The 6 & Under division provides equal and full participation of all team members, development of sportsmanship and the fun and challenge of competition. In this division girls should be focusing on the basic techniques of hitting, throwing, catching and base running to improve their skills and increase their enjoyment of the game.
Scores of each game and standings are not kept. Good sportsmanship, fun and equal play remain paramount. Girls are encouraged to improve through skill building, practice, discipline and teamwork. Practicing at home is also strongly encouraged.
Games are mainly on Saturdays. If a game is rained out on Saturday, weather permitting it will be played on Sunday. All games will be played at Downing Park Pavilion Field or Chelsea Field.
The 6 & Under Division information, including these rules and schedule will be maintained on the web. ASA rules govern play with the exceptions contained herein.
1.1 All players present at a game must play. Each player who consistently attends practice must play a minimum of 2 innings of each game in the infield. Players cannot sit out 2 innings in a row or a second inning until all players have sat out one inning. The only exception to this would be a player that continually does not attend practice and in this case the Division Coordinator must be notified prior to the game.
1.2 Players will have opportunities in infield and outfield positions throughout the season. Coaches have discretion over who plays each position - particularly first base and pitcher. This is due to safety reasons (at first base and pitcher), the need to provide a reasonably competitive playing experience while advancing the game at a reasonable pace. It is the coach’s duty to ensure that every girl has opportunities in the infield and outfield during the season.
1.3 The official ball of the 6u division will be an 11 inch Incrediball and not a regular hard ball.
1.4 A mechanical pitching machine will be used for the first two innings followed by girls pitching for any subsequent innings.
2.1 All players who attend the game will play in the field.
2.2 A team should have 6 players to play an official game. Games may be played with less than 6 players, and at this point players can be borrowed from the other team in order to just play the game.
2.3 Teams with 6 players may request a defensive player from the opposing team to fill a fielding position. The player playing defense for the opposing team is the last batter due in up in the inning. That player continues to bat for her own team.
3.1 Roster batting is in effect. All girls are in the lineup and will bat whether or not they are playing the field.
3.3 The pitching machine will be used. The batter will be allowed a maximum of 7 pitches and if she has not put the ball into play by the seventh pitch, the batting tee MUST be used.
3.4 The only players allowed to have bat in their hand will be the batter and the on-deck batter. In the case of the on-deck batter, she must remain in the fenced in on-deck area until her time at bat. There will be no tees or balls used in the on-deck area, just dry swings.
3.5 There is no bunting allowed and any batter who is hit by the pitch will be awarded first base.
4.1 Base runners cannot leave the base (lead) until the ball is released. Base runners must return to their base if the ball was not put into play.
4.2 There is no stealing or any base. Base runners are encouraged to lead when the pitch is made.
4.3 Players running to first base, and running through the base attempting to beat a throw, must use the orange part of the base. The white part of the base *may* be used if the first base player occupied the orange part of the base in an effort to catch a thrown ball.
4.4 Runners should attempt to slide at any base to try to avoid contact with the fielder in possession of the ball.
5.1 The first base player must use the white base. The orange base should not be used to make a putout at first base on a routine play; however, the umpire may allow the use of the orange part of the base in certain cases of errant throws.
5.2 Fielders should try not to block any base if they do not have possession of the ball.
6.1 All girls must wear batting helmets with a strap and faceguard (both stamped with the NOCSAE label) while batting, running the bases, in the on-deck circle, in coaches’ box or anywhere in-bounds. If a fielder wishes to wear a helmet she is permitted to do so.
6.2 Any coach catching must wear a mask with throat protector.
6.3 All fielders must wear a mouth guard. If a girl does not have a mouth guard at a game, she will not be allowed to play the field and will only bat. All players are required to wear a Heart guard shirt. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE.
6.4 A team will receive one warning with regard to batters throwing bats. The second time the batter will be out, and base runners must return to the bases occupied before the call was made. This is a team warning and not an individual warning.
6.5 Players are strongly encouraged to wear sliding shorts and a sliding pad.
6.6 The on-deck area is the fenced in box within the dugout areas. This is the only place an on-deck batter may swing and only one person is allowed in this area at a time. No tees or balls should be hit in this area during a game.
the public or if a building is unavailable, participants should go inside a vehicle with a solid metal top (e.g. bus, van, car).
antennas, towers and underground watering systems.
last boom is heard or strike is seen before resuming play.
7.1 Teams MUST be on the field and ready to start play 5 minutes before game time. Failure to be ready takes away from the girls playing time.
7.2 The game is 6 innings or an hour and fifteen minutes. A new inning cannot start after one hour and fifteen minutes (1:15). If at an 1:15 the game is in the middle of the inning, that inning will be completed and will be the last inning.
8 Infield fly rule is not in effect.
9 Reporting: Each team is required to email the 6U Coordinator to mention player’s performance. Every effort should be made to submit different names each week in order to get every girl mentioned.
inserted back into the spot she had previously held in the batting order.
11 All players, coaches, parents and spectators must adhere to the YAC Code of Conduct. Failure to do so may result in that individual (s) told to leave the field. If the violation is serous in nature, this matter will be brought to the YAC Board and may result in the individual (s) suspended from attending any future YAC events.
12 The home team shall sit in the first base dugout.
13 The only adults allowed in the dugout with the team shall be the Coach and Assistant Coach. We do welcome all help offered by parents, but must limit those in the dugout with the girls. It is confusing when adults other than the coaches or siblings are telling the girls what they should or should not have done.
14 Positive cheering and chants are encouraged and acceptable. It is not however, acceptable to chant derogatory chants at the opposing team.
lining the batter’s box and foul lines as well as the pitching circle.