8U Division Rules

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Version: 2.1     4/13/2023

NORTHWEST OHIO AMATEUR BASEBALL LEAGUE

GENERAL RULES (8U Division) 

THE NWOABL LEAGUE FOLLOWS THE FIVE TOOL BY-LAWS UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED BELOW:

1. Field size: Pitchers distance is 40 ft. and bases are 60 ft. 

2. Games: 6 innings 

A. Coaches and Umpire(s) to review field ground rules prior to start of game

B. Run Rules for 6 Inning Games 

i. 15 after 2 ½ or 3 innings 

ii. 10 after 3 ½ or 4 innings 

iii. 8 after 4 ½ or 5 innings 

                   C. 7 Run Limit Per Inning. **Final inning of game does not have a run limit**

3. Pitching: 

A. Maximum of 3 innings in a 6 inning game. 

B. There is no limit to how many innings a pitcher can pitch in a day. 

i. Innings pitched must be consecutive and an appearance on the mound constitutes an inning.  (Example) A pitcher enters the game and picks a runner off base before throwing a pitch is  considered an inning pitched. 

C. 1 coach’s visit per inning, per pitcher. A second trip to the same pitcher in the same inning causes the  pitcher’s automatic removal from the mound (not the game). 

D. No Walks 

i. If the pitcher throws four balls to a batter, the batters coach will finish pitching the at bat. The  count will remain the same and umpires will call strikes. 

ii. A maximum of 4 pitches will be thrown by a coach (unless the 4th pitch is a foul ball)

iii. An at bat can’t end on a foul ball

4. Fielders 

A. A team may use 10 fielders if they choose. 

B. The 10th fielder must be in the outfield as a 4th outfielder (No rovers). 

5. Batting and Re-Entry Rule: 

A. Teams may bat 9, use EH batters (more than 1 EH may be used), or roster bat. Batting line-up  intentions will be announced during the pre-game meeting with the umpires. 

B. A starting player may re-enter the game in the same batting position. Players not in the original  batting order are substitute players and may not re-enter a game after coming out. 

i. A team is batting 11 players (2EH). Those 11 players are considered starters and may change  positions on the field. Player #12 enters the game for the player in the #6 batting order. The  player from the #6 batting order may re-enter the game, but only in his original batting position for player #12. Player #12 would not be able to re-enter the game again. 

C. Roster batting allows a team to bat everyone on the bench and freely move them in and out of the  fielding positions. 

D. If a player leaves or is ejected from the game, that batting position would be an out if no legal  substitution is left. 

E. A team may play with 8 fielders. 

F. Injured Players: 

        1.  If a player is injured during the game and unable to continue, that player will be replaced by a  legal substitution first. If a legal substitute is used and the injured player is a starter, the injured player may re-enter the game under 5B above.
        2. If the team has already substituted all of its substitute players and no legal substitution  remains, they may use a bench player to replace the injured player in the line-up. Starting  players must bat in their original batting order and a substitute player would fill the injured  player’s position. The injured player would not be able to re-enter the game. In this instance  the team making the switch will notify the opposing head coach of the situation.
        3. If a team is roster batting, an injured player will not be an out. The batting position would be skipped. 

6. Base Running 

A. Secondary leadoffs are only allowed after the ball crosses the plate.

i. One team warning for players leaving early.

ii. After the warning, each player leaving early will be recorded as an out.

B. Base runners may only advance on a ball behind the catcher (no advancing if the ball is on the side or is blocked and in front of the catcher)

C. No stealing or advancing to home on a pass ball. Runners can only score from 3rd during a batted ball play.

D. When coach is pitching, runners may only advance on a batted ball

E. Base Runners are not allowed to advance on throwing errors between catcher and pitcher in between pitches

F. Base Runners are only allowed to advance 1 base in a pass ball (steal) play, regardless of defensive throwing/fielding errors

G. During a batted ball play, base runners and the batter can advance as many bases until the play is determined to be over

H. Slide Rule / Avoid Malicious Contact: 

i. Whenever a tag play is evident, runners must slide or seek to avoid contact with the fielder.  No player can initiate malicious contact. It is the umpire’s judgment call that determines  whether the contact is malicious. There can be a collision where both players go head over  heels that is not malicious contact. The key for malicious contact is intent. 

