Andover Girls Softball
8U Division - 
3/20/2014

8U Rules: 

Age: 	Players must have reached seven years old on or before December 31, 2013. 

Batting:
•	All rostered players present for the game shall bat in order, whether playing defensively or not.
•	There is no bunting.
•	Pitcher should be in contact with the rubber.  Pitching rubber is 25-30 feet from home plate;
•	Pitcher will throw 2 pitches and then coach will step in.  When the coach steps in to pitch, the pitcher will stand beside the coach and field that position.
•	Batter gets a maximum of 5 pitches from coach pitch. If the ball has not been hit into fair territory than the batter is out.	
•	An inning is over when ten players have batted or three outs are made, whichever occurs first. 
•	If a player swings and misses 3 times, they are out.  Foul balls will count as strikes as well.
•	Stealing is not permitted.

Fielding:
•	Ten (10) players are on the field at any one time including catcher.	
•	Each player must play a minimum of two innings defensively.
•	A coach may be stationed beyond the infielders in order to provide instruction to all defensive players.

Game Length:
No new inning will take place one (1) hour and (30) fifteen minutes after start of game
	
Encourage lead-off after ball crosses plate.

	Objective:  At this level the objective is to promote safe play for the players and make it more interesting and allow them to actually have more playing time which then increases experience.  Also to promote a good sense of base running, hitting, fielding.  

The following is Suggested for Games

Adult placement
•	Parent Volunteer behind Catcher
•	Coach steps in to coach pitch (pitcher still fields position)
•	Coach/Parent volunteer as 1st base coach
•	Coach/Parent volunteer as 3rd base coach

Player Fielding Positions
•	Pitcher, Catcher, 1st Base, 2nd Base, 3rd Base, Shortstop, Outfielders (up to 4)
•	If you have odd number of players, put players in the outfield, try not to leave one player sitting. (2 on bench is fine)
•	Girls should play same position for 1 inning and then rotate
•	Continue rotation at following inning.

Base Running
•	The runner may leave the base once the ball has reached the batter, but must return to the base without liability of being put out if there is no hit, walk or foul ball etc.

Batting
•	Game can be played with as little as 7 players 
•	Keep batting orders consistent
•	Rotation begins where prior inning left off