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.
[2] It is an official event for ages 9–12 in the Hershey Youth track and field program.
[4] Certain divisions of the Special Olympics throw a softball, specified in the rules as having a 30 cm circumference.
[5] While it is not in the official National championship program, it is often part of local senior competitions.
[10] 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.