GIRLS COACH PITCH SOFTBALL RULES
1. The Coach Pitch League will consist mainly of six (6) year old and seven (7) year old players. Five (5) year old players are eligible after playing one season of Tee Ball per Little League Softball Rule Book.
2. Managers shall alert opposing team’s manager & coaches to move infielders back to a deeper field depth for any batter with the potential to hit harder or farther than an average player.
3. Any player, who represents a danger to the safety of the other participants because of size and/or ability, shall be brought to the attention of the CLL President who will determine the player’s possible re-assignment and if necessary, inform the parents of the League's decision.
4. Only Little League approved 11” softballs (Soft-T) may be used for Girls Coach Pitch Softball. Only Little League approved bats may be used.
5. All batters and base runners shall wear a Little League approved helmet. NO batter shall take practice swings or wait on deck with a bat in hand before batting. All players waiting to bat shall sit on the ground in a line in foul territory, along their side of the field, far enough away to avoid being hit the bat and ball, or on the bench in a dugout, if provided.
6. Bases shall be 60 feet apart. Do not adjust bases on fields that we rent. Notify league president if no bases are provided. League will provide throw down bases if needed. Please walk or pace the base distance the best you can if using throw down bases. Attempt keep distances uniform.
7. Home team shall have the first base side of field during games, and Away team shall have the third base side of the field during games. Use at least two coaches while the team is at bat: one to assist the batter and one to line up the children in batting order and assist the next batter in getting ready
8. Balls shall be coach pitched. Only by CLL approved volunteers. Players shall get 5 pitches to make contact. After 5 attempts, coach shall set ball on a batting tee for batter. Play shall get three attempts to hit ball off tee. Ball hit in fair territory is live. Ball hit in foul territory is an out. If after three attempts there is no contact, batter is out.
9. Coach pitcher shall keep a bucket or bag of balls at pitcher mound to speed up game. Behind the plate, please use a bucket of balls or a bag for errant throws. Have a volunteer gather balls and place in bucket or bag. Bring back to coach-pitcher after each inning.
10. Maximum of ten (10) players shall take the field. Fill each infield position, including pitcher, first and then fill in the outfield. Four (4) outfielders shall be allowed. One coach from opposing team shall be behind home plate to collect balls in bucket or bag. One coach pitch player shall play the catcher’s position but shall remain 10 feet back from batter during the at bat. Catcher may make plays at the plate after batter has left the batter’s box.
11. After the play is over, the closest fielder throws the ball to the coach pitcher to resume play.
12. Teach the players about positioning … don’t let them cross the field chasing a ball or bunch up around a base. Teach them how to back-up a play and where to go (cover a base, back up …) when the ball is not hit to them.
13. Managers will keep score. Final scores will be inputted by the manager at the end of the game. Managers shall encourage parents to keep the scorebook during the games.
14. There will be no strikeouts, base stealing or base leading allowed. Tagging up on a pop fly is allowed. Us the game to teach players to run half way between bases on a pop fly. If ball is dropped, they go to next base. If ball is caught, they go back to the base they were on.
15. Game length will be no more than 90 minutes or five (5) innings. An inning will end when three (3) outs have been recorded, or when opposing teams scores 5 runs in the inning or the entire order is batted through. Which ever occurs first.
16. Managers and/or Coaches may stop the action to go on the playing field to explain and encourage proper fielding & throwing form and to show them proper procedure for play.
17. The entire team roster shall constitute the batting order for the game. All rostered payers, even on bench shall bat in lineup.
18. No defensive player shall play the same position for more than three (3) innings per game. All players must play at least two (2) innings in the infield per game. Managers shall rotate players through the field positions.
19. Outfielders cannot make an out by tagging a runner or stepping on a base. They must throw the ball back to an infielder. Encourage throws from the outfield to base and hitting a cutoff man.
20. The player pitcher must be in contact with the pitching rubber when the ball is hit. Only one player shall player pitcher per inning. Rotate new player pitcher in every inning.
21. On plays where the ball is overthrown in the infield the runner shall advance one base only. Also, one base is allowed runner(s) on an errant throw that goes into foul territory.
22. Managers and coaches shall use proper baseball terms when explaining baseball fundamentals with our players.
23. There will be no forfeits in the Coach Pitch League. Players may be borrowed from the opposing team if necessary, to complete your team. Opposing players will not bat in your lineup.
24. Volunteer umpired may be used to umpire game, but if not provided, the coach-pitcher shall make the call.
25. The regular season shall be approximately 12 weeks long and follow the Little League 12 Week Coach Pitch Curriculum, with modifications made by the league. See link https://www.littleleague.org/downloads/coach-pitch-12-week-program/
26. We will have playoffs at end of the season. #1 ranked team gets a BYE to the championship game. #2, #3, #4, and #5 ranked teams will play each other for a chance to move up to the championship game. See game schedule for dates.
27. Refer to the LL Softball Rule Book for additional information, that is not already mentioned here. The girls 8U softball program will adhere to LL rules, and except where modified by the CLL.
28. Please remember these are kids. We are here to make it fun. So, have fun!