8u USSSA Baseball Rules You Need to Know

8u USSSA baseball rules can be confusing for new coaches and players. Here are 8 rules you need to know to help your team succeed on the field.

Introduction

As a new coach, it is important that you are familiar with the 8u USSSA baseball rules. These rules will govern how your team plays and how you manage your roster. By understanding the rules, you can ensure that your team is compliant and that you are providing them with the best possible opportunity to succeed.

Here are 8u USSSA baseball rules you need to know:

1. All players must be 8 years old or younger on May 1st of the current year in order to be eligible to play.

2. A maximum of 12 players can be on the lineup card for each game. However, teams are allowed to carry up to 15 players on their roster. If a team has more than 12 players available for a game, they must declare which players will be inactive before the start of the game.

3. All games must be 6 innings long, unless called due to time limit, weather, or darkness. If a game is tied after 6 innings, it will remain a tie. There is no extra inning play in 8u USSSA baseball

4. A maximum of 3 outs can be recorded per inning by each team. Once 3 outs have been recorded, that half of the inning is over and the other team will come to bat.

5. A 6 run mercy rule is in place for 8u USSSA baseball games If one team is ahead by 6 or more runs at the end of any inning, that team is declared the winner and the game will end early. If the losing team scores enough runs to bring the score within 6 runs before 3 outs have been recorded in that half of the inning, play will continue until 3 outs have been reached or until the leading team scores again to go ahead by more than 6 runs.

6. stealing bases is allowed in 8u USSSA baseball games but there are some limitations in place. Players cannot steal home plate and they cannot leave their base until the ball has been hit by the batter. Lead-offs are not allowed until after the ball has been hit into fair territory and touched by an infielder (except for 1st baseman). A player who leaves their base too early will be called out and all other runners will return to their original base unless they have already advanced past that base safely when lead-off was attempted (in which case they are allowed to stay at their new base). 7u runners may not advance on an overthrow out of play unless forced by a preceding runner; if a runner attempts to advance they will be called out but any preceding runners forced shall be awarded one base only from time of pitch.’

Pitching Rules

In USSSA Baseball there are few restrictions on pitchers. The main rules regarding pitching are related to age and rest requirements. For example, a pitcher must be at least 9 years old to pitch in a USSSA game, and a pitcher who throws 41 or more pitches in a game cannot pitch again for at least 3 calendar days.

Here are some other important pitching rules in Usssa baseball

-A pitcher must have one foot on the rubber when delivering the ball to the batter.
-A pitcher cannot fake a throw to first base in order to pick off a runner.
-A pitcher cannot pick off a runner who is not occupying first base.
-A pitcher cannot intentionally throw at the batter’s head.
-A pitcher cannot intentionally throw a pitch that will hit the batter in the bat or hand.

Hitting Rules

In USSSA baseball there are specific rules regarding hitting. All batters must start with both feet in the batter’s box. Stepping out of the box at any time during their at-bat voids their current pitch, unless they receive a time out from the umpire. If a batter steps out of the box and the pitcher is ready to make a play, the pitcher may throw to a base to attempt to get the runner out.

Batters can be called out if they hit a foul ball that is caught by either an infielder or outfielder before it touches the ground. A batter will also be called out if they swing and miss at three consecutive pitches, unless two strikes have already been called on that batter. If a batter hits a pitch that bounces off of home plate and is then caught by the catcher before it hits the ground, that batter is also out.

Fielding Rules

There are nine Defensive Players on the field in USSSA Baseball The positions they play are: pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, Left fielder center fielder and right fielder. All nine fielders must be on defense before the pitch is thrown. If not, it’s a balk.

Pitcher – The pitcher must start each play with at least one foot in contact with the pitching rubber. A legal pitch is one that is released within 20 feet of home plate and crosses home plate between thigh and shoulder high of a batter standing erect and facing the pitcher. It doesn’t matter if the ball bounces before it reaches home plate as long as it doesn’t go more than 10 feet high in the air before crossing the plate. If a pitched ball hits the ground in front of home plate and then bounces up and hits the batter anywhere on his person or his uniform, it’s a Dead Ball and no pitch is called.

Catcher – The catcher must remain completely within the catcher’s box until the ball is hit by the batter. Once the ball is hit by the batter, he may leave the box to play defense anywhere behind home plate He may also attempt to throw out any runner who attempts to steal a base or advance on a passed ball or wild pitch. When returning a throw to the pitcher after a pitch that has been fouled off or missed by the batter ( swing and a miss ), he may leave the box to return the throw to the pitcher as long as he returns to catch any subsequent pitches behind home plate

First Baseman – The first baseman must be on defense within close range of first base before each pitch is thrown. He may move off of first base once he sees that the ball has been hit by bat . On bunts down fair territory Foul Line , he must position himself so that he can field bunt cleanly . He may also attempt to tag out any runner who attempts to steal second base . Once runner rounds first base , he may attempt to advance to second base , but must stay within close range of first base until batter-runner is out or attempts to steal second base . Once force out is made at second base , he may return to first base , but not until after umpire has called time .

Second Baseman – Like first baseman , second baseman must be on defense within close range of second base before each pitch is thrown . On bunts down either Foul Line fair territory , he should position himself so that he can field bunts cleanly . He may also attempt tag out any runners who attempt steal bases either direction round either second base third base bag safely . If an Infield Fly Rule is called runners are able advance safely if they can reach their respective basesbefore catch is made

Base-Running Rules

There are a few key base-running rules in 8u USSSA Baseball that every player and coach should be aware of. Here are three of the most important ones:

1. A runner may not leave the base until the pitch has reached the batter. If a runner does leave early, he will be called out.

2. A runner may not advance to the next base while the ball is in the infield. If he does, he will be called out.

3. A runner must touch all four bases in order to score a run. If he misses one, he will be called out.

Substitution Rules

In 8u Usssa Baseball each team is allowed to substitute freely throughout the course of the game, with the following exceptions:
– a pitcher when he reaches his maximum pitch count for the game, as specified in Rule 3.10;
– a catcher when he reaches his maximum number of innings played for the game, as specified in Rule 3.11; and
– any other player who has been removed for a substitute and re-enters the game in accordance with Rule 3.12.

Miscellaneous Rules

-Each team is allowed to score a maximum of 7 runs per inning, with the exception of the last inning which has no limit.
-There is a 10 run rule in effect. If one team is ahead by 10 or more runs at the end of the 5th inning, or at any point thereafter, the game is considered complete.
-A game can also be called early due to inclement weather. If 5 innings have not been completed, the game will be considered a rain out and will need to be rescheduled. If 5 innings have been completed, but the game is called due to weather, the score will stand and the game will be considered complete.

Conclusion

Great defense wins championships. It’s a saying as old as time, and it’s true in baseball just as it is in any other sport. If you want to win games, you need to have a team that can make the routine plays look easy and come up with the big ones when it matters most.

In baseball, there are all kinds of different ways to play great defense. You can have a team full of sluggers who can hit the ball a mile, but if your pitching staff can’t hold opponents to three runs or less, you’re not going to win many games. Likewise, you can have a team full of speedy players who can cover a lot of ground in the outfield and turn routine fly balls into outs, but if your infielders can’t make the routine throws to first base, you’re not going to be very successful.

The key to playing great defense is having a well-rounded team full of players who understand their role and know how to execute it. That’s why it’s so important for young players to learn the proper way to play each position on the field. By learning the proper techniques, they’ll be better equipped to make plays and help their team win games.