Green Country 8 & Under Coach Pitch Rules

Pitching – All pitching will be done by the batting team's adult representative. The pitch must be thrown underhanded, but may vary in speed or vary the pitching distance by five feet toward the batter or away from the batter. The pitcher is considered part of the playing field and may not make plays on hit balls. Adult pitcher must move into foul territory when the ball is hit. This enables the center infielder the opportunity to catch the ball. Center infielder must be in the circle when the ball is put into play.

Base Length – Pitching distance is 30 feet and base distance is 60 feet. A line will be drawn 40-feet from each base (excluding home to first). If the ball becomes dead, runners who have crossed any part of this line will be entitled to the next base.

Batter – The batter will be allowed five pitches or three swinging strikes. The first two foul balls will count as strikes as in regular softball. If the batter does not hit the ball in five pitches she is out. No walks or hit batters will be allowed. If on the fifth pitch the ball is fouled batter will continue to hit until she strikes out or makes contact in fair ground.

Defensive Position –

The defensive team will have an infielder positioned five feet to the left or five feet to the right of the pitcher’s rubber. Her position title will be the pitcher. If the adult pitcher interferes with a defensive play by the pitcher, the pitch will be thrown again. If in the umpires judgment the adult pitcher continuously interferes with the play, he may be asked to replace himself.

Infielders may not advance more than ten feet toward home plate until the ball is hit.

There will be ten defensive position players (4 outfielders, & 6 infielders).

Stopping Play –

The ball is dead when the opposing team stops the runner defensively and “time” is called.

The ball is dead if the adult pitcher touches it.

The ball is dead when the pitcher has possession of the ball and has both feet in the pitching circle.

The ball becomes dead when a thrown ball goes past a fielder and hits a designated dead ball area (dugout, fence, backstop, or out of play), the ball will immediately become dead. All runners will be entitled to the next base.

Game Duration – Game shall be no longer than five innings or one hour.  No new inning shall start after 55 minutes.

No Infield Fly Rule!

Official Inning – Three outs or a maximum of five runs will constitute an official inning.

Advance On Overthrow – An overthrow at first or third allows each runner to advance at their own risk. A runner may advance at their own risk any number of bases on overthrows at second base, until the umpire calls time.

Tight Bases – No stealing, leading off, and no leaving the base until the ball is hit.

No Bunting

Ball – 11" softballs will be furnished by the PARC.

Tie Game –Tie games will be extended only one extra inning using a version of the international tie breaker rule. A runner will be placed on second base and the team batting will have one out recorded when the inning starts. If the game is still tied after the extra inning, the contest will be recorded as a tie.