6U Rules

6U Rules

Concord Girls Softball League

2023 6U Rules

The Concord Girls Softball League’s 6U division is a training process for the players to develop fundamental skills with the maximum enjoyment for the youngster.

Overview

Innings

6

Bases

50 ft

Stealing

None

Ball Size

10 inch

Pitching

Coach Pitch – 15 feet.  Can use Tee up until July 1st

Age Cut off

Age as of January 1st, 2022

Umpires

Not carded, Paid

Division Coordinator

Jordan Testerman

 

 

 

 

Coaches Objectives

1. Ensure all team players have the most fun possible.

2. Teach each player the correct way to hold and swing a bat. Emphasis should be placed on not throwing the bat after hitting the ball.

3. Teach each player the correct method of running the bases.

  • Hit the ball and run for 1st base as quickly as possible. Watch 1st base, not the ball.
  • That the runner may run through 1st base and in doing so will help that player get on base more times than not.

4. The correct method of throwing a softball.

5. The correct method of fielding a ground ball.

6. Teach all players infield rules.

  • How to make an out at 1st base.
  • How to make an out at the other bases.
  • Teach players how to stop base runners from advancing on the bases.

7. Teach players to make all tags below the shoulders.

8. Teach each player to cheer their teammates.

Eligibility

1. Eligible players will be 6 years of age or under on or before January 1, of that playing year. Eligible Players must not be older than 6 years old by January 1 of that playing year.

2. No player can be added to a team after the first game of the year without the consent of the commissioner or 6U director.

3. The 6U Division Coordinator or a league board member of the Concord Softball League will assign all players to a team.

  • The teams were assigned using the following methodology
    • Last years team as long as parents wish to keep them on the same team
    • Player Request (submitted by parents)
    • Coach Request (submitted by parents)
    • School
    • Age – We will try to balance the ages so that teams do not all have older or younger players.
  • Once a team has 1 more player than the roster size of the other teams in the league, player and coach requests cannot be honored.

Field Set Up and Rules

1. In the case of inclement weather:

  • In the event of lightning, regardless of its distance away, play must be immediately called. If the weather clears, play may resume 30 minutes after the last flash of lightning.
  • The division coordinator, umpires, and head coaches make the call on rain and wet field conditions.  If one of the above mentioned wishes to cancel the game, it shall be canceled.  Appeals will be immediately made to the Recreation President for a final call.
  • Make-ups will be rescheduled by the division coordinator.

2. Bases are set at 50 feet.

3. Home team will supply the game ball.

4. Home team will use the dugout on the first base side.

5. BOTH teams are responsible for cleaning up the field after the game.

  • Ensure that all trash is cleared from each bench/bleacher area and placed in the trash receptacle. If we do not maintain a clean field, who will?

The Game

To be considered a finished game, it must go the full amount of innings OR at 65 minutes after the official start of the game, the current inning will be finished and the game ended.  A new inning starts immediately after the 3rd out of the prior inning.  Umpires have final decision for weather and darkness conditions.

 An inning will be complete when three outs occur or 7 runs are scored. 

During the regular season if the game is tied after it is considered a finished game (refer to finished game definition above), the game is declared over and a tie. Only during the tournament will a tied game be extended to determine a winner.

A team must have a minimum of six players on the field in order to constitute an official game. Less than six will result in a forfeit.

1.  Coaches will position players in the field. A maximum of 6 players will be in the infield at one time, including the rover. The rover must be within 5 feet of 2ndbase. 2 coaches may accompany the defensive team on the field, but they must remain out of the way of play. These coaches should be positioned in the outfield.

2. All players not in the infield must be placed in the outfield. This means no girl should be sitting on the bench while the team is in the field unless injured or ill.

3. Each player must have 1 inning in the infield. Exception to the rule for safety reasons and must be agreed upon by commissioner and the parent. Infield positions include 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Shortstop, Pitcher’s helper, and Rover.

4. If a coach is hit, catches, or otherwise touches the ball, the ball is dead and will be replayed.

5. The batting team will have coaches at first and third base. The coach pitching can help position the batter.

  • The coach that is pitching will not pitch the ball until the defensive team is in position and the opposing coach has signaled to initiate play.

6. The batting team must have a continuous batting order. The youth that is out of order is called out and will not bat until her turn comes up again. Note: This is a learning experience and not a punishment for the youth.

7. Injury or Illness: If a player is injured or becomes ill during a game she may sit out without penalty, should her place in the batting order come up, she will be skipped. Both scorekeepers must be notified of a skipped batsman.

8. Coaches may only pitch underhand to their team during the game. Please observe a minimum of 15 feet pitching distance.

  • The batter is out after 7 pitches. Balls interfered with by a coach in the field will not count toward the pitch count.

9. If a batter throws the bat, they will be given one warning and will be called out after that.

Note: This is a learning/safety experience only and not intended to punish the youth.

10. All fielders must be lined up no closer to home than 5 feet in front of the base or baseline.  Once the ball is hit into fair territory, all balls are live and playable.

This line up rule is for the safety of the infielders only.

  • The defensive player, at the pitching mound position is to maintain one foot within and one foot out of the designated circle, prior to the batter making contact with the pitch. Once contact has been made, she may advance on the ball to make a play. The player at this position may not be in front of the coach pitcher, prior to contact. The coach pitching should make sure the girl playing pitcher is not too close to the batter. This is for safety reasons only.

11. A base runner may only run one base at a time in this division. 

12. Plays at home plate are permitted.

13. The infield fly rule does not apply.

14. The base runner is out when:

  • A base runner runs out of the running lane to avoid a tag by a defensive player.  More than 3 feet away from the base line is excessive. Again, this is a learning experience.
    • A defensive player, without the ball and no play for the ball must allow the base runner access to the bag and the running lane. If the defensive player or players block the runner’s lane to the base, the runner is ruled safe. (This is determined by the umpire only)
    • If the defensive player makes a play for the ball and in doing so blocks or interferes with the base runner, no defensive interference is incurred. The base runner must avoid the defensive player by slowing up or going behind the defensive player, if the runner interferes with the defensive player (offensive interference) the ball will be ruled dead, all runners will advance to the base they were headed and the offensive team will be given one warning, if offensive interference occurs again by the same team then the play is dead and the runner who committed interference will be called out. (All other runners move to the base they were advancing to during the play with the exception of home, a run cannot score from offensive interference).

15. If two players end up on the same base and no force is in effect, the second runner to the base may be tagged out. If the play ends and no tag has been made, the second runner is sent back to the previous base.

  • If a force is on the leading runner, they may be tagged out. The oncoming runner will be out only if the defensive player tags the base first (then the force runner does not have to run) or the defensive player tags the runner before she reaches the base. And again the force is off and the forced runner does not have to run.

16. No run will be scored when the third out is a forced play.

  • If a runner touches home plate prior to a non-forced third out being made, the run is scored.

17. Scorekeeping during all games will be kept. Team’s standings and reporting to the Division Coordinator is necessary.

18. Seeding for final league tournament will be based on regular season records.

  • Tiebreaker scenario
  • Level 1 – Head to head record
  • Level 2 – Most Runs scored in the games involving the tied teams (Only applies if Level 1 doesn’t produce a winner)
  • Level 3 – Least Runs scored in the games involving the tied teams (Only applies if Levels 1 and 2 don’t produce a winner)