The goal of this league as a whole is to provide recreational softball activities to the community in a fun, safe, child-centered environment. Players will focus on developing softball skills relevant to their appropriate division.

Our Objectives:

• Provide a fun and engaging softball experience for youth in the community
• Promote skill development, teamwork, and sportsmanship
• Foster a positive and inclusive environment where all participants feel valued and supported
• Create opportunities for players to improve their softball abilities to reach their full potential
• Encourage fair play and respect for coaches, teammates, opponents, and officials
• Ensure this league stays a true recreational league, focusing on a stress-free environment for the players

League Age Divisions

Coach Pitch (8U) – The Coach Pitch division caters to children roughly aged 7 to 8 with advanced 6-year olds, focusing on fundamental skill development in a supportive environment. Players receive controlled
underhanded pitches from their coach, fostering a positive next step into the sport with an emphasis on teamwork and development.

Kid Pitch A (10U) - The 9-10 year old Kid Pitch division, with advanced 8 year olds, marks a progression where young players transition to pitching themselves. In this league, kids develop their pitching, hitting, and fielding skills, fostering a more competitive environment while maintaining a focus on teamwork and sportsmanship.

Kid Pitch AA (13U) - The 11-13 year old, with advanced 10 year olds, Kid Pitch AA division represents a developmental stage where young players continue to refine their pitching, hitting, and fielding abilities. This league introduces a more competitive aspect to the game, emphasizing skill advancement, strategic play, and sportsmanship as players further develop their understanding and love for softball.

Allowed Players:

This league is open to players born on or after 9/1/2011 and before 8/31/2019.

Registration & Scholarships

• Parents or guardians are required to create an account on FountainCitySports.org to register their child for the league
• Our refund policy is posted on our website
• For registration costs, please see “Fees & Expenses” section below
• FCRC provides scholarships for registration fees to children, who without financial assistance would be unable to participate in FCRC sports programs. More details, including eligibility, can be found in the Scholarship Application
• Payment plans via credit card are offered for early registrants

Age Divisions:

The division age brackets are as follows:

Age divisions are based off 2025 USSSA Softball suggested age charts.  The league age of the player is determined by the player’s age on Aug 31, 2025.  Please utilize https://www.usssa.com/fastpitch/ageCalculator to determine your child’s appropriate division.

 Special Requests:

Special Requests may be submitted using the form found at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewXVtyEkDYsU-ipjgaMJiEMSfy2rrmq10H2sACDvpC9MSDew/viewform?usp=sf_link

• Division Change requests to play down to 6U Tee Ball will only be granted for disability-based reasons in the Kid Pitch divisions.
• Coach non-requests will be granted if possible.
• Team/Coach Requests will only be granted based on team formation rules or for players living in the same household.
• Request to “Play-Up” will only be granted if a player evaluates in the top 10% of their appropriate division.

Schedule:

The full season schedule will be available in the TeamSnap app shortly after the season begins.

For Coach Pitch – Kid Pitch AA: Practices will be held during the week on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Games will be played on Saturdays...

Makeup Policy: The first cancellation of the week will be made up on the following Wednesday. The second cancellation will be made up on a Friday of the same week. If a third cancellation occurs, it will either be made up on Saturday, rescheduled for another date or completely cancelled.

Team Formation:

All draft level teams will be fully drafted in the fall with the exception of Property Player saves. *See exception below. Travel teams will not be allowed to bring their full team into the league. The is a recreational league and teams are chosen via draft. If you played on a team in the Fall season, you can remain on that team in the following Spring season if you choose to do so. After the Spring season, teams will be redrafted in the Fall. Every effort will be made to keep rosters limited to 12 total players.

Property Players are those players who played for a registered Head Coach in the immediate preceding Spring season. Property Players are property of the Head Coach, not Assistant Coaches nor Dugout Captains. A person is only considered a Head or Assistant Coach if they are registered as such in the system for the applicable season. Players that skip a season, or request a new team, lose their Property Player status. A team may have a maximum of 1 Head Coach and 3 Assistant Coaches.

If a Head Coach moves up or doesn’t coach, then one of their Assistant Coaches can transition to a Head Coach and inherit the property players on their team. If a coach has dropped or lost an assistant, they must obtain their replacement through the draft. If a Head Coach leaves and both Assistant Coaches want to transition to Head Coaches and separately inherit Property Players, they may do so only if they agree on which players each coach keeps. Two coaches may combine teams only if they take all returning Property Players and the total number of returning players is not more than 10.

For Head Coaches saving Property Players, they must save all returning players unless a parent requests a new coach.

