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Why Americans love softball so much?

Softball is one of the most popular American sports. It has a long history dating back to the late 19th century and since its inception, the sport has become one of the most widely played throughout the U.S. Although softball is generally associated exclusively with female players, in recent years it has become popular among men as well as coed teams as well.

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The sheer popularity of softball in U.S. has reached a point where tens of millions of players indulge in the sport each year. Not only that, the American fervor for the sport has also attracted international attention to it. One wonder what is it about softball that makes Americans love the sport so much.

Health

One of the major reasons why softball has been surging in popularity throughout America is simply that it is a healthy sport which requires a lot of physical activity. Whether holding a softball bat as a batter, pitching as a pitcher, or as a fielder, a softball player has to do a lot of physical exertion, not to mention the training she has to undergo.

So the sport is a great way for the softball players of all ages to remain active, healthy and strong. This is especially true for girls and women who find softball as an excellent way of keeping a robust lifestyle. And it is precisely for this reason that softball remains a highly preferred sport for women of all ages.

Relationship Building

When you play softball, you play it as a team. You travel, you compete against other teams in tournaments, you get to know fellow players and opponents, empires and coaches and a whole lot of other people. This provides a unique opportunity for a softball player to build an extensive network of contacts, acquaintances and friends.

Playing together or simply being together on the same field during a softball game tends to forge a unique bond between two acquaintances which is fairly long-lasting. Once you go into a career line or begin your professional career, you will have a rich resources in the form of these contacts who can give you life advice, guide you on crucial points along your career and otherwise help you in many other ways.

Being Social

Being social means that you can adjust to different social settings comfortably. A softball game is an excellent incubator for anyone to learn social skills. A softball team typically comprises of players with different personalities, different moods and different preferences.

Despite these disparities, all the players have to come together as a single unity during a softball game. This is where softball players learn to respect their mutual differences and still work together for victory.

Such a setting also teaches players how to communicate effectively, how to get things done without offending anyone and how to be tough when the situations demands one to be tough. Softball teaches such vital social skills which are critically essential for success in other aspects of life as well.

Team Work

Apart from being social, softball also teaches team work. What is team work on the field during a softball game becomes your most important resources later in your life when you have to professionally lead a team or be a part of a team through different situations. Team work means being able to be a valuable part of a team and lend as great a part to its success as you can.

Coping with Failure

Every failure, from a large enough viewpoint, is a small setback. But sometimes, we are so disheartened by a failure that we take it to be a huge loss. Softball is a great way of learning to understand the nature of a failure and to cope with it.

The sport teaches players to come to terms with the fact that sometimes they will lose and sometimes they will win, no matter how good they are.

And although the more they work on it, the oftener they will win, occasional failure is no big deal. The only way to overcome a failure is to try, try again and to succeed at a later game. This stands true for a softball game and this stands true for life as well.

Leaning How to Win

Winning does not mean achieving the end goal alone. Every step along the path, if taken right, is a victory in its own might. This is what softball is about and this is how softball players learn how winning it the right way is important and not just victory.

The joy and fun of a softball game is in the act of playing and competing for the most part, and not in the end result. The end result is also important but barely. If a game is well played, if two teams have fought well against each other, the final tally on the scoreboard means little. This is another life-lesson that a softball game teaches one.