8U-E League Softball Rules (2023 Rule Update)
Marysville Junior Baseball & Softball Association (MJBSA)
League will follow OHSAA/NFHS official fast pitch softball rules with the following exceptions: (Revision Date: February 8, 2018)
o Age Qualifications
1. Age shall be as of January 1.
o Playing Field
1. Pitching and base path distances
§ Pitching: 35ft. (or up to the front of the circle)
§ Base Path: 60ft.
2. Umpire is required: Shall not be a relative of a player. Umpire must be 12 years old or older.
o Equipment
1. Batting helmets with face guard and chin strap are mandatory.
2. Will use an 11” softball. (Yellow in color).
3. Home team will provide (1) new and (1) good used ball for each home game.
4. Shoes are required equipment. Shoe sole or heal projection other than the standard shoe plate are prohibited. Metal toe plates and metal cleats are prohibited.
o Player Substitutions
1. Teams may borrow up to (3) players from a lower division. If an area does not have a lower division, they may borrow from another league’s lower division team.
2. Borrowed players from a lower division must be on a Marysville League roster. Games may be played with 8 players, without penalty. Five of those players must be on the team roster. Example: With (7) roster players you may borrow (3) players from lower division to make a team of (10). With (5) roster players you may still only borrow (3) players to make a team of (8).
3. No borrowed player will be permitted to play, if a full line up of roster players is present and able to play.
4. Borrowed players may play in any fielding position.
5. Must bat all available players, open substitutions will apply. If a player gets injured or has to leave the game for any reason while using continuous batting order, that player is then skipped in the batting order with no out taken. This player may also re-enter in a later inning.
o Games
1. Innings: 6; Official Game: 4
2. 7 runs per inning limit.
3. No new inning shall be started after 1 hour and 45 minutes from the start of the game, unless in the event of a tie.
4. In the event of a tie at the end of 6 innings or time limit, you will play until tie is broken or up to 2 extra innings, if at the end of the 2nd extra inning there is still a tie, it remains a tie.
5. No infield warm-up is permitted after the first inning.
6. Play with (6) infielders and (4) outfielders.
7. No coaching from the pitchers’ mound, while the ball is in play.
o Official rosters
1. Official rosters must contain
§ Team name, area, age division
§ Coaches name, phone number
§ Players name, DOB
2. Players may only be on (1) Marysville League fast pitch roster.
3. Rosters must be presented to the opposing coach at the 1st scheduled game with that team. Players may be added to a roster up to the 3rd game of the season by contacting the association representative. Final rosters must be presented to the tournament director prior to the 1st game of the tournament.
4. Final rosters must contain a minimum of (8) players and a maximum of (20).
5. No boys are permitted to play in the Marysville League games or tournaments.
o No game shall be declared a forfeit because of a lack of players. The opposing coach will loan players.
o The offensive teams coach will pitch 7 pitches. The pitcher can only possess and pitch one ball at a time. A player’
s at bat cannot end on a foul ball. No base on balls is to be awarded. Umpire will not call balls and strikes. 3 swings of the girls’ bat will count as an out.
o (1) Player shall stay, with one foot, in an 8-ft. pitching circle and no closer than the pitching plate until the ball is hit. A batted ball hitting the coach shall be declared a dead ball/foul ball.
o Stealing is not allowed under any circumstances. No Lead off until a batted ball is put into play.
o No bunting is allowed.
o Infield/Outfield “dividing” line will be established on all fields. The dividing line will either be the edge of the outfield grass or 10’ behind the baseline if applicable (i.e: UCJRD fields). Outfielders must start a minimum of 5’ behind the dividing line. An outfielder can not make an out at a base or on a baserunner. The outfielder must transfer the ball to an infielder regardless of where it was fielded.
o INFIELD HIT BALL- This is defined as a batted ball that does not completely cross the dividing line. Base runners may advance a maximum of one base.
o OUTFIELD HIT BALL- This is defined as a batted ball that completely crosses the dividing line, regardless of who fields the ball. Base runners may advance at will, however once the ball reaches the infield area and is CONTROLLED by an infielder within the infield area, the player may continue only to the next base with the liability of being put out.
