Softball Depth Chart Template: Free Printable for Fastpitch Coaches
A clean, printable softball depth chart with starter, second-string, and third-string slots for all nine positions, plus dedicated DP and Flex rows. Print it, fill it in, and post it so your whole roster knows the pecking order.
A softball depth chart template is a free printable that lists all nine fastpitch positions, from pitcher and catcher through the infield and outfield, plus your DP and Flex, with a starter, second-string, and third-string slot at every spot on the chart. Coaches print it, write in their roster, and post it so every player knows where she stands and who she's chasing for a starting job.
This depth chart is built for fastpitch. It groups your battery, infield, and outfield, gives you three strings deep at each position, and adds dedicated DP and Flex rows so the one rule that separates softball from baseball is right there on the page. Fill it in on screen or print a blank one and write it out by hand.
Need the game-day version? Our softball lineup card is the sheet you hand the umpire at the plate meeting. For a refresher on who covers what, see our softball positions guide. And when the roster's set and it's time to suit up, check out our softball jerseys and full softball uniforms.
Printable Softball Depth Chart
All nine positions, three strings deep, with DP and Flex rows. Print it and post it in the dugout.
Softball Depth Chart
Fastpitch · Starter, 2nd String & 3rd String
| Position | Starter | 2nd String | 3rd String |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery | |||
| P (Pitcher) | |||
| C (Catcher) | |||
| Infield | |||
| 1B (First Base) | |||
| 2B (Second Base) | |||
| 3B (Third Base) | |||
| SS (Shortstop) | |||
| Outfield | |||
| LF (Left Field) | |||
| CF (Center Field) | |||
| RF (Right Field) | |||
| DP / Flex (fastpitch) | |||
| DP (bats only) | |||
| Flex (defense only) | |||
Tip: Print one copy for the dugout and a clean copy for the team binder. Update it weekly as players earn or lose reps.
What This Depth Chart Includes
Everything a fastpitch coach needs to map the whole roster.
Every Position, Three Deep
- •Battery rows for pitcher and catcher
- •Infield rows for 1B, 2B, 3B, and SS
- •Outfield rows for LF, CF, and RF
- •Starter, 2nd string, and 3rd string at each spot
Built for Fastpitch
- •Color-coded DP and Flex rows
- •Room for jersey numbers in every slot
- •Team and season header fields
- •Prints clean in black and white
How to Fill Out Your Softball Depth Chart
A practical order of operations for building it from scratch.
Lock in the battery first
Pitcher and catcher are the two hardest spots to fill, so start there. Write your ace and your number-two pitcher in the P rows, and put your starting catcher with a trained backup behind her. A team with one pitcher and one catcher is one rolled ankle away from a forfeit, so build this depth on purpose.
Set the infield, then the outfield
Put your best glove at shortstop, your steadiest hands at first, and fill in second and third. Then map the outfield with your fastest reader of the ball in center. Write each starter's name and number, then stack second and third string behind her. A utility player will show up in several rows, and that's exactly what you want.
Add your DP and Flex
If you run the DP/Flex, write your bat-first Designated Player in the blue row and your glove-first Flex in the yellow row, with a backup for each. The DP can step onto the field and the Flex can hit for herself, so having depth here keeps you legal and flexible. Not using the rule? Leave both rows blank and run a straight nine.
Post it and update weekly
Hang the chart in the dugout or team room so players see it. Update it after every weekend of games and the first practice of the week. When a younger player passes a veteran or you shift someone to cover a hole, change the chart and have the conversation in person first. The depth chart drives competition only when it's honest and current.
Why Pitching Depth Decides Fastpitch Seasons
The one part of a softball depth chart that wins or loses tournaments.
One arm isn't enough. A fastpitch pitcher can throw a complete game underhand from 43 feet, which tempts coaches to lean on a single ace. Then a Saturday doubleheader, a bracket of four games in two days, or one extra-inning battle leaves that arm cooked, and your season can ride on a number two you never developed.
Build three arms on the chart. Your depth chart should show an ace, a real number two who can start, and a developing third arm for blowouts and innings management. Spread the load across a tournament so your ace has gas for the championship game. Pitching depth is the difference between surviving a long weekend and limping out of it.
Cross-train an emergency arm. Find an infielder with a clean underhand motion and let her throw a bullpen now and then. You may never need her, but the one game a stomach bug takes out two pitchers, you'll be glad there's a name in that third row. The same logic applies at catcher, where a sore hand or a foul tip to the mask can end a player's day fast.
The DP/Flex on Your Depth Chart
The rule that separates a softball depth chart from a baseball one.
The DP/Flex is unique to fastpitch. It lets you bat 10 players while fielding 9, so your best bat and your best glove can both be in the game even when they aren't the same player. On the depth chart, give each role its own row and its own backup.
