The primary goal of the 8U division is fostering a love of the sport while developing your child’s softball skills. We want this time to be an exciting, rewarding, and memorable experience, which will prepare them for softball at a higher competitive level. Games will be “controlled” with a balance between learning the game and slightly increasing the level of competitiveness. There are special playing rules in place to move the game along, while still making it fun and promoting skill development.

At this stage, there is no more tee ball. Players will experience batting from a pitching machine, learning how to pitch and batting against pitches thrown from a player both in practice and in games. Coaches will come in to finish a count using the pitching machine instead of players being “walked”. The goal of the 8U program is to prepare players to enter the 10U program with a solid understanding of the basic rules of the game, not to focus on winning games. As such, scorebooks will not be provided for the 8u division.

New Experiences at this level:

• Player Pitch is introduced.

• Ball vs Strikes are introduced.

Expectations

Each age division focuses on fundamental building blocks for success. These are the goals that we hope to help your child succeed with by the completion of the 8U level.

• Learn the Basic Rules- force outs; tagging up; baserunning (when you don’t have to run; not running into or past teammates on base paths); balls and strikes.

• Throwing Mechanics- Introduce the correct way to hold the ball; point the front shoulder, step, and throw; introduce the concept of generating momentum toward the target and following the throw.

• Catching and fielding- thrown and hit balls; fingers up versus fingers down; see the glove and the ball; use two hands; forehands and backhands; introduce the underhand flip; first-base fundamentals; crossover and drop steps.

• Hitting- choosing the right bat; proper grip; hitting pitched balls; introduce drill work (tee work, soft toss, short toss)

• Learning Positional Play- learn the positions and the areas each player should cover; cover the base when the ball is not hit to you; basics of cutoff and relays.

Safety Rules

• Cleats are required for practices and games

• Any player in the Catcher fielding position is required to be in full catchers gear (helmet, chest protector, and shin guards) during play for practices and games

• Any offensive player on the field is required to wear a batting helmet during play at practices and games

• All defensive players on the field (infield and outfield) are required to wear protective face masks during play at practices and games

Rules of Play

• The 8u division will play with 11” softballs or pitching machine “softie” balls.

• Games will be played with no new inning starting after 1 hour 15 minutes.

• The Home Team will be determined by Lagging at the start of each game (when opponent team is within our league).

• Dugout assignments (when opponent team is within our league) will be based on a first come, first serve basis.

• Games will average 3-4 innings. The first 2 complete innings should be played utilizing the pitching machine. All innings after should be played with player pitch.

• Pitching Machine – each player will receive 4 pitches from the pitching machine. When the player swings the bat and misses, a strike is counted. If the player does not swing, it is not counted as a strike nor a ball (balls are not counted in this division). If the player does not make contact with the ball during their 4-pitch count, they are out.

• Player Pitch – each player will receive 4 pitches from the player pitcher (4 total pitches regardless of balls vs strikes). Players are encouraged to make every attempt to hit the ball from the player pitcher. If the player does not hit off the player pitcher, they will receive 2 additional pitches via pitching machine. If the ball is not hit, the batter is out.

• Players arriving late will be inserted in the bottom of the batting order.

• Teams may play with less than 9 players on the field. With coach agreement, teams may borrow players from their opponent if necessary. Teams may also borrow players from other teams within the same division (players must be registered to play within the league for insurance purposes) to make up for missing players. Borrowed players should never receive playing time while a rostered player sits the bench.

• Defense may play 10 players on the field (4 in the outfield – R, RC, LC, L).

• Players should bat in the batting order provided to the opposing team prior to the start of the game.

• A coach from each team must agree on the calibration of the pitching machine before the start of the game. There will be no recalibrating of the machine between innings unless both coaches agree. Machine should be set to pitch ball with some arc and at a recommended speed of 30 mph.

• Coaches will load the pitching machine to their own team.

• The coach from the home team is responsible to set up the pitching machine for play prior to the game start time.

• No stealing or advancing on overthrows.

• No bunting

• No infield fly rule.

• Five run limit per inning

• If a batted ball hits the pitching machine or the pitching coach, the batter will be awarded 1 st base and play will stop.

• On a hit ball within the infield (dirt area), players may advance one base. On a hit ball to the outfield (grass area) without defensive interference with the ball, players may advance a second base.

• Coaches are the umpires. The coach within the pitching circle will have the final ruling. During player pitch, the base coach closest to the play will have the final call. When unsure of a call, the favor always goes to the runner.

• Players in the pitching position during use of pitching machine and coach pitch will play on the 1st base side of the field. The player must be even with or behind the pitching machine. Players should have at least one foot within the pitching circle when the pitch is released.

• Any players playing within the pitching circle during pitching machine use (during games and practices) who have hair longer than shoulder length must have their hair contained within a ponytail.

• Coaches may be on the field during game play to support their players with instruction. Coaches may not interfere with fielding, base running, or any other game play.

• Players may be placed strategically when safety is a concern (ie. Player is not attentive to the game, hazard of being hit, etc.)