RULES – 8YO OPEN Division:
In case of rain, see our Rain out Policy link for how games are completed.
See our Required Behavior that applies for all participants.
Equipment
1. While we do not provide our open teams with catcher's gear, only one-piece catcher's helmets are allowed at all of our facilities.
2. Teams are to only use the game balls we provide, all unused at the start of the game.
3. Big Barrel Bats are permitted. Bat rules will follow those used in USSSA, BPA and Game7.
4. Use of an illegal bat, not following the above, results in an out called. This is treated as a dead ball where runners return to the base prior to the ball batted into play.
Before the Game
1. Games and practices will be cancelled due to weather on the decision of the league. We will provide 48-hour notice on rescheduled games.
2. Unless playing on turf, teams cannot warm up on the infield prior to the game in foul or fair territory. They must warm up in the outfield.
3. Teams are to be in the dugout area ready to start the game 5 minutes prior to the scheduled game start.
4. The coach that attends the plate meeting prior to the game will be the only coach that communicates with the umpire throughout the game concerning rule interpretations. Judgement calls may not be disputed.
Field & Game Limits
1. Base paths are 60'. On turf fields, this is the nearest to home plate base anchor slot. The pitching distance from the front of the circle to home plate will be 35’.
2. Game clock will be set to 65 minutes. No game will exceed six innings. If any time remains on the clock when the last out in the bottom half of the inning is recorded, a new inning will start as long as neither team is mathematically eliminated.
3. Music is not allowed to be played during or prior to games.
4. There is a 5-pitch format where players must bat the ball into play during those five pitches. Players get three swings. If a player fouls the 5th pitch, the at bat continues with another pitch and continues as long as the batter is making contact. If they do not, they are out.
5. The infield fly rule does not apply.
6. No bunting or half swings are allowed. A struck ball by bunt or half swing is called foul and counts as a pitch. Two attempts during each at bat results in a strike out.
7. A team receives a warning for any player slinging the bat and any slinging of a bat after the warning results in an out for anyone on the team receiving the warning.
Player Participation
1. Coaches may bat all players and have free substitution or only bat 10.
2. Players arriving after game time must be placed at the bottom of the order.
3. Courtesy runners are encouraged to be used for catchers. Use the last batted out or a sub (player not in the lineup) as the courtesy runner.
4. Only players that played in more than half (i.e. 6 of 10) of the regular season games would be eligible to participate in the end of season tournament.
Score keeping
1. An inning is complete when a team scores 7 runs or 3 outs are recorded, whichever occurs first.
2. The home team keeps the official book. An adult from the visiting team must operate the scoreboard controller.
3. The mercy rule of 15-runs after four innings is in effect. As well, the game will stop at any point a team is unable to score enough runs (i.e. top of the 5th, visiting team goes ahead by 15) to tie a game.
4. League games may end in a tie, except in the tournament. We will use international rules (last batted out for each team starts the extra innings at 2B) to resolve the tie.
Coach Participation & Violations
1. No more than 4 coaches can participate to coach during a game.
2. The pitching coach is not allowed to coach while pitching to their team. The first violation is a warning. The following occurrences will result in an out called per batter. The pitching coach must have one foot inside the circle.
3. Once the pitching coach pitches and the ball is put in play, the pitching coach is to exit the field to foul territory between Home Plate and First Base and not return to fair territory until the play is stopped and the player pitcher has the ball.
4. When on offense, teams can have a 1st base coach, a 3rd base coach and the pitching coach. All other coaches must be in the dugout.
5. When on defense, teams are limited to one coach being in front of the dugout. All other coaches must be in the dugouts. Coaches are not allowed in the field on defense to include being outside the field of play by the outfield.
6. Per game, each team has one 60-second time out available prior to the 3rd inning and a 60-second time out in the 3rd inning or later. This can be used while hitting or playing defense. The clock does not stop.
Stoppage of Play & Overthrows
1.This is a stop the runner approach.
Player Positioning
1. Each team will field 10 players consisting of 5 infielders (1B, 2B, SS, 3B, P, C) and 4 outfielders (RF, RCF, LCF, LF). If a team has less than 10 players, they are still to use a catcher.
2. The player as a pitcher must have 1 foot on or inside the line of the pitching circle and must wear a helmet.
3. The outfielders must be positioned behind the start of the outfield grass until the ball is hit.
Player Shortage & Sub Rules
1. Only players registered in our league may serve as a sub and those subs must be registered in the current age division or younger. What division the player is registered to is what division they are classified from.
2. Teams using a player outside of our league results in a forfeit and head coach suspension for next two games.
3. A sub may play any position but must bat in the lineup as 5th or later. Subs must wear their team's uniform and not the uniform of the team they are subbing for.
4. Subs cannot be added to the lineup card once the game starts.
5. Teams may start a game with no less than 8 players but at any time they have less than 9 players, the 9th player is recorded as a batted out. The game is stopped if less than 8 players and recorded as a forfeit.
Base running
1. Players must attempt to avoid contact. A player can be called out if contact is not avoided; this is a judgment call by the umpire.
2. On any play at home plate, players must slide feet first, if sliding and avoid a collision with the catcher. If not sliding, they must also avoid a collision. The catcher may block the plate only if he has the ball.
3. A base runner is required to do whatever is needed to avoid a fielder who is fielding a batted ball. A runner is out for running out of the baseline, only when attempting to avoid a tag.
4. A base runner running from Home to 1B may turn either direction at 1B but if that turn is towards 2B and an attempt to the next base is made, the runner can be tagged out. If that turn is towards 2B (as opposed to foul territory) but makes no attempt to 2B, the runner cannot be tagged out.
5. Teams will receive a warning for any player leaving the base early and each player leaving after the warning is called out.
End of Season Tournament Seeding
The seeding for the tournament will occur in the following order:
1. Win percentage
2. Head-to-Head
3. Runs Allowed (across all games)
4. Runs Scores (across all games)