FLORIDA DIAMOND FASTPITCH RULES ARE A COMBINATION OF NFHS, FHSAA & BABE RUTH

COACH PITCH: BABE RUTH, NFHS & FHSAA RULES

1. The pitching coach can coach/instruct their batter and base coaches on plays BEFORE the 1st pitch is thrown. The Coach pitching may use their one offense time out to talk to the players.
2. During the game, the coach will only pitch FIVE pitches. This can consist of THREE strikes, or FIVE pitches whichever occurs first to the batter.  No matter what the strike count, the batter must hit or foul off the fifth pitch to avoid being out. There are NO walks by the Coach. 
3.  If the Coach is hit with a batted ball, the play is dead, and all runners and batters are given one base. 
4. When the Coach pitches to the batter he/she does not have to stand on the pitching rubber they just have to have his/her feet inside the circle when pitching.
5. Bunting is allowed. Slap hitting is allowed.
6. NO  Slash bunting.
7. A batter may not run on dropped 3rd strike; the batter will be automatically out. There is also no pass balls if a catcher misses the pitch. This means a runner cannot advance.
8. If a batter bats the ball and a player misses the catch, there will be no infield fly rule. 
9. There are no illegal pitches called in 8U, however, if the umpire believes you are intentionally throwing bad pitches, they will issue a warning to the coach.
10.  There is no stealing only leading off the bases.  The runner may begin to lead off the base when the ball leaves the pitcher's hand.  The catcher may attempt to pick off the runner on any base. If the catcher throws the ball to the base, the runner must return and tag up on that base.  This is considered a live ball. If the ball is overthrown to the baseman, the runner(s) can advance only ONE base after touching the base they came from. If the baseman catches the ball they may tag the runner as they are tagging up  and before they touch the bag and this will be considered an out. 
11. Stopping the play and runners:  This can be done in different ways.  First, the PITCHER must be in the pitching circle, with the ball, raise her hands and yell "TIME".  Second, any defensive player with the ball must be in front of the lead runner then raise her hands and yell “TIME”. Then the Umpire will call time and the play is dead.  Once the play is stopped by the Umpire, the halfway line is used to determine if the runners must go back to the previous base touched or proceed to the next base.  
12. The max number of runs per inning is 6.
13. The time limit is 1 hour and 15 minutes for 2-day tournaments and the time limit for 1 day tournaments is 1 hour.
14. The game will be played to the time limit set by the tournament in Pool Play unless both coaches agree to end the game early.
15.  In Bracket Play, if one team is behind by more than 6 runs and it is calculated that the one team cannot catch up in the time limit or 6 inning game, then the game will end on the agreement of the team that is behind.
16. There will be 2 minutes in between innings.
17. All outfielders must start play on the grass until batter makes contact with the ball. 

8U KID PITCH:

1. The time limit is 1 hour and 30 minutes for all games. The games will be played according to the time limit. 

2. Pool Play run rules 8 runs per inning cap.

3. Bracket play Run rules apply 12 after 3 innings 10 after 4 innings and 8 after 5 innings during bracket play only for ending the game. The 8 runs per inning will still apply to the bracket.

4. The pitchers must be on the rubber. When the coach comes in to pitch her/she must be in the pitching circle only.

5. Stealing is allowed.  The runner may only advance ONE base ONLY from the attempted stolen base on an overthrown or wild pitch (passed ball on catcher not catching ball).  ONLY exception is NO stealing HOME. 

6. No stealing home -- a runner starting a play at 3rd Base may only advance home on a batted ball or when forced home by a hit batter, or other force play (bases loaded).

7.  No Stealing on Coach Pitch is allowed.

8. NO WALKS-- If the Player Pitcher throws 4 balls to a single batter, the coach for the offensive team will then come to the mound and be able to throw TWO pitches ONLY.  If the batter does not hit the ball in these two pitches, she will be out.  A foul ball will result in another pitch.  Once the batter either advances to the base, called out or strikes out then the at bat is complete, and the player/pitcher will return as a pitcher mound.

9. Once the coach comes in to pitch the batter still remains with the same count on balls and strikes. If there is 2 strikes on batter and coach pitches 1 out 2 balls to the batter and the batter swings and misses then that is consider a 3rd strike and batter is out. If the batter has 1 strike on her and only swings at one ball and doesn't the 2nd one then she is out.   

10. IF the batter fouls off each ball after the 2 balls are thrown by the coach the batter will continue to bat until she hits the ball or strikes out.

11. Time will be called when a defensive player has possession of the ball in advance of the lead runner. If a runner is more than halfway to the next base when time is called, the runner will be awarded the next base. If they are not halfway to the next base when time is called they will be returned to the previous base safely. The defensive team may have a maximum of 3 defensive conferences per game.  Second, the PITCHER must be in the pitching circle with the ball, raise her hands, and yell "TIME."  If a runner is more than half way to the next base when time is called, the runner will be awarded the next base. If they are not half way to the next base when time is called they will be returned to the previous base safely.

12. NO DROP 3RD- a batter may not run on a dropped 3rd strike; the batter will be automatically out on a dropped 3rd strike.

13. Bunting is allowed.  But no Slash bunting, meaning a batter cannot square to bunt, then pull back and swing.

14. The infield fly rule DOES NOT apply.

15. You may play with 10 girls in the field.

16. There is 2 minutes time limit in between innings.

17. All outfielders must start play on the grass until batter makes contact with the ball. 

18. A courtesy runner is allowed for pitcher and catcher only.  The last out may run for your pitcher or catcher at any time, but it is not mandatory. If you have subs you must use the subs 1st. 

19. DP/Flex can be used if coaches desire.

20. Pick offs are allowed but the runner must tag up 1st not just advance. The catcher may attempt to pick off the runner on any base. If the catcher throws the ball to the base, the runner must return and tag up on that base.  This is considered a live ball. If the ball is overthrown to the baseman, the runner(s) can advance only ONE base after touching the base they came from. If the baseman catches the ball they may tag the runner as they are tagging up  and before they touch the bag and this will be considered an out.