2020 8U Buckeye League Rules

Scheduling Plan and Rules-

-Home Team is responsible for scheduling and paying the umpire fee (1 ump needed at each game)

-If a game in 8U Competition is tied at the end of the game there will be NO EXTRA innings, game will end in a tie (except for Playoff or Championship Games).

-Home team is responsible for having their field set up for the 8U game with bases at 60 ft, pitching mound at 42 ft, and time out lines half way between 1st/2nd, 2nd/3rd, and 3rd/Home.

g) The timeout rule in effect for all 8U games; ball has to be in possession of an infielder in the dirt in fair territory to call time out. Player to raise both hands above head and yell "Time Out" to stop the play. We will utilize a hash-mark halfway between the bases, if timeout is called before runner reaches halfway point the runner will need to return to the prior base, if halfway or past halfway the runner will be entitled to the next base. The umpire's responsibility is to monitor the lead runner on the play first, and any trailing runners after determining the position of the lead runner. 

-In 2020, the League is allowing Teams to decide how they will handle Coach Pitch & Kid Pitch due to scheduling.  The standard guidelines we will follow otherwise are below

-All June games will be a 6 inning coach pitch game

No limit on the number of pitches per batter for coach pitch game (Subject to reasonable limits determined by the Coach/Pitcher; 10 pitches is too many)

• 3 strikes will determine a strike-out (swinging or foul balls); no called strikes
• There are no bases on balls
• If last pitch is fouled off the batter will receive another pitch
• All pitching is overhand and will approximate a player’s pitch
• Coaches to pitch from with/in 5 feet of the pitching rubber (42’) 
• Runners must have a foot on the bag until the batter contacts the ball
• No bunting
• If a player is HBP by a Coach Pitcher, it will be treated as a ball

- July games can be a 6 inning kid pitch game upon mutual agreement by both coaches.

  Ideally, each team will play 4-6 Kid Pitch games this season under the following amended rules:

• 1 Pitch equals 1 inning (Does not include Warm Ups)
• 3 Innings Max per game per pitcher. We will follow the pitch smart guidelines below:

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• Once a pitcher leaves pitching position for one pitch he cannot return as a pitcher during that game.
• A manager or coach shall be allowed one mound visit per inning. On the 2nd visit, he must remove the pitcher
• No dropped 3rd strikes 
• No bunting
• If batter is HBP, he is awarded 1st Base
• If a kid pitcher hits 2 batters in one inning or 3 in a game he must be removed
• Should a kid pitcher reach a 4 ball count, the coach of the hitting team will come in to finish the at bat until the batter records a strike out, batted out, or reaches base via hit or error per the Coach Pitch Rules. The pitcher shall remain at the mound as a fielder, and will resume pitching to the next batter.
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• If coach is hit by a batted ball, it is a dead ball and redo of the pitch
• There will not be a timeout rule in effect for the kid pitch games, runners advance at their own risk. No stolen bases permitted.

General Points of Reference:

• 2 ¾" barrel max bat size limit
• No sharing of bats?
• Roster bat for all games
• 6 run limit per inning; except for last inning will be unlimited; Mercy rule: 15 runs after 4 innings, 12 runs after 5 innings, and 10 runs after 6 innings
• Game is official after 3 ½ innings
• 10 players in the field (4 outfielders in grass); A maximum of 6 infielders, including the pitcher and catcher will be allowed.
• No lead offs or stealing
• Home team will provide 2 new and 1 used (in good condition) official league baseballs (no soft balls) for each game. Each team will provide their own baseballs (when hitting for Coach Pitch and when Pitching for Kid Pitch), and should not switch balls with the other team to abide by State and League Covid-19 guidelines. 
• 2 hour time limit for coach & kid pitch games to be completed (ex. if before the start of the 6th inning more than 2:00 hr has elapsed, the game is over do not start the 6th inning)
• Infield fly rule will not be in effect
• Feet first sliding only; one warning per team for head first slides, thereafter any head first slides will be called an "out". (Per general Buckeye League rules for ages 14U and below)
• Molded spikes only; no metal spikes permitted
• Teams needing to add on players may do so.  Please add them to your Roster. However, a player may not play in nthe Buckeye Baseball League unless pre-approved.  Teams may bring in 8U eligible players from their 9U team as an emergency only.  That player may NOT pitch.
• In 8U, a minimum of 8 players is needed to start a game.
• “Speed-Up” Rule can be used with 2 outs.  The Catcher may be removed from their base with person who made the last out at bat.
• Strike Zone will be stressed to Umpires for consistency: Letters to Knees and over the plate. 1” on either side of the plate.

REMIND PARENTS

• Maintain social distancing; do not enter "dugout area" during games unless requested by a coach
• No Seeds in 2020
• Applaud good plays on both sides
• There is 1 UMP on the field …. They’re not perfect and will make mistakes; They’re sometimes making calls from 60 – 90’ feet away
• #1 GOAL is to develop kids, make it fun and make sure they love baseball