8U Rules as of 2025
A. General
1. Current‐year ASA rules apply except as modified herein.
2. The home team provides the game ball (Dixie Dx‐5 or similar).
3. The home team shall prepare the field for play. This includes applying the foul lines and other markings, installing the bases, and treating trouble spots on the field. Coaches may choose before the game starts to place half way markers between the bases to determine a runner’s half way point. After the game, the home team shall store field equipment, turn lights off if necessary, and lock equipment closets. The visiting team is encouraged to assist. Both teams shall clean up the field and dugout areas.
4. The playing field is a 60‐foot diamond. The distance between bases is 60 feet. The distance between the pitching rubber and home plate is 30 feet.
5. A 10‐foot diameter pitching circle shall be drawn with its center positioned 30 feet from the back of home plate.
6. The base plugs are used to pull dirt from the base ground mounts but should be reinserted and used with the bases to reduce the risk of injury to a player stepping into the ground mount if a base becomes dislodged during a play.
B. EQUIPMENT:
Rubber cleats may be worn. No metal or hard cleats will be allowed.
Batting helmets with a face-guard must be worn by all batters and all runners.
Catchers must wear a helmet with a face-guard.
All players must have a heart guard on when playing the pitcher position.
An approved softball or tee ball bat will be used. The diameter of the barrel shall not exceed 2.25 inches. ALL BATS MUST HAVE THE USA OR ASA CERTIFICATION MARK*
C. Pitcher
1. A coach from the batting team will do the pitching. The pitching distance can range from 25 to 35 feet. The coach must start the pitching step from within the pitching circle. It is recommended that pitching be done from at least 30 feet to train for advancing to the next higher league.
2. No minimum or maximum pitching arc requirements will be enforced.
3. This player in the pitching position must have at least one foot within the 10‐foot pitching circle until the ball is hit.
4. Coach pitchers should remain in place after pitching the ball to not obstruct the fielding players. If the coach is struck by the ball, it will be a dead ball, play will be rolled back, and the pitch will not count.
C. Fielders
1. Only 10 players are permitted to play in the field on defense. Exception: Both managers can agree on an alternate number prior to the game.
2. Only one player is permitted in each of the following 6 infield positions: P, C, 1B, 2B, 3B, and SS. All others must be positioned in outfield positions.
3. All players must play the infield positions of P, 1B, 2B, 3B, and SS (excludes position of C) at least 2 of the first 4 innings, and each player cannot play the same infield position in those 4 innings. The only exception is a player 6 years old or younger where the coach feels it may be a safety concern. This should be discussed prior to the start of the game.
4. Each player must wear a heart guard chest protector and a fielder’s protective mask.
5. The outfielders must be positioned at least 10 feet from the edge of grass outfield or 15 feet from the baseline until the ball is hit. **
6. The outfielders and rover cannot cover any base on a force out and cannot tag out a base runner. The ball must be thrown to an infielder for recording outs.
7. The catcher must wear the catcher’s equipment, which includes a helmet, facemask, chest protector, and shin guards for protection from thrown bats and foul balls.
8. Two defensive coaches will be allowed on the playing field. They must be 3 feet behind the baseline or outfielder (whichever is farther) while the ball is in play.
9. One offensive coach will be allowed in the first and third base coach’s box.
D. Batters & Base Runners
1. All players in attendance, including those on the bench, must bat in a continuous lineup.
2. All batters and base runners must wear a batting helmet with face guard.
3. Runners need to reach first using the safety bag, while fielders can only make the out on the inside bag
4. There are no walks.
5. Runners may tag up on a fly ball and advance at their own risk.
6. Batters are allowed 7pitches, after which the batter is out. At the half way point in the season (to be determined before the season) batters will be allowed 3 strikes with a maximum of 7 pitches per batter, excluding foul ball on the last pitch. Foul balls are not considered strikes.
7. Bat throwing is dangerous and can cause injury. Each team is allowed 1 warning for throwing a bat. For all subsequent offenses, the batter is called out and a dead ball is called (i.e., no base runners can advance).
8. Bunting, stealing, and leading off bases are prohibited, and warnings must be issued for each offense.
9. A casual step off a base after the ball passes home plate is permitted. Each team is allowed 1 warning if leaving too early. For all subsequent offenses, the base runner is called out and a dead ball is called.
10. There are pop outs to the catcher. The batter will be out if the foul goes up off of the bat at least to a 6‐ft height and the catcher catches the ball. Straight back foul tips held by the catcher are not outs, the ball must elevate off the bat to at least 6‐ft height for to possibility of an out to be made behind home plate by the catcher.
E. General Rules
1. Runs per inning shall be limited to (5) except the last inning. The last inning does not have a run limit. The inning ends once 3 outs are made. Coaches may choose/determined before the game to limit the final inning to 4 runs, but if it is not discussed then the unlimited rules applies.
2. The infield fly rule does not apply.
3. On a ball hit in the infield (ie. does not leave the dirt) the runner may advance one (1) base. The runner can not advance additional bases on an over throw from an infield player.
4.On a ball hit to the outfield play stops once an infielder has possession of the ball.
5. Base runners may continue to advance to the next base they were advancing to prior to infield possession, at their own risk, however will be returned to the previous base if they were not half way.
6. Tagging up on a caught fly ball (in the outfield) and advancing to the next base is permitted at the runners own risk of being out.
7. Once play has stopped, if the runner was not half way to the next base, the runner will be returned to the correct base without liability to be put out.
8. A runner can advance on an over throw from the outfield to the infield.
9. Sliding is allowed, but to prevent injuries, a player should not slide if she has not been taught proper technique.
E. Rules of Play
1. Games consist of 5 full innings or a maximum time of 2 hours, which ever comes first. There are no extra innings. Both teams bat in the last inning (unless home team is in the lead).