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 relationships. This division features beginners 101 teaching in a fun atmosphere that puts the emphasis on becoming familiar with our sport. The players are taught to throw, catch, hit, and run.

USA Softball rules will be used with the following modifications:

1) Game time is 1 hour and 20 minutes, which starts counting down on the first warm-up pitch. No new inning will begin after this time is up, but the game will be played to completion. If the score is tied, the game will be recorded as a tie and each will team will receive a ½ game win. There is no mercy rule, however a game may be called early if the score of one team is not within reach of the other in the amount of time left.

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) The same batting line-up will be used throughout the game. Late players may be inserted into the bottom of the lineup upon arrival.

5) Standard base distance will be used. Pitching distance is 25 feet for both coach and player pitch. A 10” RIF ball will be used with a new one supplied by the home team. Scores are recorded in this division.

6) Coaches will act as plate umpire for this division while their team is on defense. Teams may have one coach in the outfield, one coach assisting the infield while on defense. On offense, standard first and third base coaches will be used.

7) All players present will be fielded. The outfield players must start on the grass before the ball is pitched, but may enter the infield after.

8) Coach pitch will be used from the start of the season. If a batter fails to put the ball in play after 4 pitches/swings, they are allowed 2 swings off the tee before being called out. Mid-season (after 6 games through playoffs) the league will reevaluate with coaches with the option to proceed to player pitch. In player pitch, pitchers will get 4 pitches and the coach will resume the strike count. There will be no walks or hit by pitches.

9) No player may play the same position for more than 2 innings per game, including pitcher. Even 1 pitch constitutes an inning. If a team is in violation of this rule, the game will go down as a forfeit.

10) “Bat-around,” batting the entire roster in attendance, will be used for the entire season.
11) If a player is not able to bat in their place in the batting order, injured or otherwise, the batting order will be compressed to the number of batters in the batting order less the player with no out recorded for the player unable to bat. The player will not be able to re-enter the game offensively or defensively. 

12) Bunting, slapping and switch hitting are allowed. Bunting is not allowed off the tee only.

13) There will be one (1) base per hit. Runners may advance one base on an overthrow of a batted ball, with the exception of home.

14) Stealing is allowed off coach or player pitch when ball is released. Only one base per pitch can be stolen with no advancement on overthrows. There is no stealing home.

15) To speed up the game, a courtesy runner can be used for the pitcher or catcher only when there are 2 outs. In the event of an injured runner, a pinch runner may be used. Any player in the game may be used as a pinch runner or courtesy runner. If a player is on base when it is their time to bat they will be removed from the base to take their turn at bat and the person who they are running for will be called out.  

16) Teams change sides after either 3 outs or 4 runs score. Teams must bat the next player in their line-up.
17) There will be no drop third strike or infield fly.

HGSA will host an end of the season playoff to determine 1st and 2nd places (depending on the amount 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 tie-breaker 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 tie-breaker will go directly to runs allowed.