*Children of coaches and assistant coaches will be on the team of the parent and considered a property player.

Evaluations and Draft:

All players should participate in Evaluations. Any player who no-shows for evaluations will be assigned the highest possible score for draft purposes. If a player no-show for evaluations, and is draft eligible, they will be randomly assigned to a team.

Regarding draft pick order, the team with the lowest number of players gets to pick before teams with higher numbers of players. This process continues until all teams have the same number of players. Once all teams have the same number of players, the coach with the lowest team score picks first. Coaches must pick players with the goal of keeping the average team score consistent across all teams. i.e. A coach with a high team score must pick a player with a low individual score. A coach with a low team score can pick any player they choose.

Fees & Expenses:

Awards:

Division
Coach Pitch – Kid Pitch AA

Awards
1st Place - Ring, 2nd Place - Medal at Tournament

Equipment Requirements:

Coach Pitch 8U through Kid Pitch 12U – The park will provide a Jersey for each player, as well as game balls for the team. Parents/Guardians should provide a glove, batting helmet, cleats, baseball pants, belt and any other personal equipment the player would like to use.

• FCRC will organize the uniform ordering process and teams will pick from standardized designs available through our supplier. Teams may not fundraise or take donations to be able to order upgraded uniforms. Player names will not be printed on uniforms.
• Bats must meet USSSA Softball requirements and have a USSSA BPF of 1.20 or less. “Official Softball” will be marked on the bat.  You must only use bats made by those bat manufacturers listed on the USSSA website as USSSA Licensed Softball Bat Manufacturers and that have the new 2020 USSSA Fast pitch Only Certification Mark OR the previous 2014 USSSA Certification Mark.
• Helmets must be approved and stamped by NOCSAE
• Helmets must be equipped with a NOCSAE-approved face protector - a chinstrap is optional
• Metal cleats are prohibited
• Exposed jewelry is not permitted and must be removed during games and practices.
• The use of defensive face masks is required, and they must meet transparency requirements applicable to batting and catching helmets. If an eye shield is attached, it must be constructed of a molded rigid material that is clear (no tint).

General Rules and Deviations:

All divisions shall follow the USSSA Rules found here https://usssa.com/docs/fastpitch/fastpitch_rules.pdf for the appropriate age division with the following exceptions/clarifications:

Coach Pitch: COACH PITCH (8U)

• Game play shall last 60 minutes, with no new innings after 55 minutes. The home team will bat
  last unless the home team is ahead following the last half-inning (after 55 minutes).
  ● The game will be played with a 35’ pitching line from home plate and base paths of 60’.
  ● There will be a 16 ft pitcher’s circle drawn around the pitching line with an 8 ft radius drawn from the front midpoint of the pitching line.
  ● Coach pitchers may start their pitch anywhere between the pitching line and the front of the pitcher’s circle.
  ● A team must field at least 8 players to avoid forfeiture. Should a team have less than 9 players available for a game, that team may obtain pick-up player(s) from the same division. The pick-up player(s) must play outfield and bat at the end of the lineup. Rosters may not exceed 9 when a pick-up player(s) is added. If a team only has 8 players, an out must be taken in the 9th batting spot.
• A team may not pick up players during a tournament
• A team that is only able to field 7 players may still elect to play. The game will be considered a forfeit regardless of the score, and the team must take an out in both the 8th and 9th batting positions.
• Each team is allowed no more than 5 runs per inning, for all innings of play.
• Both teams must maintain a continuous batting order, with no substitutions or exceptions. All rostered players must be included in the continuous batting order.
• Time will be called when a defensive player has possession of the ball in advance of the lead runner, OR the ball is returned to the player-pitcher with at least one foot on (or inside of) the line of the pitcher’s circle. If a runner is more than half way to the next base when time is called, the runner will be awarded the next base. If they are not half way to the next base when time is called, they will be returned to the previous base safely. This is a judgement call by the umpire.
• Batters will be given 5 pitches or 3 swinging strikes, whichever occurs first. If the 5th pitch if fouled, the batter may continue to hit for as long as they foul.
• If a ball put in play touches/hits the Coach Pitcher, the ball is dead, and the pitch is replayed.
• The coach must make a reasonable effort to avoid a batted ball.
• Coaches may play no more than 10 players on the field at a time, with only 4 players placed in the outfield.
• Players who sit on the bench during one inning MUST play in the field the following inning.
• Players in the field must stay in regular softball positions until the ball is hit (i.e. fielders may notmove up in line with the pitcher or create a “wall” of fielders playing shallow)
• No lead-offs and no steals. A runner must wait until the batter makes contact with the ball before they can begin to advance.
• No infield fly rule.
• Bunting is not allowed.
• No head-first sliding. A team will be warned for the first offense during a game and the runner will be called out for each subsequent offense.
• Regular season games may end in ties, but tournament games cannot end in ties. During a tournament, a new full inning must be played if the score is tied at the time limit.
• Should a ball placed in play become unattainable to the defensive team at any point during play, follow the below guidelines:
  o Ball hit to outfield rolls under the fence, all runners advance 2 bases ending the open play.
  o Ball fielded by defense is overthrown and goes outside of the fence, all runners advance 1 base.
• If a pitched ball gets stuck in fence behind home plate, this is a dead ball and no runners advance
• All Umpire judgement calls are final. If there is a question regarding any call, the Head Coach/Manager may request to approach the umpire for further explanation. Approach and explanation must be approved by the umpire. No other participant/coach/spectator is permitted to discuss any calls with the umpire during any point of the game.
  o Failure to follow this process may result in participant/coach/spectator(s) being ejected
  from game and asked to leave the park.
• Umpires have the right to seek counsel regarding rule clarification at any point he sees fit. If umpire invokes this right, the game time is temporarily paused while the Director of Fields and/or a Member of the Commission is contacted, and issue is resolved.
• This is at the umpires sole discretion.

