Rookies Softball is designed for players league age 6-8.  At this level, coaches will pitch to their own players.  If the batter does not get a hit in five pitches, the batter will hit off a batting tee.  Coaches are required to rotate players through defensive positions.  Coaches begin focusing on defensive fundamentals as this division recognizes a three-out inning.  No umpires and no score keeping with exception of a five-run rule per inning.

Ages

Rookies will have turned 6 or 7 during the previous calendar year.  A league aged 8-year-old who has played in baseball's 'Single A' division may wish to move up to Minors.

Season

Rookies' practice begins in early- to mid-April, with games starting by the end of April (weather permitting). Pre-season practices are usually twice a week, and once games start, coaches are encouraged to have at least one practice per week in addition to games.  The season ends the last week of the school year.

Teams

SLL will do their best to keep kids on teams as they relate to geographic areas (ie: Sagle, Sandpoint, Colburn).  SLL tries to cap teams at 10 so kids can have as much playing time as possible.

Location

Practices may be at area schools.  Games are played at the Nazarene Church field in Ponderay.  If we find other communities in the area (within an hour's drive) with a similar division, we will try to organize inter-league games that may be played here (at the Nazerene field) or away.

Games

Games are no longer than one hour and forty-five minutes OR six innings, whichever is first.  Games are played in the afternoon with the first set at 4:00 pm and the second game at 6:00 pm.  There are usually two games per week.  Games are played Monday through Friday.  If we are able to organize interleague games, we may consider Saturday games.  At this point, there are no known interleague teams at this level.

Equipment

Sandpoint Little League buttoned jersey shirts and visors are provided to players by the League.  SLL also provides teams with helmets, bats and catching equipment.  Cleats are required, and players need to have their own ball gloves.  Baseball/Softball pants (typically black) and sliding shorts are recommended.  At this level balls are the small (usually yellow) 11” RIF (soft, Reduced Injury Factor) softballs. Tee Ball gloves do not work at this division, please assure your player has a glove that fits the hand properly and an 11" softball.