Kansas ASA 8U Coach Pitch Rules

“Case Book” examples
Published June 7, 2005 - Updated July 13, 2006

 

The 8U rules are identical to the ASA 10U fast pitch rules except as specifically modified by the published 8U rules.


1. Batter swings at the first three pitches and fails to put the ball into play. The umpire calls the batter “out”.

Incorrect. The batter may swing at every pitch without being called out on strikes.

2. On the first pitch, the batter hits a foul fly ball which is caught. The umpire allows the batter to continue to bat.


 Incorrect. A caught fly ball, whether in fair territory or foul territory is an out.

 

3. On the fifth pitch, or subsequent pitch, the batter hits a foul fly ball which is caught. The umpire awards the batter another pitch as the fifth pitch was a foul ball.


 Incorrect. The batter is out if the fifth, or subsequent pitch, is a foul fly ball which is caught.

 

4. On the fifth pitch, or subsequent pitch, the batter attempts to bunt the ball and the ball is batted foul. The umpire awards the batter another pitch as the last pitch was batted foul.


 Incorrect. Just as an attempted bunt which is bunted foul would be a strike in 10U rules, and, if a third strike, an out, the same is true for 8U rules. If the last pitch is a bunted foul ball, then the batter is out.


5. A baserunner leaves the base at the time the adult pitcher delivers the pitch. The umpire rules the baserunner out for leaving too soon.


 Incorrect. As with the 10U rules, the baserunner may step off the base at the moment the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand.

 

6. The baserunner steps off the base upon the delivery of the pitch and is still off the base when the catcher, or other fielder, throws the ball to a fielder who tags the runner while the runner is not touching a base.


 Correct. A baserunner who is not in contact with a base following a pitch which is not put in play by the batter is at risk of being tagged out. In the event that the ball is thrown behind the runner, then the runner may proceed to the next base to avoid the tag; however, when all action ceases, then the runner is returned to the base the runner occupied at the time of the pitch, as base stealing is not allowed. (This is exactly the same procedure in the 10U rules when a baserunner overruns the base to which the baserunner is entitled while attempting a steal and a play is made on the baserunner.)


7. The advance of the lead runner has been halted at third base and a trailing runner is between second and third base. The umpire halts play and returns the trailing runner (who was between second and third) to second base.


 Correct. When time is called by the umpire because the advance of the lead runner has been stopped, the lead runner cannot be advanced beyond the base the runner occupied at the time the play was stopped. All other runners must be placed on the base to which they were advancing unless that would result in the lead runner being advanced to the next base. If there are four runners and the lead runner stops at third base, the umpire should not call “time” as play cannot be stopped while there are four runners.


 8. The advance of the lead runner has been halted at third base and the trailing runner is between first and second base. The umpire awards the trailing baserunner second base.

 

Correct. The placement of the other runners is dependent upon the position of the lead runner and the other runners at the time play is stopped. The lead runner cannot be advanced to a base beyond the one occupied at the time play is stopped. All runners who are between bases are awarded the base to which they were advancing at the time play is stopped unless such award would advance the lead runner.


9. The batter puts the ball into play and the fielder throws the ball to the defensive player covering first base. The defensive player drops the ball which rolls into foul territory. The defensive player picks up the ball and touches first base prior to the batter-runner touching first base. The umpire calls the batter-runner out.

 

Correct. A play at first or third base is not considered an overthrow if the defensive player attempted to make the catch and simply dropped the ball. An overthrow for purposes of the rule stopping play must be a throw which the defensive player, in the umpire’s judgment, could not have caught and which then enters foul or dead ball territory, or which glances off the fielder’s glove and caroms away from the fielder several feet into foul or dead ball territory. The defensive team is not to be penalized when a play could be made on a mishandled throw. The intent of the rule is to not allow the baserunners to continue to advance when a throw to first base or third base cannot be caught by the defensive player and the ball continues into foul or dead ball territory.


10. The batter bunts a ball down the first base line and the catcher overthrows the ball towards first base with the ball continuing into the outfield in fair territory. The umpire calls “Time” and awards the batter-runner first base and all other baserunners the base to which they were advancing at the time the ball left the catcher’s hand.

Incorrect. Overthrows at first or third base result in the stoppage of play only when the ball enters foul or dead ball territory. A ball which is poorly thrown but which remains in fair territory will not result in time being called.