What each role does
- •DP (Designated Player): bats in the order but doesn't have to field. This is your offensive specialist. List a backup so you're covered if she needs a rest day.
- •Flex: plays defense but doesn't bat. Often your defensive catcher or a slick-fielding shortstop. A backup Flex keeps you legal if she fouls a pitch off her hand.
- •The payoff: 10 players on the chart, 9 in the field, and a deeper, more flexible roster than a straight nine.
The DP can enter the field for the Flex, the Flex can bat for herself, and starters can re-enter once under most rule sets. That flexibility is exactly why travel ball and high school teams lean on it. For the game-day version, fill out our softball lineup card, and brush up on who covers what with our softball positions guide.
Tips for Softball Coaches
Get the most out of your depth chart all season.
Note who can catch
Catcher is the bottleneck on most fastpitch rosters. Star or circle every player on the chart who can put the gear on, even if it's their third position. When your starter takes a foul tip off the mask, you want to know your options without scanning the whole roster.
Flag your slappers and your speed
Lefty slappers change how you build the bottom of a lineup and who you spot in the outfield. Mark them on the chart so you remember which backups bring speed and a slap game when you're filling a hole in a tight game.
Use it as a competition tool
When players can see the depth chart, they know exactly who they need to outwork to start. The kid sitting second at shortstop has a clear target. Keep it visible and update it honestly, and the chart does your motivating for you.
Pair it with the game-day card
The depth chart shows the whole roster's pecking order. The softball lineup card is what you hand the umpire on game day. Plan with the chart, then copy your nine (or ten) onto a clean card before the plate meeting.
Have the conversation first
Before you post a change that drops a player from starter to backup, talk to her. Finding out you lost a starting spot by reading a piece of paper stings. Explain what she needs to work on, then update the chart. Once the team gets their jerseys and roles are clear, buy-in follows.
Related Softball Templates
More free printable tools for fastpitch coaches.
Softball Lineup Card
The game-day card you hand the umpire, with batting order 1-9 plus DP/Flex and substitutes.
Softball Lineup Template
Full game-planning sheet with DP/Flex, defensive alignment by inning, and a pitching plan.
Softball Positions
Complete guide to all softball positions, roles, and defensive responsibilities.
Softball Tryout Evaluation Form
Score hitting, fielding, throwing, speed, and softball IQ with this fastpitch tryout form.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a softball depth chart?
A softball depth chart is a chart that lists every defensive position (P, C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, LF, CF, RF) with the starter, second-string, and third-string player at each spot, plus your DP and Flex. It shows the pecking order across the whole roster, so when a starter is hurt, slumping, or pitching, you already know who slides in. Most fastpitch coaches build one in preseason and update it through the season as players earn or lose reps.
How do you fill out a softball depth chart?
Start with the battery, since pitcher and catcher are the hardest spots to backfill, then work through the infield (1B, 2B, 3B, SS) and the outfield (LF, CF, RF). Write each starter in the first column with her jersey number, then add second and third string behind her. List your DP and Flex on the bottom rows. Most fastpitch players show up at two or three positions, so a utility kid will appear in several rows. Update it weekly based on practice and game performance.
How does the DP/Flex fit on a softball depth chart?
The DP/Flex is unique to fastpitch and belongs on its own rows at the bottom of the depth chart. The DP (Designated Player) is your bat-first option who hits without playing defense, and the Flex is your glove-first option who fields without hitting. Listing backups for both means you stay covered if your DP needs a day off or your Flex gets into foul trouble at catcher. If your league or age group doesn't use the rule, leave those rows blank and run a straight nine.
How many pitchers should a fastpitch team carry on its depth chart?
Carry at least two pitchers, and three if you can develop them. Fastpitch pitchers throw underhand from 43 feet and can work a full game, but a doubleheader, a tournament weekend, or an extra-inning game will burn through one arm fast. A real depth chart shows your ace, your number two, and a developing third arm so you never get caught with a tired pitcher and nobody warm. Cross-train an infielder who can throw strikes as an emergency option.
How often should you update a softball depth chart?
Update it weekly during the season, usually after your weekend games and the first practice of the week. Depth charts also shift after injuries, when a younger player passes a veteran in practice, or when you move a kid to a new position to cover a hole. In preseason and tryouts the chart can change daily as you evaluate arms, gloves, and bats. Post the current version so players always see where they stand.
Should youth softball teams use a depth chart?
Yes. A youth or rec depth chart doesn't need to be as detailed as a travel ball chart, but a simple list of who plays where helps with practice planning and fair playing time. Many youth leagues require equal play, so a depth chart helps you track who has caught, who has pitched, and who still needs reps in the infield. Keep it flexible and rotate young players through several positions so they build all-around skills instead of getting stuck in right field.
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