Starting with the 2026 playing season (beginning August 12, 2025), United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) has updated its age eligibility determination period for youth fastpitch softball to run from September 1 through August 31, in accordance with USSSA guidelines. (Please see below.)

Equipment: 

• 8u softball pitching machine will use an 11" leather softball.
  • Balls are provided by AfftonAA.
• Bats must be 2 ¼ inches in diameter and approved for FASTPITCH SOFTBALL play. Softball bats must bear either the USSSA or ASA (2000 or 2004) mark on the bat. Wood bats do NOT need to have a mark but must be approved for softball.
• Uniforms must consist of a same color shirt with different # on the back of each shirt. Anything else is up to the team (matching pants/hats/socks/belts).
• All players must wear tie or Velcro-fastened shoes. Shoes with metal spikes or metal cleats are strictly prohibited. 
• All batters & base runners must wear protective helmets. No face masks are required on helmets.
• Any player catching a pitcher while in the catching position will be required to wear a catcher's mask including throat protection and full ear protection and a chest protector.
• A pitcher may not have a glove that resembles of having possession of the ball, meaning the glove CANNOT be optic yellow, neon green, or yellow.

Playing rules (unless otherwise noted, all normal softball rules apply):

• No new inning may start after one (1) hour and thirty (30) minutes of continual playing time, regardless of the game situation, including time.
• Batters are allowed 5 pitches or 3 swinging strikes. For this age, foul tips are considered contact and the batter will continue to bat. If the 5th pitch is a bad pitch that is not swung at and is either over the batter's head or bounces on or near the plate, the umpire is authorized to have the 5th pitch redone. This is completely at umpire discretion. If the batter swings at the pitch it cannot be redone. The batter can foul off the 5th, 6th, and 7th pitches. If the ball is not put in play after the 7th pitch, the batter is out.
• No drop third strike, no stealing, no lead-offs.
• No infield fly rule.
• There is a 10-foot radius circle around the pitching machine; the pitcher is to play outside of that circle. If a batted ball strikes the machine, ball bucket, coach, or umpire the play is dead. Batter is awarded 1st base & all other runners advance one (1) base, regardless if they are forced.
• Teams must have a catcher with full equipment.
• No fielder may be closer to the batter than the pitching machine. All outfielders must remain in the outfield until the ball is hit.
• On any ball in play the runners may continue to advance to the next base until the ball is inside the infield. This means under the control of a fielder who is either on or inside the bases. At that point the umpire will call time and the play is over. Any runner that is more than half way to the next base may acquire that base. If the runner is not more than half way to the next base they will be required to go back to the last base legally acquired. This is the umpire's judgment and determination. 
• Runners can only advance one (1) base on overthrows with the possibility of being put out. If there is a second overthrow on the same play, runners cannot take an additional base. Runners at 3rd may only advance on a hit ball.
• The defensive team should have one (1) coach behind the catcher to help collect balls to help speed up the game.
• Defensive coaches are not required to stay in the dugout, but must be in foul territory at all times.
• The batting team is allowed to have coaches at 1st and 3rd bases, as well as the pitcher.
• Coaches need to make every effort to not be involved or hinder any gameplay. Coaches who are unable to adhere to the rules may be required to stay in the dugout or may be ejected, if necessary.

Mercy Rules and Run Limits:

• A half inning ends when the play is completed on which the FIFTH (5th) run is scored or when three (3) outs are made. An official complete game will be declared if at least three (3) and one-half (1/2) innings have been played and home team is winning or four (4) innings if the visiting team is winning, or if the game must be terminated because of weather, darkness, or time limit. 
• Mercy Rule: 10 runs after the 5th inning.

Roster Rules (Who Plays?):

• Free substitution of defensive players with every player playing at least three (3) of the seven (7) innings in the field. Players may be inserted defensively at any time during the game.
• All players showing up for a game will be placed in the batting order. Players arriving late will be added to the bottom of the batting order. Players who leave the game early will be removed from the batting order WITHOUT penalty with the exception of a player that is ejected. If a player is ejected, then it will be counted as an out.
• Exceptions are as follows:
  • A player who has continually missed practice or previously scheduled games without reasonable excuse.
  • Sickness or injury.
  • Players being disciplined.
  • In the above three cases, the umpire and opposing manager must be notified before the start of the game.
  • Injury Exception: In all divisions if a pinch runner is needed for an injury, the player making the last out will be the pinch runner. If an injured player cannot take his/her turn at bat that player must be removed from the game. The injured player WILL NOT be recorded as an out in batting order.
• A courtesy runner will be allowed for catchers at any time. The player who made the last out will be the courtesy runner.
• All line-up changes/additions become official when reported to the home plate umpire.
• Teams capable of fielding eight (8) eligible players must start their game at the scheduled starting time with eight (8) players. Should either team not be ready to start the game within fifteen (15) minutes after the scheduled starting time, the umpires must forfeit the game to the opposing team.
• A max of ten (10) defensive players are allowed in the field of play. Four (4) of the ten (10) must play behind the baselines

Playoffs and Championship:

• League consists of a 12-game season.
• If league is made up of six (6) or fewer teams, the top two (2) teams in the standings at the end of the regular season will play one game to determine the league champion. First place team will be the home team.
• If the league consists of seven (7) or more teams, the top four (4) teams in the standings at the end of the regular season will compete in a playoff (1st plays 4th, 2nd plays 3rd ; higher seed is the home team). Teams winning their playoff games will face off in a single championship game. Higher seeded team will be the home team.
• The championship team will receive a plaque and 15 individual awards. Runner-up will receive a team plaque.