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2023 8U Softball Rules

Player age cannot exceed eight (8) years old as of January 1st of the current year. 

The pitcher must wear a chest protection device while in the field. 

An 11-inch ball will be used. 44 cor 375 compression 

Batting helmets must be worn while batting and running the bases.  All helmets must be equipped with a facemask. 

Base distance will be sixty (60) feet.   

Only bats on the current ASA/USA approved list may be used. 

The pitcher (player) must start with one foot in the pitcher’s circle. 

A 16 ft. diameter circle will be drawn around the pitcher's mound, which shall be 30 ft. from home plate. PIay will be stopped when the pitcher (player) has one foot inside the circle and the ball crosses thru the circle.  

Hash marks will be placed ¾ (45 feet) between first and second, second and third, and third and home. 

An 8 ft. arc will be chalked from the back of home plate between the foul lines.  Any ball hit between home plate and the chalked line will be a foul ball. 

Arc of the pitch will be between no arc to ten (10) foot arc. 

Managers or coaches will pitch to their teams.  If a batted ball hits a manager or coach or if the manager or coach (while pitching) interferes with a fielder, batter or runner, the ball is dead and the batter returns to bat and runners return to base.  The pitch will be a no pitch. 

A runner may advance one base on an overthrow but must reach the base safely. The base is not automatic.  Play will be stopped when a throw is made to first and third base and the ball goes beyond the foul lines, regardless of where the throw originates.  Play will be stopped on an overthrow at home plate. An overthrow at second base is still considered to be a live ball. 

Outfielders may only make a play by catching a fly ball or by throwing the ball toward the infielders / pitching circle. Outfielders are not permitted to run to a base to make a putout; they must throw the ball to the base 

A play will be stopped if any of the following occur: - The ball breaks the plane of the circle surrounding the pitcher’s mound.  You cannot just throw the ball thru the circle to stop play, there must be a player you are intending to throw it to in or near the circle.  For example, a pitcher cannot field a ball down the line and throw it to the unmanned circle.  There must be some intent to throw to a player. - The ball is in control of the pitcher and any part of her body is within the circle. - The ball is in control of an infielder and the lead runner has stopped forward progress.  

At the time play is stopped, runners that have advanced beyond one of the ¾ hash marks will be awarded the next base.  Runners that have not advanced beyond a ¾ mark must return to the previous base.  Runners will be placed according to the lead runner.  That is, if a runner is forced back to a base and another runner is occupying that base, that runner must also return to the previous base. 

Exception to above rule: when all runners are forced to advance.  For example, there are runners on first and second.  The batter hits the ball and the ball is thrown back to the pitcher before the runner from second crosses the ¾ mark.  Because the runner is forced, she must be awarded third base. 

Each girl will field at least two (2) innings, unless an injury occurs. 

This age group will not use the infield fly rule. 

This age group will bat the bench. 

Teams will play ten (10) players in the field.  

Each batter has eight (8) pitches.  The batter must swing by the eighth pitch or be called out.  If contact is made (foul) the batter will get another pitch. 

A batter gets three (3) strikes.  There are no walks or awards of first base due to the batter being hit by a pitch. 

Runners on base cannot leave the base until the ball is hit.  If they are off the base and the ball is not hit (swinging strike or no swing), they will be warned along with the rest of the players on that team.  Further instances from any player on that team will result in an automatic out.  

Any player throwing the bat will be warned along with the rest of the players on that team.  The next player from that team to throw a bat will be called out, the play will be dead and the runners will return to their bases. 

When six (6) runs are scored in the offensive team’s half of the inning, the offensive team automatically takes the field regardless of the number of outs.  The inning shall not end however until play has been stopped and all runs resulting from that play shall be counted.  Example:  the offensive team has scored five (5) runs in the current inning and the bases are loaded.  The batter, after hitting the ball, stops at second base.  When the play has ended all the base runners have crossed the plate.  The three extra runs count and the team will be entitled to nine (9) runs in that inning. 

The six run rule is waived in the last inning (6th inning). 

There will be a 10-run rule applied after the 5th inning.  If at the end of the 5th inning either team is ahead by 10 or more runs or if the home team is ahead by 10 or more after the visiting team completes its turn at bat in the top of the 5th, the game may be stopped.  However, the game may be permitted to continue at the discretion of the trailing manager.

Ingram Girls Softball Association

 
   
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