Kid Pitch – 10U:

• Game play shall last 60 minutes, with no new innings after 55 minutes. The home team will bat
  last unless home team is ahead following last half-inning (after 55 minutes).
  ● The game will be played with a 35’ pitching line from home plate and base paths of 60’.
  ● There will be a 16 ft pitcher’s circle drawn around the pitching line with an 8 ft radius drawn from
  the front midpoint of the pitching line.
  ● Each team is allowed no more than 5 runs per inning, for all innings of play.
  ● Both teams must maintain a continuous batting order, with no substitutions or exceptions. All
  rostered players must be included in the continuous batting order.
  ● If a foul-tipped ball is caught by the catcher, the ball is live, and the batter receives a strike. If the foul-tip is the third strike, the batter is out.
  o A foul-tip is defined as a batted ball that goes sharp and direct from the bat to the
  catcher’s hands and is legally caught.
  ● If the batter is hit with a live pitch, the batter receives one base automatically.
  ● If the 3rd strike is dropped by the catcher, the pitch is still counted as a strike and the batter is out.
  ● No infield fly rule
  ● Balks are not called, but the pitcher will be notified
  ● If a player-pitcher walks a batter, the coach of the batting team may come to the mound and pitch a maximum of 3 pitches. If the batter does not hit after 3 coach pitches, then the batter will be out.
  If the batter fouls the 3rd pitch they may continue to bat for as long as they foul.
  o If the coach pitcher is hit by a batted ball, the play is dead and the pitch is replayed.
  o The coach pitcher must pitch from the 35’ line.
  ● No leading off
  ● Runners may steal after the ball crosses home plate
  ● A runner on 1st or 2nd can steal only one base per pitch even in the event of an overthrow in live ball territory.
  ● No stealing home
  ● Base runners are not permitted to slide head-first at any point during a play unless returning to a
  previously occupied base. A team will be warned for the first offense during a game and the runner will be called out for each subsequent offense.
  ● Players who sit on the bench during one inning MUST play in the field the following inning.
  ● Time will be called when a defensive player has possession of the ball in advance of the lead runner, OR the ball is returned to the player-pitcher with at least one foot on (or inside of) the line of the pitcher’s circle. If a runner is more than half way to the next base when time is called, the runner will be awarded the next base. If they are not half way to the next base when time is called, they will be returned to the previous base safely. This is a judgement call by the umpire.
  ● Defensive players must not block the base path unless they are actively fielding a ball. ‘Actively fielding’ includes awaiting to receive a hit or thrown ball in their direction. Blocking a base path may result in an out reversal and/or runner being permitted to advance to the next consecutive base.
  ● The defensive team shall have no more than 10 total players on the field during play with 4 outfielders.
  ● A team must field at least 8 players to avoid forfeiture. Should a team have less than 9 players available for a game, that team may obtain pick-up player(s) from the same division. Rosters may
  not exceed 9 when a pick-up player(s) is added. If a team only has 8 players, an out must be taken in the 9th batting spot. All pick-up players must play the outfield and must bat at the end of
  the batting lineup.
  ● A team that is only able to field 7 players may still elect to play. The game will be considered a
• forfeit regardless of the score, and the team must take an out in both the 8th and 9th batting
  positions.
  ● Should a ball placed in play become unattainable to the defensive team at any point during play, follow the below guidelines:
  o Ball hit to outfield rolls under the fence, all runners advance 2 bases ending the open play.
  o Ball fielded by defense is overthrown and goes outside of the fence, all runners advance 1 base.
  o Pitched ball gets stuck in fence behind home plate, this is a dead ball, and no runners shall advance.
  ● All Umpire judgement calls are final. If there is a question regarding any call, the Head Coach/Manager may request to approach the umpire for further explanation. Approach and
  explanation must be approved by umpire. No other participant/coach/spectator is permitted to discuss any calls with the umpire during any point of the game.
  o Failure to follow this process may result in participant/coach/spectator(s) being ejected
  from game and asked to leave the park for the duration of the tournament.
  ● Umpires have the right to seek counsel regarding rule clarification at any point he sees fit. If
  umpire invokes this right, the game time is temporarily paused while the Director of Fields and/or
  Member of the Commission is contacted, and issue is resolved.
• This is at the umpires sole discretion.
• Tournament games cannot end in a tie. A new full inning must be played if the score is tied at the time limit.

