Safe!" yells the umpire, as the runner slides into home. The crowd goes wild as the home team wins the tournament. One of softball's unique features is that it is a hometown game that pulls a community together. Recreation departments accommodate people dif- frent ages and provide opportunities for them to join youth, coed, female, and male leagues. Nearly every town, small or large, has a ball diamond where rsidents gather to enjoy the cool evenings and chat with neighbors while watch- ing the game. Opportunities to teach softball skills begin in middle school and continue through high school and college.