GRAEF 8U · 2026–2027

Hot Stove rules

8U HOT TOPICS · CLASS I

Based on the 2026 rulebook. I will confirm the 2027 edition and local updates at the beginning of the year. — Coach Graef

2026 official rulebook ↗

Start with the game-day guide below. For a specific situation, use the page links afterward to reach the official wording and exceptions.

Topic	8U / Class I quick guide
Field	40-foot pitching distance; 60-foot bases.
Lineup	Continuous batting order; late arrivals join the end. Everyone plays six defensive outs.
Defense	Start with nine or ten; starting with nine means no adding a tenth defender.
Game	Six innings; no new inning after two hours.
10-run rule (§4.10.C.3–4)	A lead of 10 or more ends the game after five completed innings, or after the top of the fifth if the home team is ahead by 10. A home team reaching that lead in the bottom of the fifth or later also wins immediately. If the visitors lead, the home team gets its half-inning to respond.
10-run examples	Home leads 12–2 after the top of the fifth: game over. Visitors lead 12–2: home bats; if it finishes the fifth still down by 10 or more, game over. A 10-run lead in the third alone does not end the game.
Two-hour exception (§4.10.C.3)	After two hours, a 10-run lead can end the game in any inning; if the visitors lead, the home team must complete its half-inning. The umpire keeps the official time.
Innings 1–5	Stop at three outs, five runs or ten batters, whichever comes first.
Sixth and extras	No run or batter cap.
Pitching	Coach pitches innings 1–3; players pitch from inning four.
Coach pitch	Five pitches maximum; consecutive last-pitch fouls extend the at-bat. With two strikes, a swing-and-miss retires the batter; earlier fouls count as strikes.
Player limits	Two innings or 65 pitches daily, whichever comes first. Rule 8.10 permits finishing the current batter at the pitch limit.
Rest	1–30 pitches: zero days; 31–50: one day; 51–65: two days. Track all game pitches.
Running	No leads or steals: dead ball, runner out.
Other calls	No infield fly, dropped-third-strike advancement or balks. Catcher-to-pitcher returns are dead.
Bats	Nonwood bats need a USA Baseball stamp; remove damaged bats.
Coaches (§10.2.B)	Five rostered; up to two defensive coaches, positioned in the outfield.
Coach-pitch position (§10.3.A–B)	Coach touches rubber. Defensive pitcher: opposite batter, within three feet alongside/behind coach; stays until pitch crosses plate.
Ball hits coach (§10.3.D)	Live unless coach catches reflexively: dead ball, batter awarded first, forced runners advance.
Pitching coach (§10.3.E)	Cannot instruct runners: warning first, then lead runner out.
Injury (§10.2.Q)	Umpire immediately stops play.
Pitch records (§8.10.A)	Count fouls and suspended-game pitches, not warmups. Submit counts after games; home scorebook resolves discrepancies.
Doubleheaders (§8.10.A.6)	Reaching a rest threshold prevents pitching again that day or the next.
Lightning (§4.21)	Wait 30 minutes after each sighting; delay excluded from game clock.
Cleats (§1.11.E)	No metal spikes or football cleats.
Catcher protection (§1.17)	Cup, chest/shin protection, double-earflap helmet and throat protection; mask required for crouched warmups too.

Find the full ruling

These links open the relevant rulebook pages, including details that do not fit on a quick sheet.

Source: OHSBL 2026, §§1.11–1.20, 4.10–4.21, 8.10 and 10. Local interpretations and tournament-specific rules should be checked with the league. County rules & updates ↗