Description:
The 6u division is the starting point for players 4-6 years old. Teams are put together based on age, geographic school locations, and other considerations. For this division, Hgsa coaches are encouraged to teach their players the basic skills for the game of softball. Basic skills include how to throw, catch hit the ball and run the bases. Coaches are also asked to provide a fun atmosphere for the players by emphasis on helping the players becoming familiar with the sport of softball.
Basic rules for HGSA games will be governed by USA Softball with the following modifications.
1) Game time is 1 hour and 20 minutes., No new inning will start after 1:20. If the home team is behind and within four (4) runs of tying or winning the game, the game will be played to completion. If the home team cannot catch up, the game is over and the score of the last completed inning will be the official score.
2) Teams must be at their dugout 10 minutes before game time. Forfeit time is game time unless the prior game has run over.
3) Home team, which is listed first on the schedule, and will always be in the third base dugout and provide a new game ball.
4) Coaches will act as umpires in this division while their team is on defense. Teams may have one coach in the infield and one in the outfield
while on defense.
a. All Players present will be fielded on defense. Outfielders must play closer to the outfield and infield must play closer to their proper
positions.
b. No player may play the same position for more than 2 innings.
c. Experiment; This year Hgsa is experimenting with a 40ft. base paths for this division. This is done to help the coaches with teaching the players to catch and throw the batted balls. It will/should help eliminate the defensive strategies from "stacking" the infielders in a semi-circle. Defensive players will now be required to play closer to their proper positions.
5) Coach pitch will be used the entire season. Batters will have 4 chances to put the ball in play. After 4 pitchers/swings the batter will get 2 swings off the tee. From there they will either put the ball in play or be called out. There are no walks nor hit by pitches in this division.
6)Teams will change from offense to defense and vice versa once every 3 outs or 4 runs have been recorded. Should the switch be caused due to 4 runs, the next batter would be the lead off the following inning.
7) All players present at the start of the game will be listed on the team's batting lineup.
a. This line up will be used the entire game. Upon arrival, late players will be added to the bottom of the lineup. Bat around lineups will be used all season.
b. If a player's unable bat in their spot, (injured or otherwise) the batting order will be compressed. No out will be recorded The player may not return to the game.
c. Bunting slapping and switch hitting are allowed. Bunting from the tee is NOT allowed.
d. Drop third strike and in field fly do not apply in this division.
e. Typical first and third base coaches are allowed in this division.
f. One base per play will be allowed in this division. No baserunners may steal home.
HGSA will host an end of the season playoff to determine 1st and 2nd places (depending on the number of teams possibly 3rd, etc.). Regular season rules apply. Seeding will be based on season win-loss-tie record. In the event of a tie, a tiebreaker will be determined in the following order: win-loss record head-to-head, runs allowed head-to-head, runs scored head-to-head, runs allowed the entire season, run scored the entire season. In the event of a 3-way tie, head-to-head win/loss cannot apply, and the tiebreaker will go directly to runs allowed.
Game rule revisions - If at the end of regulation play the score is tied - National tie breaker rule will apply. The first inning a player will be places on 2nd base for both sides. If at the end of that inning the score is still ties a runner will be placed on second and one out will be recorded for the team. This will continue until a winner is declared.