8U Coach Pitch Rules
2023
The Vancleave Youth Softball League is governed by the rules of the Amatuer Softball Association of America (ASA). The league board reserves the right to amend and implement local rules that govern recreational play. The official rules of ASA fast pitch softball will apply unless otherwise amended below. The League Board reserves the right to amend these rules at any time during the season.
Playing Field
- Bases will be 60’ apart
- The pitching circle will be an 8’ radius and 35’ from back of home plate to front of pitching rubber.
- Home plate is fair territory
- There will be 2 1st bases. The white base will be considered fair territory and the orange will be in foul territory.
Equipment
- All players must wear a batting helmet with a face mask when up to bat or on the bases.
- Players in the field are encouraged to have a defensive face mask. The player pitcher must wear a face mask.
- The catcher must wear protective gear including a batting helmet or a catcher’s helmet.
- Bats that are stamped ASA, USSSA, or USA are deemed legal for league ball
Playing rules
- There is to be a maximum of 6 players in the infield including the pitcher and catcher. All other defensive players must start the play on the outfield grass or 85’ from home.
- There can be 5 outfielders.
- Infielders will begin play 35’ from home plate and outfielders will begin play on the outfield grass.
- All players on the roster will be listed in the lineup and must play at least 1 inning.
- The coach pitcher must have one foot on the pitcher’s rubber. The player pitcher must be next to or behind the coach pitcher and must have both feet in the circle.
- The batter must have both feet in the batter’s box.
- Each batter will get 5 pitches or 3 strikes. If the 5th pitch or third strike is fouled, the batter remains up until the ball is put in play, a swing and miss occurs, or no swing occurs.
- If a batter is hit by a pitch, she is not awarded 1st base and the pitch counts.
- If the catcher catches a foul tip on the 5th or subsequent pitch OR the 3rd strike, the batter will be out.
- If a foul ball is hit above the catcher’s head and it is caught, the batter is out.
- If the ball hits the coach/pitcher, the ball is dead and a repitch occurs.
- If the umpire determines that the coach/pitcher interferes intentionally the batter will be called out.
- No infield fly rule
- No bunting or slap hitting is allowed
- No leadoffs or stealing is allowed
- The play is considered dead when
o the ball is controlled in the basepath directly in front of the lead runner
o the pitcher controls the ball with both feet in the circle and play has ceased.
o it is the umpire’s discretion as to whether a runner can advance to the next base
§ If the runner is in the process of advancing, then she is awarded the next base
§ If she is stationary on a bag, stops, or begins to retreat, she must return to her previous base once a dead ball is called.
- The runner is out by being forced, tagged, or runs out of the baseline to avoid a tag.
- The inning will be over when
o The defensive team makes 3 outs
o The offensive team scores a maximum of 5 runs
- No inning shall be started after 55 minutes.
- A game will be a maximum of 5 innings and can end in a tie.
- The defensive team can have 1 coaches in the outfield, but cannot touch a player or the ball.
- The offensive coaches cannot touch a base runner until the ball is considered dead.
All Stars
- There will be 12 players selected by blind ballot by the head coaches.
- The Head Coach will be the 1st place coach that has to be approved by the Vancleave Youth Softball Board.
- 1 player from each team must be selected.
- Records only count for games played against other Vancleave teams.