I. Courtesy Runners: 

i. At any time, the team at bat may use a courtesy runner for the pitcher and catcher of record  from the previous time on defense. The courtesy runner must be someone not presently in the  lineup and may appear as a runner one time per inning. The re-entry status of the courtesy  runner, pitcher or catcher shall not be affected by this rule. If a courtesy runner is determined  to be ineligible, a proper replacement (if available) will be substituted.

ii. When roster batting, the courtesy runner will be the player that recorded the last out
 

7. Bunting & Slug Bunting - Fake Bunt / Swing Prohibited:

A. A Slug bunt is squaring to bunt and then pulling the bat back and swinging away. This puts players in  danger and will not be permitted. 

B. Slug bunt attempts will result in the batter being out and all base runners returning to the pre-pitch position on the field. 

8. Bat restrictions: Maximum bat barrel is 2 3/4   

 

9. No Infield Fly Rule

10. Complete Games: 

A. Home team is the official scorebook. Winning team scorebook will be signed by a coach from both  teams in case of any discrepancies. 

B. Any games stopped by weather before they are official will be suspended until later date. A game is  official after 2 ½ innings in a 6 inning game. 

C. A game called because of darkness is not an official game and will be suspended. Suspended games  are not complete games until called by the league Commissioner. 

D. The winning team is responsible for reporting the scores on the league web site. 

E. You will have 48 hours to report the scores.

F. Teams are credited with 3 points for a win and 1 point for a loss

      G. Any issues with the scores will be reported to your league commissioners. 

 11. Other: 

A. The host team is the home team (if a double header, each team will be the home team for 1 game)

B. No Metal spikes are permitted. 

C. Each team will furnish 2 new NFHS game balls for each game. 

i. (NFHS = High School Federation Stamp). Diamond DOL1, Pro9, and ROLB1 are examples  of appropriate game balls. 

D. Team rosters are limited to 18 players. 

E. The player’s age on April 30th determines the player’s eligible age. 

F. Umpires are to be paid by both teams the day of the game. 

i. The host team is responsible for providing the umpire(s). 

ii. After the game begins (1st pitch), umpires control the game, call weather delays, and suspends  games. This is not a coach’s decision and any concerns should be brought to the league  Commissioner. 

iii. Umpires for 6 inning games and double headers should be paid around $50/game.

 

 

12. Go to Page 4 for situation examples and rule clarity 

 

 

 

 

 

NWOABL 8U Situations & Ruling:

 

1.    Can base runners advance on a throwing error by the catcher or a fielding error by the pitcher in between pitches during an at bat? No

a.    Situation A – Pitcher throws 1st pitch to the batter, the catcher throws the baseball back to the pitcher and the ball is not caught by the pitcher due to a throwing or fielding error, can the base runners advance? No

2.    Can base runners steal multiple bases in the same pass ball (steal) play?  
No - only 1 base allowed to be advanced in any stealing attempt regardless of defensive throwing or fielding errors

a.    Situation B – Base Runner at 1st, attempts to steal 2nd on a pass ball, catcher throws ball to 2nd but ball is overthrown to centerfield, can the baserunner advance to 3rd? No – only 1 base allowed during a steal play

3.    Can base runners and the batter advance to multiple bases including home on defensive throwing & fielding errors during a batted ball play? Yes, runners and the batter can advance to as many bases including home until the play is determined to be over.

a.    Situation C: Grounder hit to pitcher, pitcher overthrows 1B and ball goes down the right field fence line. Can the batter advance to 2nd ,  3rd , and possibly home if the ball is live and in play?

Yes – batted ball is live until umpire has declared play is over (time called). Runners can advance as far they want during batted (live) ball.

b.    Situation D: Same scenario as situation C, however, there is a base runner at 1st when the ball was hit into play, can the runner from 1st advance to home?

Yes– batted ball is live until umpire has declared play is over (time called). Runners can advance as far they want during batted (live) ball.

4.    Misc. Baserunning Steal Play

a.    Situation E: Base runners at 1st and 3rd, pass ball occurs, and catcher attempts to throw out runner at 2nd, can the 3rd base runner advance to home?

No - 3rd base runner can only score when a batted ball is in play