The name's the game.

When you think about staying fit, maybe you envision working out in a gym, jogging, or engaging in some other strenuous pastime. But 50 million people in 70 countries keep fit another way. They play an offshoot of the Great American Pastime (which is baseball) called slow-pitch softball.

It's the fastest-growing game in the world, rivaling soccer as the world's most popular sport. What makes it so appealing? Anyone can play, it's a good way to keep fit and make friends, and it can give you a good workout.

Play Ball!

Softball has flexible rules. Bases are usually 35 to 45 feet apart, but that can change to fit the age and skill of the players. The ball may be 12, 14, or 16 inches in circumference. And mitts are sometimes, but not always, worn by the catcher and the first baseman.

Like baseball, sometimes called "hard ball," a softball team has 10 people, but a game consists of seven innings instead of nine. And unlike baseball, where pitchers use a fast overhand throw, the pitch in softball is slower and underhand.

The game has evolved over the years, and the changes have made it even easier and more fun to play. Twenty-five years ago, a game called "fast-pitch softball" was popular, but many amateur players couldn't hit balls pitched fast and found the game frustrating. Today, 90 percent of softball players prefer the "slow-pitch" game because the ball is easier to hit. That makes it more satisfying--and more fun.

You can play an occasional pickup game or participate in leagues and tournaments that are more organized. The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) has more than 230,000 registered teams and conducts 53 different national championships each year.

Batter UP!

The exercise in this game is easy and healthy, but not too stenous. Swinging a bat gives your back, arms, and torso a workout; bending to pick up a grounder increases your flexibility; running and jumping for a fly ball is good anaerobic exercise. Your reflexes and coordination improve as you develop better batting and catching skills. Even cheering your teammates on is a good part of the physical workout.

If you play regularly, your muscles, joints, and bones become stronger. After you've been playing for a while, you may even notice that your body is firmer and your clothes fit better.

One of the best things about this sport is that it keeps you out of the house and away from the refrigerator and television. So you're burning off calories, not putting them on. And as you become more fit, you have more energy for other things in your life.

So next time you're looking for a sport to keep fit and have fun, get out the bat and ball. What's more, if you play softball, you may soon be participating in a new Olympic sport. ASA softball officials are trying to have softball included in the 1996 Olympics.