Spring Recreational League Rules and Information
Gals follows USA Softball age based divisions. We currently offer 4 age divisions in 6U, 8U, 10U, and a 14U division that accepts 12U players and up. Our recreational program is designed to introduce players of all ages to the game of softball, encourage player development, and foster a fun and competitive environment. Whether your child is completely new to softball at 12 or a seasoned veteran at 9, Gals Spring Recreational League is the place to be!
- Ages: 5-7
- Current birth dates: 9/01/2017 - 8/31/2019
- How teams are formed: Accept one request to be with a coach or friend, with league making final determination in order to form equal-sized teams
- Practice schedule: One practice per week between 45-60 minutes, until season starts
- Game schedule: 1 game per week on Saturday mornings. 60 minutes.
- Face mask: Not required
- Ball type: 10-inch soft
- Pitching: Players get 4 opportunities at hitting any combination of tee and/or coach pitch
- Offense: Every player in the lineup gets an opportunity to hit, with the final batter hitting a home run and running all of the bases
- Defense: All players and are allowed on the field, with 5 players in the outfield. Coaches allowed on field.
- Umpire: No
- Ages: 7-9
- Current birth dates: 9/01/2015 - 8/31/2017
- How teams are formed: Accept one request to be with a coach or friend, with league making final determination in order to form equal-sized teams
- Practice schedule: 1-2 practices per week that are 60 minutes long until season starts
- Game schedule: 1 game per week on Saturdays. No new inning after 65 minutes.
- Face mask: Pitchers and players at 1st base MUST wear. It is highly encouraged that all players wear.
- Ball type: 10-inch soft
- Pitching: 2 opportunities to hit the ball being delivered from the pitcher, followed by 2 coach pitches, and then 2 opportunities off of the tee if they fail to hit a pitched ball. If the ball is not put into play, they are out, with the one exception being a foul ball on the last swing off of the tee. Starting after Spring Break: 2 opportunities from pitcher. If the first two pitches are swinging strikes, the pitcher may throw a third pitch and if the result is a swing and miss, the batter will be ruled out. If the player pitcher throws any pitches that are not swung at or the third pitch is fouled off, then the coach will throw a maximum of 4 pitches If the player does not hit the ball then they are out. No tee. No walks. No bases awarded on hit-by-pitch. Strikeouts count toward inning out count. Foul balls result in another chance at a hit.
- Offense: Every player included in the lineup. Half-inning ends after 3 outs or 8 batters
- Defense: 11 players are allowed on the field, with 5 players in the outfield. 2 coaches are allowed on the field, with 1 each on infield and outfield
- Umpire: Coach umpires
- Ages: 9-11
- Current birth dates: 9/01/2013 - 8/31/2015
- How teams are formed: Players must attend an evaluation day for skill assessment on fielding, hitting, catching, throwing, and pitching. Top pitchers are determined by coaches and the league, and distributed equally among the teams. Coaches draft remaining players, with their own child's spot in the draft determined by the other coaches (ie. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, round, etc).
- Practice schedule: 2 practices per week that are 2-hours long until season starts. Limited practice availability once the season begins.
- Game schedule: 2 games per week; 1 game either on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, and another game on Saturday. Each team has a bye week. No new inning after 75 minutes. No new inning after 90-minutes in Championship Game.
- Face mask: Coach determines their own mask policy, but it is highly encouraged that all players wear.
- Ball type: 11-inch leather softball
- Pitching: No coach pitch. Walks. Drop third strike rule in effect. *** Modification to dropped 3rd rule: Even if a batter safely reaches 1st base after a drop 3rd strike, the out still counts against the out count for the inning, however the batter does get to stay on base and will have all the rights and risks as any other baserunner unless 1st base is occupied, then the batter is out and may not reach 1st base. This modification does not apply when there are already two outs.
- Offense: Every player included in the lineup. Half-inning ends after 3 outs or 3-run limit. No stealing home; runner must be driven in by a hit or walked in on bases loaded.
- Defense: 10 players are allowed on the field, with 4 players in the outfield. No coaches on the field.
- Umpire: One umpire behind plate or pitcher.
- Ages: 11-15
- Current birth dates: 9/01/2009 - 8/31/2013
- How teams are formed: Players must attend an evaluation day for skill assessment on fielding, hitting, catching, throwing, and pitching. Top pitchers are determined by coaches and the league, and distributed equally among the teams. Coaches draft remaining players, with their own child's spot in the draft determined by the other coaches (ie. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, round, etc).
- Practice schedule: 2 practices per week that are 2-hours long until season starts. Limited practice availability once the season begins.
- Game schedule: 2 games per week; 1 game either on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, and another game on Sunday. Each time has a bye week. No new inning after 75 minutes, last inning to be an open inning for scoring. Umpire to determine and announce which inning will be the last prior to start of the top half of the inning.
- Face mask: Coach determines their own mask policy, but it is highly encouraged that all players wear.
- Ball type: 12-inch leather softball
- Pitching: No coach pitch. Walks. Drop third strike rule in effect.
- Offense: Half-inning ends after 3 outs or 3-run limit. Follow USA Softball rules.
- Defense: 9 players are allowed on the field, with 3 players in the outfield. No coaches on the field.
- Umpire: One umpire behind plate or pitcher.