11. With a runner on first base, the batter hits the ball towards third base and the fielder overthrows first base with the ball entering foul or dead ball territory. At the time the fielder threw the ball, the batter-runner had not reached first base and the runner who started at first base had touched second base. The umpire calls “time”, awards the batter-runner first base and awards third base to the runner who had already touched second base at the time of the throw.

Correct. The award of one base shall be determined by the position of the baserunners at the time the throw was made, not at the time the ball enters foul territory or dead ball territory. In this case, the batter-runner had not reached first base and is, therefore, awarded first base; the baserunner who started at first base had already touched second base and is, therefore, awarded third base. If the baserunner who started at first at the time of the pitch had not reached second base when the fielder threw the ball which resulted in an overthrow at first, then that baserunner would have been awarded second base.

12. With no one on base, the batter hits the ball towards second base. The fielder fields the ball and overthrows the ball towards first base prior to the batter-runner reaching first base. The ball enters the first base dugout. The umpire calls “time” and awards the batter-runner second base.


 Incorrect. The award for an overthrow at first base or third base which enters dead ball territory is one base only, and the award is determined by the position of the runner(s) at the time the ball left the fielder’s hand. The batter-runner should be awarded first base.

 

13. The adult coach pitcher starts with one foot on the pitching plate and then takes two or more steps forward before releasing the ball.

 

INCORRECT. The adult coach pitcher must start with both feet on the pitching plate and must take only one step forward with the non pivot foot simultaneously with the release of the pitch. If, in the umpire’s sole opinion, the adult coach pitcher is unable to deliverable a hittable ball to the batter, then the umpire may allow the adult coach pitcher to move the starting position closer to home plate. In such an instance, the same rules apply from the new starting position as apply to starting with both feet on the pitching plate.

 

14.  During a rundown situation, the ball is overthrown into foul or dead ball territory. The umpire declares Dead Ball and awards the runner the base beyond the base she last legally touched.

 

CORRECT. Any time there is a play on a runner and the ball is overthrown into foul or dead ball territory, the ball is dead, and the runner is awarded the base to which the runner was advancing. If the rundown occurs with the runner between first and second, and the ball is thrown into foul or dead ball territory near first base, the runner would be awarded second base (the base to which the runner was advancing), regardless of whether the runner was returning to first base at the time the throw was made. If the rundown occurs with the runner between second and third, and the ball is thrown into foul or dead ball territory near third base, the runner would be awarded third base (the base to which the runner was advancing), regardless of whether the runner was returning to second base at the time the throw was made. Any other runners would be awarded the base to which they were advancing at the time the overthrow was made.

 

15.  Defensive Conferences. There shall only be three defensive conferences during a five inning game. In the event that the game goes into extra innings, then there shall be only one defensive conference in each extra inning. Any request for an additional defensive conference will be denied; in the event that the defensive team insists upon another charged conference beyond the maximum number, then the head coach or manager of the defensive team will be ejected from the game.

 

16.  Offensive Conferences. There shall only be one offensive conference in each inning. Any demanded charged offensive conference in excess of one each inning will result in the adult coach pitcher being removed from that position for the remainder of the game.

 

17.  Catcher Obstruction. The catcher obstruction rule for 10U shall apply, except that if the batter is returned to the batter’s box, then the obstructed pitch to the batter shall not count as one of the five pitches.

 

18.  Coach Interference. The first time the adult coach pitcher interferes with a defensive fielder’s opportunity to field a batted or thrown ball or to make a play on a runner, the runner closest to home plate will be declared out, all runners will be returned to the base they occupied at the time of the pitch unless forced to advance by the batter runner being awarded first base (unless the batter runner is the only runner, in which case the batter runner is declared out), and a warning will be issue to the adult coach pitcher. Any subsequent adult coach pitcher interference with a defensive fielder’s opportunity to field a batted or thrown ball or to make a play on a runner will result in the runner closest to home plate being declared out, all other runners will be returned to the base they occupied at the time of the pitch unless forced to advance by the batter runner being awarded first base (unless the batter runner is the only runner, in which case the batter runner is declared out, AND the adult coach pitcher will be removed from that position for the remainder of the game.

 

If a base coach interferes with a defensive fielder’s opportunity to field a batted or thrown ball or to make a play on a runner, the runner closest to home plate will be declared out, all other runners will be returned to the base they occupied at the time of the pitch, unless forced to advance by the batter runner being awarded first base (unless the batter runner is the only runner, in which case, the batter runner is declared out).