ATLANTIC BABE RUTH SOFTBALL LEAGUE

ATLANTIC BABE RUTH SOFTBALL LEAGUE

2026 Playing Rules

U8

The intention of this softball league is to adhere as closely as possible to the rules of Babe Ruth, which each team is chartered. Some rules have been modified because of player's ability level or simply to quicken the pace of the game. All ABRSL rules are intended to supplement the Babe Ruth Rules with some exception to the rules listed below.
The purpose of each division is to provide the girls with the fundamentals of softball and to prepare them to play at the next age level. 

Questions or concerns regarding these rules can be forwarded to your town Commissioner or directly to ABRSL.

General

All levels: A written paper scorebook must be kept for all games. GameChanger can be used as an additional resource, but any scoring/lineup debates will be made by a paper book – if a team does not have a paper book, the ruling will be made by the only paper book available.

Rosters must be digitally submitted prior to the start of the season. No changes will be accepted after one week from opening day. All roster updates must be submitted in writing to both the ABRSL President and Secretary and must be approved prior to the player playing. 

Travel Players
A travel player is defined as any player who has played on/with, sat on any roster, or guest played in any travel game or with any travel team within the last calendar year. Teams with travel/competitive players can not exceed more than the amount of rec players on said team. Any travel-level player must be disclosed on the team roster before the season begins.

 

If a team is found to have used an undisclosed travel player the following actions will be taken:

The game will be forfeited. The team must pay the umpire fee (home or away). The coach will be suspended for two games. The coach and town commissioner must meet with the ABRSL Board prior to the next game. A written explanation of the violation must be sent to all team parents within 24 hours of the meeting.

Base Running
U8 - A runner may not leave the base until the ball is hit into play off the batting tee or a coach pitched ball. 

Batting
U8 – All players on each roster for each team will be placed on the lineup card and will bat whether playing defense or not.

U8 – All players on the lineup card will bat once per inning or until three (3) outs are made. Both teams will have even batting lineup at the start of the game. Ex: If one team has 8 players, other has 12; the team of 8 may re-bat 4 players. 

 

While said coach is in the pitching position they will be permitted to speak to batter until ball is pitched. Once a pitch is thrown to the batter the coach pitcher is to remain silent while on the mound and may not give hand signals nor make body movements that may be considered a coaching signal to any runners on base or to the batter running to 1st base.

Bench Rules 

Each team will have no more than one (1) Manager, and three (3) Coaches. Only team members will be allowed in the dugout or on the bench. No other persons are allowed in the dugout. If an adult score keeper is used they are allowed in the dugout but not allowed to coach. 

Bunting – No Bunting. 

Completed Games 

When all innings have been completed, or the time limit has been reached In the case of darkness (If min innings have been completed)
Weather (If min innings have been completed)
(See TIME LIMIT rule below) 

Courtesy Runner 

U8 – It is MANDATORY for a courtesy runner for the catcher with two outs for the catcher that is entering the catcher position next inning to save time in between innings.  The catcher (only) may have a courtesy runner. The purpose of this rule is to allow the catcher extra time to put their catcher’s equipment on for the start of the next inning. 

Forfeits - In an effort to avoid a forfeit, teams may pull across players from other same level team. If a team is short players and forfeits the game, the opposing team can supply players to the "short team" so that the game can still be played. In each case the umpire will "call" the game and will get paid. If game is not played the team that forfeited pays for the umpire. 

(See also PLAYING STRENGTH Rule) 

Game Cancellations Due to Inclement Weather & Non Weather

No game is to be cancelled prior to speaking to both ABRSL president AND Chilly are notified of REQUEST to make a decision if approved.  No games will be rescheduled after approved game schedule is submitted unless approved by both.   A shortage of players will not be approved for a reschedule game. A coach’s unavailability is not an acceptable reason to cancel a game. If a replacement coach cannot be found, the game will be recorded as a forfeit. The forfeiting team must pay the umpire fee (home or away).

Any game that has to be rescheduled due to inclement weather will be scheduled through your town coordinator, and with Chilly Warren with NJSA Umpires. Chilly’s number is on the ABRSL Coaches Contact List. Please be sure to schedule make-up games promptly, within one week. This does not mean they have to be played within one week but must be scheduled. A pic of your field being unplayable may be requested.

All games must be played. In the event of an unseen emergency, teams can re-schedule games to an agreed date. In this case, teams must notify the appropriate town commissioner of the change. All rescheduled games MUST be rescheduled within 3 days. Any game not rescheduled within 3 days will be considered a forfeit by the forfeiting team. After the midpoint of the season, games must be rescheduled within 24 hours of cancellation. Non-responsiveness will result in a forfeit by the unresponsive town.The non-forfeiting team will be rewarded the win and rewarded a # of runs depending on the number of innings in a complete game: Ex: 16u would be 7 runs. 

Hit By a Pitch – No advancement to base on any hit to batter by coach pitch.

Infield Fly Rule
U8 - The infield fly rule does not apply in the division. 

Infielders: Face masks are required for all infielders (1st, 2nd, 3rd, short stop and pitcher) 

Injury
U8 - During an at bat should a player get injured and cannot continue batting, the at bat is erased and the next batter in the lineup will come to the plate and bat their full at bat. The injured player may re-enter the game at their next scheduled at-bat or when their respective team takes the field. 

*If player can not re-enter it is an out when player comes up to bat – IT IS NOT A FORFEIT OF GAME.

All levels - A team may continue playing when an injury has forced a player to leave the game causing a team to drop below the minimum player strength 

Jewelry– No jewelry
Exception- Medical alert are not considered jewelry 

Maximum Run Rule

U8 - Will employ a 4-run cap per inning throughout the entire game. 

