1. What is Fielding Percentage?

Fielding Percentage (FP) is a softball statistic that measures a player's defensive performance by calculating the percentage of total chances that result in successful plays (putouts or assists) without errors.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Fielding Percentage formula:

Where:

• \( Chances Accepted \) — Putouts + Assists
• \( Total Chances \) — Putouts + Assists + Errors

Explanation: The formula shows what percentage of defensive opportunities were successfully converted by the player.

3. Importance of Fielding Percentage

Details: FP is a key defensive metric in softball, helping coaches evaluate players' defensive skills and make position assignments. A higher FP indicates better defensive reliability.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of successful chances (putouts + assists) and total chances (including errors). Both values must be positive numbers with chances accepted ≤ total chances.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good fielding percentage in softball?
A: Generally, 0.950 or above is good, with elite fielders often above 0.980. Standards vary by position (higher for 1B, lower for SS/3B).

Q2: How does fielding percentage differ from fielding runs?
A: FP measures reliability, while fielding runs quantifies overall defensive value by considering range and play difficulty.

Q3: What are limitations of fielding percentage?
A: FP doesn't account for range or difficulty of plays. A player with limited range but few errors might have a high FP.

Q4: Should FP be used alone to evaluate defense?
A: No, it should be combined with other metrics like range factor and defensive runs saved for complete evaluation.

Q5: How often should FP be calculated?
A: Typically calculated per season, but can be tracked over shorter periods to identify trends or improvements.