If a base runner mistakenly continues to the next base on either an infield or outfield hit ball, they advance at their own risk. If they are put out advancing or retreating to any base, this will be considered as an out. Coaches should NOT attempt to correct the wrong while the play is still live.
Once the infielder has control of the ball on the infield part of the field the runners must stop at the base they are on or be sent back to the base at the umpires discretion.
Runner location at the time of the ball is controlled is a judgement call by the umpire and will not be debated, the umpires ruling is Final.
o OVERTHROWS- If an infielder overthrows a base making an attempt at an out, runners may not advance. This rule is designed to promote teaching players to make the proper play.
o If an infielder fields the ball beyond the dividing line, then it will be considered an outfield hit ball (as stated above). Once the infielder has control of the ball on the infield part of the field, the runners must stop at the base they are on, or be sent back to the base at the umpires discretion
Examples of this rule:
a. No runners on, batter hits infield ball to shortstop, shortstop overthrows first:
i. Batter must stop at first base and cannot continue to
second regardless of where the overthrow ends up
b. Runner on first, batter hits infield ball to shortstop, shortstop overthrows second:
i. Batter must stop at first base
ii. Runner from first must stop at second base
c. Batter hits infield or outfield ball to outfielder, outfielder throws ball to shortstop (and shortstop controls the ball) before batter reaches first:
i. Batter must stop at first base (batter may be put out if shortstop makes throw to first before batter reaches first)
d. Batter hits infield or outfield ball to right field, right field throws ball to first base before batter reaches first:
i. Batter is out
e. Batter hits outfield ball, outfielder throws ball to shortstop and shortstop controls the ball (after batter rounds first):
i. Batter may continue to second base with the liability of being put out by the shortstop.
ii. If the shortstop overthrows the second baseman, batter may not advance beyond second base. Batter must stop at second base regardless of where the ball ends up.
f. Batter hits outfield ball, outfield throws ball to shortstop, and shortstop controls the ball (prior to reaching first base):
i. Batter must stop at first base
ii. If shortstop makes throw to first base, batter cannot advance
o A team fielding 10 players must have each player in the normal playing position. Maximum of (6) players may be considered infielders. The (4) outfielders must be in a normal playing position at the start of the play, approximately 5ft beyond the dividing line. A team may field a minimum of 7 players w/ no out taken for vacant position(s) in the batting line up.
o Coaches may stand behind the catcher and in the outfield behind the players, but may not touch the ball if the ball is in play.
o If a player gets hurt on a batted ball, play stops and runner is awarded the next base.
o 8U pitcher position are required to wear a fielding mask
o Thrown Bat Rule - The first offense both teams will be warned, umpire will tell both head coaches, no matter which team was the offender, both teams get warned. Each offense after the first the batter is out and runners may advance at their own will.
o Any player that is unable to bat for any reason may skip her position in the batting order without an out being declared. MJBSA will monitor use of this rule to ensure coaches do not abuse the rule. The idea of this rule is to not penalize a team for a player who is afraid to bat or must leave before the game completes
o Coaches will be allowed to call time and to instruct players on the field when they see coaching points. This should be done in a way to better the player or team not to stall the game.
Tournament - Rules will be the same as league rules with the following exceptions.
1. Trophies of at least (7) inches tall shall be provided to the 1st place team/coach and trophies at least (5) inches tall, not to exceed the height of the 1st place trophy, shall be presented to the 2nd place team/coach.
2. In order to qualify for tournament play, a roster player must have participated in at least 50% of the Marysville League game schedule. Injury exceptions will be determined by the league representatives. Current season score books must be available upon request.
3. All protests are to refer to OHSAA and Marysville League rules and are to be resolved immediately. Home plate umpire’s decision is final.