6 U Rules 2009

Age Cutoff for 2009.   Whatever age a player is on May 1st, 2009, will be their age for the 2009 season.

1.  Starting age for 6U is set at the local parks preference, but players must not be older than 6 years of age on April 30th..

2.  If a coach elects to pitch to his batter he will pitch at a distance of 21 feet from the back of home plate. The batter will get three strikes in any combination of pitched balls or balls placed on the tee.

3.  One person will be designated to set up the tee.  That person may adjust the tee for the player.

4.  There will be a chalked circle ten foot in diameter centered at 42 feet from the back of home plate.  The pitcher must have at least one foot in the circle at the beginning of an at bat. 

5.  Bases will be 60 feet apart.

6.  A game will consist of  5 innings.

7.  There will be a 5 run limit in any half  inning.

8.  Any team leading by 11 or more runs after 3 complete innings of play or 6 or more runs after 4 innings of play will be declared the winning team.

9.  All games will have a time limit of 1 hour.  If an inning has been started when time runs out that inning will be completed.

10.  Infield fly rule does not apply.

11.  Coaches must make an effort to play each player at least 2 innings in the field each game, unless the game is shortened by weather or run rule.  All players will bat in rotation whether they are playing in the field or not.  Coaches may substitute players in the field freely at any time.  If a player refuses to take his or her turn at bat, teams batting more than 9 players will not be required to take an out for that players refusal to bat.  Coaches should encourage players to participate fully.  At the coaches discretion a player may be withheld from a game for disciplinary reasons such as missing practice or previous games.  The coach must notify the umpire, the scorekeeper, and the opposing coach prior to the beginning of play.  The player may not bat nor take the field during the game.  ( Coaches should be reminded that the parents and not players are usually the irresponsible parties in such cases.  Use this rule with great caution and much thought.)

12.  First and Third base coaches are not allowed to touch players while the ball is in play.  Incidental contact will cause the umpire to issue a warning to the offending coach.  Physically altering or assisting a players actions will result in that player being called out without a warning.  A coach may touch his players when the ball is dead or congratulate a player who has hit the ball over the fence in any manner he chooses.

13.  Two defensive coaches will be allowed on the field.   They must be positioned in the outfield behind the baselines .

14.  Coaches are prohibited from calling time out after the ball has been placed on the tee.  The batter may call time out by stepping out of the batter's box.  A coach may instruct a player to step out of the box for any legitimate reason such as an improperly adjusted tee or an improper batter.  If in the umpire's judgment, the coach had no legitimate reason, a strike will be called and play will continue.  If it is the third strike, the batter is out.

15.  An arc will be drawn with an 8-foot radius from the back of home plate from foul line to foul line in front of home plate.  Any struck ball remaining inside this line will be a foul ball.

16.  All defensive players except for the pitcher and catcher must be positioned behind an imaginary line across the field from 1st base to 3rd base.  The pitcher must  have one foot in the circle.  If a fielder is violating this rule when the ball is hit, the batter shall be awarded first base.  If the batter reaches 1st base and proceeds to 2nd base, he is in jeopardy of being put out.

17.  The umpire will place the catcher in a safe position behind home plate.

18.  The on deck batter must remain in the on deck circle until play is dead.

19.  Each batter gets three strikes.  Warm up swings are not allowed but will not be called strikes unless the batter takes a full swing.  A foul ball counts as a strike but not as the third strike.  Touching the ball on the tee is a foul ball.

20.  Bunting is not allowed.  If, in the umpire's judgment, the batter bunts the ball, it will be called a strike, even on the third strike.   Each player is to make a full swing.

21.  Runners must not leave their base until the ball is struck.  If a runner leaves early, he will be sent back.

22.  The umpire will call time when the lead runner is stopped at a base and no other play is evident.  Other runners will be placed by the umpire according to where they are when time is called.  The field will be marked with a chalk line half way between each base.  If the runner has passed the chalk line halfway between the bases he will be awarded the next base, if not he will be sent back to the previous base.

23.  The pitcher must have one foot in the circle when the ball is put in play.  If the pitcher does not have at least one foot  in the circle when the ball is hit, the batter will be awarded first base.  This shall apply only if the batter is put out at first base or by a fly ball, or if a runner is forced out by the hit.  Any home run or ground rule double will count as such.  If the batter reaches first base safely and continues to second, he is in jeopardy of being put out.  No batter may strike out while a pitcher does not have at least one foot in the circle.

24.  If a batter slings his bat hard enough to strike the backstop, the umpire, after the play has been called dead, will issue a warning to the player and to his coach and teammates.  After one warning, any player on the previously warned team who slings his bat will be called out immediately.  No runners may advance.

25.  In the event of an overthrow at first base (only applies to throws to first base) that is not touched by the fielder covering first base, runners may advance one base past the base they were occupying or attempting to occupy at the time of the overthrow.  If the ball is touched or tipped by the fielder covering first base, it is a live ball and runners may advance at their own risk. 

26.  A hit ball that hits the pitching coach will be a dead ball single, if in the umpire's judgment, the coach did not attempt to avoid contact, the batter will be called out.

27.  Any bat labeled Tee Ball or Little League will be legal for league play.

28.  The pitcher may not tag a base runner between home plate and first base, unless the ball is fielded within arm length of first base line. This is a judgment call by the umpire.

29.  Pitcher must throw the ball to first base.  Players cannot roll the ball intentionally to any base.