FCBA 8U Coach Pitch Rules - Spring 2026

1. Batter - The coach will throw five (5) pitches. A swing and miss constitutes a strike. The batter can strike out. Note: if the batter fouls the 5th pitch, the batter will continue to receive a pitch until the batter swings and misses or puts the ball in play. There will be no walks.

2. Pitching Circle: There shall be a ten (10) foot diameter circle with the front edge set at forty-two (42) feet from the rear point of home plate. Pitcher’s Line: There shall be a line from the front edge of the Pitching Circle twelve (12) feet towards home plate. The coach pitcher shall be an adult at least eighteen (18) years of age. The coach pitcher shall keep one foot on or straddle the Pitcher’s Line and shall not verbally or physically coach while in the pitching position. The coach pitcher shall position himself as not to be an impediment to the defensive team on any possible “live ball” play. Penalty: A coach pitcher that violates this rule after the ball has been pitched shall result in a call of obstruction.

A coach pitcher that violates this rule prior to the ball being pitched shall result in:
First Offense – Warning;
Second Offense – Removal of coach as the pitcher for the remainder of the game.

When a batted ball hits the coach pitcher, the following shall apply: If in the umpire’s judgment, the coach did not make a legitimate attempt to avoid contact, the batter is declared out, and no runners shall advance. If in the umpire’s judgment, the coach did make a legitimate attempt to avoid contact, the ball becomes dead and a no-pitch is declared. The coach pitcher must exit the field of play immediately after the ball is put in play to an area in front of a base dugout. If, in the judgment of the umpire, a coach pitcher obstructs play, the batter will be declared out and runners will return to last base occupied. Pitching with a knee on the ground is not permitted.

3. The defensive player listed as pitcher shall maintain one foot in the circle until the ball is put into play whether off the coach pitch. If the defensive pitcher leaves the pitching circle before the ball is put into play, Penalty: The play continues. After the play has ended, the offensive team has the option of taking the result of the play or no-pitch and: First Offense – Warning; Second Offense – Removal of player from the pitching position for the remainder of the game. 

4. Fair Ball Arc: There shall be a twenty (20) foot arc from the first (1st) baseline to the third (3rd) baseline in front of home plate. A batted ball must advance to this line to be judged as fair.

5. Runners must NOT leave the base until AFTER the ball is hit or put into play. If a runner does, then the first time results in a team warning, the 2nd time is an automatic OUT. No stealing at any point.