six innings
B. Seven innings
C. Eight innings
D. Nine innings
Italicized rationale: NFHS softball games are scheduled
for seven innings unless shortened or extended by rule.
3. The home team is determined before the game primarily to
decide
A. Which team bats last
B. Which team occupies the third-base dugout
C. Choice of batting or fielding in the first inning
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D. Warm-up privileges
Italicized rationale: The home team is granted the option
to bat or field first.
4. The official NFHS softball is required to be
A. White with red stitching only
B. Any color approved by the home coach
C. Yellow optic with raised seams meeting NFHS specs
D. Leather or synthetic without size restriction
Italicized rationale: NFHS mandates specific size, weight,
and optic yellow color standards.
5. A batter is considered out when
A. A foul ball is caught after one bounce
B. The third strike is legally caught by the catcher
C. A pitch hits the bat accidentally
D. A fair ball contacts the batter
Italicized rationale: A legally caught third strike retires
the batter.
6. A pitch is illegal if the pitcher
A. Uses a windmill motion
B. Pauses before delivery
C. Steps outside the pitcher’s plate during delivery
D. Releases the ball underhand
Italicized rationale: NFHS requires both feet to remain in
contact with or within the pitcher’s plate.
7. When an illegal pitch is called with no runners on base
A. The batter is out
B. A ball is awarded to the batter
C. The pitch is ignored
D. The pitcher is ejected
Italicized rationale: Illegal pitches result in a ball to the
batter.
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8. A legal glove may be any color except
A. Brown
B. Black
C. White or gray
D. Tan
Italicized rationale: White or gray gloves are prohibited as
they distract the batter.
9. The batter’s box is considered part of
A. Fair territory
B. The batter’s box only
C. Foul territory
D. No territory
Italicized rationale: The batter’s box has its own defined
status.
10. A runner is out when
A. They slide feet-first into first base
B. They are tagged while off base with a live ball
C. They overrun second base
D. They avoid a fielder
Italicized rationale: A tag with the ball while the runner is
off base constitutes an out.
11. The on-deck circle is used by
A. The current batter
B. The next scheduled batter
C. Any substitute
D. The catcher
Italicized rationale: Only the next batter may occupy the
on-deck circle.
12. A team may use how many defensive players at one
time
A. Eight
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B. Nine
C. Ten
D. Eleven
Italicized rationale: NFHS softball is played with nine
defensive players.
13. The pitcher must take signs from
A. The coach only
B. The catcher while on the pitcher’s plate
C. Any infielder
D. The umpire
Italicized rationale: Pitchers must be in contact with the
plate when taking signals.
14. If a batted ball strikes the umpire in fair territory
before passing an infielder
A. It is foul
B. It is dead and runners return
C. It remains live
D. Batter is out
Italicized rationale: Contact with an umpire before
passing a fielder results in a dead ball.
15. A courtesy runner may be used for
A. Any player
B. Any substitute
C. The pitcher or catcher
D. The shortstop
Italicized rationale: NFHS allows courtesy runners for
the pitcher or catcher only.
16. The look-back rule applies when
A. The pitcher releases the ball
B. The pitcher has possession of the ball within the
circle
NFHS SOFTBALL ACTUAL EXAM
2026-2027 |150 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS |
ALREADY A GRADED | NEW AND
REVISED
1. The primary purpose of NFHS softball rules is to
A. Promote entertainment and competitiveness
B. Provide uniform standards emphasizing safety and
fair play
C. Reduce the authority of game officials
D. Standardize professional-level play
Italicized rationale: NFHS rules prioritize student-athlete
safety, fairness, and uniform application across high
school competition.
2. A regulation NFHS softball game consists of
A. Six innings
B. Seven innings
C. Eight innings
D. Nine innings
Italicized rationale: NFHS softball games are scheduled
for seven innings unless shortened or extended by rule.
3. The home team is determined before the game primarily to
decide
A. Which team bats last
B. Which team occupies the third-base dugout
C. Choice of batting or fielding in the first inning
,2|Page
D. Warm-up privileges
Italicized rationale: The home team is granted the option
to bat or field first.
4. The official NFHS softball is required to be
A. White with red stitching only
B. Any color approved by the home coach
C. Yellow optic with raised seams meeting NFHS specs
D. Leather or synthetic without size restriction
Italicized rationale: NFHS mandates specific size, weight,
and optic yellow color standards.
5. A batter is considered out when
A. A foul ball is caught after one bounce
B. The third strike is legally caught by the catcher
C. A pitch hits the bat accidentally
D. A fair ball contacts the batter
Italicized rationale: A legally caught third strike retires
the batter.
6. A pitch is illegal if the pitcher
A. Uses a windmill motion
B. Pauses before delivery
C. Steps outside the pitcher’s plate during delivery
D. Releases the ball underhand
Italicized rationale: NFHS requires both feet to remain in
contact with or within the pitcher’s plate.
7. When an illegal pitch is called with no runners on base
A. The batter is out
B. A ball is awarded to the batter
C. The pitch is ignored
D. The pitcher is ejected
Italicized rationale: Illegal pitches result in a ball to the
batter.
,3|Page
8. A legal glove may be any color except
A. Brown
B. Black
C. White or gray
D. Tan
Italicized rationale: White or gray gloves are prohibited as
they distract the batter.
9. The batter’s box is considered part of
A. Fair territory
B. The batter’s box only
C. Foul territory
D. No territory
Italicized rationale: The batter’s box has its own defined
status.
10. A runner is out when
A. They slide feet-first into first base
B. They are tagged while off base with a live ball
C. They overrun second base
D. They avoid a fielder
Italicized rationale: A tag with the ball while the runner is
off base constitutes an out.
11. The on-deck circle is used by
A. The current batter
B. The next scheduled batter
C. Any substitute
D. The catcher
Italicized rationale: Only the next batter may occupy the
on-deck circle.
12. A team may use how many defensive players at one
time
A. Eight
, 4|Page
B. Nine
C. Ten
D. Eleven
Italicized rationale: NFHS softball is played with nine
defensive players.
13. The pitcher must take signs from
A. The coach only
B. The catcher while on the pitcher’s plate
C. Any infielder
D. The umpire
Italicized rationale: Pitchers must be in contact with the
plate when taking signals.
14. If a batted ball strikes the umpire in fair territory
before passing an infielder
A. It is foul
B. It is dead and runners return
C. It remains live
D. Batter is out
Italicized rationale: Contact with an umpire before
passing a fielder results in a dead ball.
15. A courtesy runner may be used for
A. Any player
B. Any substitute
C. The pitcher or catcher
D. The shortstop
Italicized rationale: NFHS allows courtesy runners for
the pitcher or catcher only.
16. The look-back rule applies when
A. The pitcher releases the ball
B. The pitcher has possession of the ball within the
circle
