To include players who have not attained the age of EIGHT (8) prior to May 1 of the preceding year. 

 

Pitching Distance	Base Distance
36 feet	60 feet

 

Equipment:

• U8 baseball machine pitch uses the Rawlings 9” machine pitch ball.
  • Balls are provided by AfftonAA.
• Bats must have the BPF 1.15 stamp
• Uniforms must consist of a same color shirt with different # on the back of each shirt. Anything else is up to the team (matching pants/hats/socks/belts).
• All players must wear tie or velcro fastened shoes. Shoes with metal spikes or metal cleats are strictly prohibited.
• All batters and base runners are required to wear protective helmets when the ball is in play.
• Any player catching a pitcher while in the catching position will be required to wear a catcher's mask including throat protection and full ear protection and a chest protector.
• A safety base (double first base) will be used at all times starting in 2026.

 

Playing Rules (Unless otherwise noted, all normal baseball rules apply):

• No new inning may start after one (1) hour and thirty (30) minutes of continual playing time, regardless of the game situation, including ties.
• Lead-offs and stealing are NOT allowed.
• Infield fly field rule is NOT in effect.
• Dropped third strike rule is NOT in effect.
• Batters are allowed five (5) pitches or three (3) swinging strikes. Foul tips are considered contact and the batter will continue to bat. If the 5th pitch is a bad pitch that is not swung at and is either over the batter’s head or bounces on or near the plate, the umpire is authorized to have a 5th pitch redone. This is completely at the umpire’s discretion. If the batter swings at the pitch, it cannot be redone. The batter can foul off the 5th, 6th, and 7th pitches. If the ball is not put in play after the 7th pitch, the batter is out.
• If a batted ball strikes the machine, ball bucket, coach, or umpire, the play is dead. Batter is awarded 1st base and all other runners advance one (1) base, regardless of if they were forced.
• Teams are STRONGLY encouraged to field a catcher. All catchers must wear full equipment.
• No fielder may be closer to the batter than the pitching machine. All outfielders must remain in the outfield until the ball is hit.
• On any ball in play, the runners may continue to advance to the next base until the ball is inside the infield. This means under the control of a fielder who is either on or inside the bases. At that point the umpire will call time and the play is over. Any runner that is more than half way to the next base may acquire that base. If the runner is not more than half way to the next base they will be required to go back to the last base legally acquired. This is the umpire’s judgment and determination.
• Runners can only advance one (1) base on overthrows with the possibility of being put out. If there is a second overthrow on the same play runners cannot take an additional base.
• Defensive team should have one (1) coach behind the catcher to help collect balls to help speed up the game. Defensive coaches are not required to stay in the dugout, but must be in foul territory at all times.
• Batting teams are allowed to have coaches at 1st base, 3rd base, and at the pitching machine. Coaches must make every effort to not be involved or hinder gameplay. Coaches who are unable to adhere to the rules may be required to stay in the dugout or may face ejection.

 

Mercy Rules and Run Limits:

• A half inning ends when the play is completed on which the FIFTH (5th) run is scored or when three (3) outs are made. An official complete game will be declared if at least three and one-half (3 1/2) innings have been played and home team is winning or four (4) innings if the visiting team is winning, or if the game must be terminated because of weather, darkness, or time limit.
• Mercy Rule: 10 runs after the 5th inning.

 

Roster Rules (Who Plays?): 

• Free substitution of defensive players with every player playing at least three (3) of the seven (7) innings in the field. Players may be inserted defensively at any time during the game.
• All players showing up for a game will be placed in the batting order. Players arriving late will be added to the bottom of the batting order. Players who leave the game early will be removed from the batting order WITHOUT penalty with the exception of a player that is ejected. If a player is ejected, then it will be counted as an out.
• Exceptions are as follows:
  • A player who has continually missed practice or previously scheduled games without reasonable excuse.
  • Sickness or injury.
  • Players being disciplined.
  • In the above three cases, the umpire and opposing manager must be notified before the start of the game.
  • Injury Exception: In all divisions if a pinch runner is needed for an injury, the player making the last out will be the pinch runner. If an injured player cannot take his/her turn at bat that player must be removed from the game. The injured player WILL NOT be recorded as an out in batting order.
• A courtesy runner will be allowed for catchers at any time. Player who made the last out will be the courtesy runner.
• All line-up changes/additions become official when reported to the home plate umpire.
• Teams capable of fielding eight (8) eligible players must start their game at the scheduled starting time with eight (8) players. Should either team not be ready to start the game within fifteen (15) minutes after the scheduled starting time, the umpires must forfeit the game to the opposing team.
• A max of ten (10) players in the field of play. Four (4) of ten (10) must play behind the baselines.

 

Playoffs and Championship:

• League consists of a 12-game season.
• If league is made up of six (6) or fewer teams, the top two (2) teams in the standings at the end of hte regular season will play one (1) game to determine the league champion. First place team will be the home team.
• If the league consists of seven (7) or more teams, the top four (4) teams in the standings at the end of the regular season will compete in a playoff (1st plays 4th, 2nd plays 3rd; higher seed is the home team). Teams winning their playoff games will face off in a single championship game. Higher seeded team will be the home team.
• Championship team will receive a plaque and fifteen (15) individual awards. Runner-up will receive a team plaque.