2026 Charles River Softball League - U8 Fall Softball
2026 8U Fall Softball
“8U” means players whose age is 6, 7 or 8 for the current USA Softball year. 2026 Fall season is 2027 Softball season.
Typical games will be Sunday mornings beginning at 9 or 10am.
There will be no paid umpires.
USA SOFTBALL MEMBERSHIP & INSURANCE
All players, coaches, and volunteers must be members of USA Softball. All adult coaches and volunteers must meet the National Background check and SafeSport requirements.
Players, coaches, and volunteers must be insured with USA Softball.
SAFESPORT
The SafeSport training program is available for free to all members of USA Softball. All adult coaches and volunteers are required to receive an annual certificate of SafeSport training as a condition of insurance and eligibility to volunteer with USA Softball teams.
EQUIPMENT
● USA Softball approved equipment must be used, including a safety base at first
● All players must wear a NOCSAE approved helmet with a face-mask guard when batting or coaching 1st or 3rd base.
● Game balls:
○ Home team supplies 2 game balls per game
○ 8U age level uses either 10” or 11” SOFT softballs
● Uniforms: Towns are responsible for providing uniforms to their teams; each player must wear a uniform to play in the game.
GAMES
Base coaches may be either league-insured adults or older players/jr coaches.
RAIN
The home team should be in communication with the visiting team’s coaches so that players and families have sufficient amount of time to be notified of a cancellation. The coaches can then try and work out a date for a possible makeup game.
RULES
Coach Pitch 8U Rules
Pre-game: coaches huddle to review the rules of 8U play and any ground rules.
● 8U softball is NOT t-ball
● Games will be played with a 10 or 11- inch SAFESOFT softball.
● Games are 5 innings or 1 hour and 30 minutes. Whichever comes first.
● Batting uses a continuous line up
● Coach pitch from 35 feet, not closer. Coaches pitch to their own team.
● No strikeouts, even if a player is given an opportunity to try to pitch and the batter swings and misses.
● 6 pitches and then bring out a tee. No walks. Not 10, 15, or 20 pitches before the tee is used. Six pitches. This keeps the game moving and puts the ball in play for the fielders.
● If agreed upon by coaches in advance, players may pitch in the 1st or the 2nd innings of the game
○ During player pitching, after 4 balls have been pitched to a batter, the coach takes over pitching to the batter. If the batter has not hit after 6 pitches from a coach, the batter will hit off of a tee.
○ Players pitchers are encouraged to pitch from the T, L, or K position only and not attempt a full rotation - unless the pitcher can consistently pitch strikes with a full rotation (unlikely at this age.)
○ A pitcher’s delivery may not be two full rotations. Recommend not even one full
○ No bases awarded on a hit by pitch.
○ No drop third strike.
○ If a pitcher needs to get closer to home plate to pitch a strike, the pitcher may not be closer than 30’ for safety reasons.
● Base runners may lead but not steal. Base runners must wait until the pitched ball reaches home plate before leaving the base.
● If a catcher attempts to pick off a runner and overthrows the ball, runners may not advance.
● There is no infield fly rule.
● If the ball gets to the outfield, runners are allowed a maximum of 2 bases on the play.
● Once the batting team makes three outs, or 4 runs have scored, the half inning ends.
● 4-run limit per inning
○ No more than 4 runs per inning, but the last play should be played to its natural conclusion.
○ For example, if 3 runs were already scored and multiple runners score on the next hit/play, only 1 of those runs would be recorded for a total of 4 runs.
● A team can play with a minimum of 7 players in the field and no more than 10 players in the field at once.
● A team may use 4 outfielders and 1 pitcher around the mound.
● Infielders should wear safety masks.
Zero Tolerance Policy
Purpose: The league strongly encourages healthy, age appropriate competition. However, this ideal can only be reached through the principles of Good Sportsmanship.
A zero tolerance policy is just that; zero tolerance. This document serves as your warning. The policy applies to anyoneand everyone connected with the CRSL Softball League, e.g. players, coaches, parents, fans and umpires.
An umpire’s decision on fair/foul, safe/out and ball/strike is final. They are judgment calls and not subject to complaint, debate or protest.
● Coaches who argue or comment in a negative fashion shall immediately be ejected from the game. The ejection carries a two game suspension. In addition, the coach may be required attend a hearing at the office of the USA Softball Commissioner before resuming coaching duties. The length of the suspension may be extended as a result of the facts presented at the hearing.
● Players who argue or engage in negative behavior shall be immediately ejected from the game. The player must serve a two game suspension. Players will be confined to their bench area for the remainder of the game and any additional outbursts will result in a forfeit.
● Parents / Fans who argue or engage in negative behavior (yelling, teasing, taunting, etc.) shall be removed from the playing area. Play will stop while this process is carried out. However, the time limit for the game will NOT be suspended. The head coach for the team will approach the unruly fan(s) and inform them they must leave. If the parent or fan refuses to leave within one minute, the game will end with a forfeit charged against the offending team and based upon the report, the league reserves the right to cancel their next game as well.
● Any argument or disagreement that becomes physical, in any way, will result in an immediate, indefinite suspension for any adult involved. Players involved in any physical misconduct will be subject to a hearing with the CRSL League administrators, the USA SoftballCommissioner(s) and the player’s parent.
● Any team involved in a second ejection issue during the season will be excluded from the league for the remainder of the year.
One coach may ask for “time-out” to speak with the umpire regarding a question over a rule interpretation. A brief, respectful conversation is expected. If the situation remains unresolved, the team may exercise its right to play the game under protest based on the incorrect rulebook interpretation.