Mercy Rule
U8 -There is no mercy rule. 

Offensive and Defensive Coaches Position 

U8 only-Offensive: During offensive play, a team may have a maximum of three (3) coaches on the field. One located at 1st base, one at 3rd base and, when applicable, one pitching to the girls on their respective team (see also coach Pitch Rule). 

Defensive: During defensive play, a maximum of two 2 defensive coaches are allowed in the foul area beyond 1st and 3rd base ONLY. They are not permitted inside the lines of play. 

Outfielder
U8 – All outfielders must remain behind the infielders and the bases until the ball is hit. (They cannot be positioned in the infield at any time) 

Overthrow
U8 – Will us the 1 + 1 base on an overthrow with 1st attempt by ANY player to ANY base. If a runner is on 1st when the ball is hit and is attempting 2nd, the outfielder throws to 2nd and misses, the player is allowed to go to 3rd but remains in jeopardy. If they attempt home and they are tug out it will be an out. If they reach home and the play is over the umpire will put her back on 3rd.
Exception-See stealing 

PITCHING/PITCHERS
U8 – When the offensive teams coach enters the game to "coach pitch" the defensive pitcher must have at least one (1) foot inside the pitching circle when she takes her fielding position.

DISTANCE
U8 – pitching distance 35 feet 

Playing Strength
U8 -Teams will utilize all present players in the field up to 10 and bat all players. If a team cannot field at least eight 8 of its own players at the start of a game, borrow players from any team to fill out its roster. 

PLAYING TIME 

All eligible players at the game must be put on the lineup card for each game and must play at least two (2) defensive innings and bat once. Any violation will result in a forfeit. 

Players may play at two levels during the season. Any player playing at two levels must declare which team will be their primary team and which team they will “guest play for”. If both teams are playing at the same time they must play for the team they declared. Declarations are to be made to the ABRSL president at the beginning of the season prior to the first game. 

During play offs, they can only play for the team they declared in the beginning of the season. Any violation will result in said player playing age level for the remainder of the season.

Scores:
8u-A record of each game will be kept in the team’s scorebook. The winning team’s coach is responsible for phoning the score within twenty-four (24) hours to the appropriate age group representative. The phone number and address for each division representative can be found on the ABRSL Coaches Contact List and on this web-site (under the Scores Reporting tab). Failure to submit scores within the 24-hour window may result in a recorded forfeit for the reporting team.

Protest See Babe Ruth Book 

A protest must be announced to the umpire and opposing team coach prior to next play. The coach must reference the protested rule and the umpire must circle said play in the score book and initial. The umpire must call Chilly for the final review. If Chilly is unavailable, the game will continue to be played under review. If the call is overturned the game will continue from the protested call. 

Sliding – No Sliding

Standings 

U8 - Standings will not be kept in the division. 

Start Time: All games are scheduled to start promptly at the time recorded on the official season schedule. Any game starting more than 15 minutes late according to the umpire, who is official time keeper, will result in a forfeit by the team who is causing the delay. (see note below).
Exception: delays for weather as directed by the coordinators 

Stealing
U8 - There is no stealing allowed in the division. If the runner leaves before the ball is hit the runner will be instructed to return to the previous base. 

Stoppage of Play

Substitutions 

Free substitutions are permitted in the all levels if using EP’s. Coaches may elect to use no (0) EPs or use up to 5 (15 player roster). An EP can enter the field defensively this is not a substitution but a position change. Exception: see pitching rule (BR book). 

 

Team Composition 

Teams can use 10 fielders with 3 outfielders and either a 4th outfielder or a short fielder. If using a short fielder, they must be positioned behind 2nd base and cannot be in the infield. 

TIE-BREAKERS 

Regular Season - A game may end in a tie. 

TIME LIMIT
U8 - There is a 90-minute limit, finish the batter, for each game. Drop dead  ball. Score will be based off the full completed inning, unless the home team is at bat, score will be reported at time of drop-dead.

Uniform 

All players should wear their team uniform (provided by their organization) to each game. The player will not be able play if not in the same uniform during the regular season. All players must be in their proper team shirt with no duplicate numbers. If a player is not they cannot participate in the game. 

Umpiring

All official umpires must be part of the NJSA and approved by the UIC of Babe Ruth 

Walks
U8 - There are no walks in the division. 

WEATHER/DARKNESS 

If during a game inclement weather is imminent or any lightning is seen or heard the umpire will "call" the game. If the game cannot be re-started it will be continued from the stopping point and finished on the next mutually available day. (See Completed Games rule above). 

ABRSL does not allow the use of metal cleats at any age level. 

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Play Offs –
U8 - At the conclusion of regular season play, a single elimination play-off will occur. Regular season rules are the same during playoffs. All games will have one umpire. Two umpires at all semi-finals and final games at each level. 

Playoffs will be played with the regular ABRSL Rules with the following exceptions: 

1. Each player must play with their declared rostered team. 

2. Each player must play 8 of the regular season scheduled games with their rostered team. In the event of an injury, if the player continues to support their team, the ABRSL Board will review their eligibility for playoffs.

3. Unplayed games do not count toward playoffs. 

Time Limits for playoffs: 

8u - 90 minutes or 6 innings, 4 run cap per inning, last inning unlimited 

For the final in each level the time limit will be removed and the appropriate number of innings will be played. 

Weather Rules for Play Offs: will be that same as season rules. They will resume the next day if it is not an exception day. Exception day will be categorized as a day when you do not have enough to field a team due to a school function.  AGAIN FOR ABRSL PRESIDENT AND CHILLY TO DETERMINE

 

3/2026