8U Rules

MinnDak 8U Division Rules

The 8U division is intended for players who are ages 7 and 8 and who do not turn 9-years-old prior to January 1^st of the current year.

General – Regular baseball rules will be followed, with the exceptions as noted:
1. 3 outs or 5 runs per half inning
  1. There will be no run limit in the final inning.
2. Games are 5 innings or 1 hour, whichever comes first. No new inning will start after 1 hour of play. HOWEVER, if both coaches agree and there are no games playing on the same field after the current 8U game, the teams can continue playing to the end of 5 innings.
  1. A 10-run rule will be instituted DURING END OF YEAR TOURNAMENT ONLY after four innings.
3. If a game is called before three (3) complete innings, the game can be made up if the coaches can find a convenient time for completion. The make-up game will resume exactly where it was stopped, keep good books.
4. A minimum of seven (7) players is required to start a game. If a game starts with only 7 players on one side, that team will forfeit one (1) out at the end of the batting order. Any fewer than seven (7) players will result in a forfeit.
5. Scores and league standings will be kept to balance end of year tournament brackets.
6. Regular baseballs will be used.
7. Bases will be 55-60 feet apart.
8. Bats must have a USA Baseball stamp on it or be a wood bat.
A Pitching Machine will be used all season long. Below are the settings (same as SD VFW):
1. Pitchers need to be kept near the pitching machine (not playing a “5th infielder” position) and be at least 30′ away from home plate. Preferred placement at the start of the pitch is next to the machine/coach.
  1. The pitcher shall stay in this spot until the ball is hit.
2. The front leg(s) shall be set at a distance of 36 to 38 feet from the rear point of home plate.
3. Recommended pitching machine speeds should be 25 mph to 37 mph out of the machine.
  1. Start with these settings: Arm – 4; Foot Pedal – 4; Stick – 3
4. The pitching machine operator shall be an adult at least eighteen (18) years of age.
5. Should a batted ball hit the pitching machine or hit the coach/pitcher unintentionally, it becomes a dead ball and batter and every runner on base advances one base.
6. Should the coach intentionally interfere with the batted ball, the ball will be replayed and the batter will keep the same count.
Fielding
1. Nine (9) players will take the field when their team is on defense. Three (3) of these players shall be in the outfield grass (they can’t “sneak” onto the infield).
2. ALL players must play at least three (but strive for four) defensive innings per game. No player shall play more than two consecutive innings in the same position. (It is recommended that players be afforded the opportunity to play infield and outfield during the course of the season.)
3. Free substitution for defensive players.
4. If the Coach/pitcher is hit by a thrown ball, the ball shall remain live.
5. Should the coach intentionally interfere with a thrown ball, the play shall stop and runners will return to the base they just left.
6. Outfielders must be in the grass.
7. Catchers need to be in full catching gear.
Batting
1. Each player is allowed three swinging strikes or six (6) pitches per bat.
  1. If the ball is not hit by a swing, the swing is then called a strike and it goes against the batter’s count.
  2. If on the sixth pitch, the player hits the ball foul, the player will get another pitch. The player will continue to get pitches if the player continues to foul it off.
  3. If the player swings and misses on the 6th pitch or another subsequent pitch, the player is out.
2. There will be no walks.
3. Players will bat in the same order for the entire game.
4. Three (3) outs or five (5) runs will end a team’s turn on offense.
  1. There will be no run limit in the final inning.
5. NO bunting, and NO infield fly rule.
6. All players will bat, even if there are more than 9 batters.
Base Running
1. When a ball goes into the outfield, runners may advance to another base UNTIL the ball is returned to the infield, regardless of whether the ball is controlled by an infielder. Just be smart about this, please. Do NOT try to score a run when the ball is back to the infield.
2. There will be NO ADVANCEMENT on an overthrow.
3. There is a two base maximum on a hit unless the ball is hit over the fence/past all of the outfielders.
4. Players may not leave the base until the ball is hit.
5. NO runner may advance on a passed ball, wild pitch, or overthrow when catcher is returning a pitched ball to the pitcher.
6. A player may not intentionally create contact with another player at any time.
7. If the defensive player has the ball and a play is being made, the offensive player must either slide or make every effort to avoid contact with the defensive player.
8. Should a player run over/crash into another player, the player will be called out.
9. If a defensive player is in the base path without the ball and makes contact with, or impedes the path of the offensive player, interference may be called on the defensive player.
10. Any runner obstructing a throw in an attempt to stop a double play will result in a double play being called.
11. If a batted ball remains on the infield, the runner may not advance to next base.