KID PITCH AA (13U)

● Game play shall last 75 minutes, with no new innings after 65 minutes. The home team will bat
last unless the home team is ahead following the last half-inning (after 65 minutes).
● There is no run limit for either team, regardless of the inning.
● Both teams must maintain a continuous batting order, with no substitutions or exceptions. All rostered players must be included in the continuous batting order.
● If a foul-tipped ball is caught by the catcher, the ball is live, and the batter receives a strike. If the foul-tip is the third strike, the batter is out.
o A foul-tip is defined as a batted ball that goes sharp and direct from the bat to the catcher’s hands and is legally caught.
● If the batter is hit with a live pitch, the batter receives one base automatically.
● If the 3rd strike is dropped by the catcher, the pitch is no longer a strike, and the ball becomes live and in play.
● No leading off
● Runners may steal after the ball crosses home plate
● A runner on 1st or 2nd can steal only one base per pitch even in the event of an overthrow in live ball territory.
● No stealing home

• Base runners are not permitted to slide head-first at any point during a play unless returning to a previously occupied base. Head-first slides will result in an automatic out against the offensive team.

● Defensive players must not block the base path unless they are actively fielding a ball. ‘Actively fielding’ includes awaiting to receive a hit or thrown ball in their direction. Blocking a base path may result in an out reversal and/or runner being permitted to advance to the next consecutive base.
● The defensive team shall have no more than 10 total players on the field during play.
● To qualify to play a game, a team must have no fewer than 8 total players. Should a team have
less than 9 players available for a game, that team may obtain a pick-up player from the same division. Rosters may not exceed 9 when a pick-up player is added.
o If a team chooses to play with 8 players, the 9th batter is always an automatic out against their team.
● Should a ball placed in play become unattainable to the defensive team at any point during play, follow the below guidelines:
o Fair ball hit to outfield rolls under the fence, all runners advance 2 bases ending the open play.
o Ball fielded by defense is overthrown and goes outside of the fence, all runners advance 1 base.
o Pitched ball gets stuck in fence behind home plate, this is a dead ball and no runners shall advance.
● All Umpire judgement calls are final. If there is a question regarding any call, the Head
Coach/Manager may request to approach the umpire for further explanation. Approach and explanation must be approved by umpire. No other participant/coach/spectator is permitted to
discuss any calls with the umpire during any point of the game.
o Failure to follow this process may result in participant/coach/spectator(s) being ejected from game and asked to leave the park for the duration of the tournament.
● Umpires have the right to seek counsel regarding rule clarification at any point he sees fit. If umpire invokes this right, the game time is temporarily paused while the Director of Fields and/or Member of the Commission is contacted and the issue is resolved.

• This is at the umpires sole discretion. 

● Tournament games cannot end in a tie. Follow international tie breaker rules until a winner is determined.
*ALL ABOVE LISTED RULES HAVE BEEN VETTED AND APPROVED BY FOUNTAIN CITY RECREATION COMMISSION. ANY QUESTIONS/CLARIFICATIONS SHOULD BE FIRST DIRECTED TO THE HEAD
COACH/MANAGER OF YOUR TEAM. IF FURTHER REVIEW IS REQUIRED, THE HEAD COACH/MANAGER WILL THEN DIRECT THOSE TO THE COMMISSION FOR REVIEW AND FINAL DETERMINATION.

Contact Info:

For any questions, concerns, or additional information, please refer to the following contact information

• FCRC Website: fountaincitysports.org
• FCRC Recreation Commission: info@fountaincitysports.org
• Softball Director: Justin Sanders
  • sanders@fountaincitysports.org
  • 276-219-3169