8U LEAGUE RULES

• Ball: 11-inch USSSA / USA / ASA approved ball. League will provide game balls.

• Innings/Time Limits: There will be a 60-minute (drop dead) time limit with no more than 5 innings played. No new innings beginning after 55 minutes.

• Game can end in a tie.

• Runs per inning: A maximum of 3 runs can be scored per inning for each team.

• Teams only have 60 seconds between innings.

• Offensive: The batting line up will consist of all players present. If a team has less than 8 it will be an automatic forfeit. We encourage (not required) to have a practice game. An automatic out will be taken if only 8 batters. If a player cannot continue due to injury or illness, that player will be skipped and no out will be counted, just be sure that book keepers are aware.

• Defensive Positions: The defensive team will consist of 9 players on the field. 6 infielders including the catcher and 3 outfielders. If teams have 10 or more players, then prior to the start of the game both coaches and umpire can decide to have 10 players on defense, 6 infielders including the catcher and 4 outfielders. A team can play with a minimum of 8, if that is all the players a team has for the night.

• NOTE: the use of DP/FLEX is not allowed. All players on the lineup care will hit.

• Coach Pitch Only: The player pitcher must have at least one foot in the pitcher’s circle when thebatter’s coach is pitching. No other defensive players may be positioned inside the pitcher’s circle at the same time. The outfield is defined as the grass areas on a regulation sized youth field or at least 10 feet beyond the baseline for other playing surfaces. Pitch is to be delivered from 35 feet.

• Batting: The batter will receive 5 pitches or 3 swinging strikes, whichever occurs first. Each pitch will count as one of the 5 even if the batter does not swing. If the 5th pitch is hit foul there will be a courtesy pitch, if 6th pitch is foul then batter is out.

  • NO bunting

  • The batter is out on the 3rd strike whether caught or uncaught.

  • There shall be no Base on Balls (Walking) awarded.

  • Batters hit by a pitch will not be awarded 1st base.

• Runner: May NOT leave any base until ball is hit.

• Overthrow Rule: Only 1 base to be allowed if overthrow occurs at any base. (Example: Batter hits ball, there is already a runner on 1st, Batter runs towards 1st as pitcher throws ball to 1st baseman, 1st baseman misses ball. Batter/now runner may continue

to 2nd base and must stop there.)

• Stealing bases: NO STEALING allowed.

• If ball hits coach pitcher, ball/batter reset.

• No infield fly rule.

• Time: 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 pitcher with at least 1 foot on the sideline of the pitcher’s circle. Runner in continuous motion rounding through 1st base, keeps the ball LIVE until play is made to stop advance of lead runner.

• Additional Coaches: In addition to base coaches, only a coach in the pitcher’s circle is allowed on the field of play.

• The pitching coach may not coach batters at ANY time. This will result as a strike against batter.

• The pitching coach must make an effort to avoid interfering with the play.

• If it is the umpire’s judgement that the coach interferes unintentionally with the batted ball and/or defensive play, the ball will be declared dead and the pitch replayed. If the umpire’s judgement is that a coach interferes intentionally, the lead runner is out, and the play replayed. If there are no runners, the batter is out.

• Coach Pitcher must pitch from 35 feet.

• Runs scored would not count:

  • When the third out is a force out.

  • When the third out is a batted ball in flight that is caught or prevented from being caught by interference.

  • If a base running infraction were the third out, runs scored by the following runner(s) would not count

  • When a runner crosses home plate after a preceding runner is declared the third out for a base running infraction.

  • With two outs, if the base missed were the first to which the batter or runner was forced to advance, no runs would score.

 

*Protests may only involve the interpretation of a rule. Protests needs to be made by head coach. *

 

Home Team: If a team is playing at their home field, they are the home team. If two teams are playing
at their home field, the home team shall be decided by a coin toss prior to the start of the game.

 

Home team is responsible for keeping the book and returning it to Umpire or concession stand.

 

Someone from each concession stand will contact Jackie Rogers via Facebook Messager or phone
(479-430-8012) and let him know the results of the games for that night.

 

End of season tournament TBD, will begin week following conclusion of season. Tournament will be
single elimination format based on season standings.

 

USA softball rules apply for anything not mentioned above.