Download - 2004 SOFTBALL NFHS DP/FLEX RULE
2004 SOFTBALL
NFHS DP/FLEX RULE
JUA
04/22/232
Fundamental Rule ChangeFundamental Rule Change
• DP rule replaces DH rule.• With the DP rule you can do
everything you did with the DH rule plus a whole lot more!
• The DP position is never terminated
04/22/233
BEGINNING THE GAME BEGINNING THE GAME
• A DP/FLEX does not have to be used.
• If used it must be noted on the starting lineup.
• A team using the DP/FLEX starts the game with 10, but can later play or end with 9 or 10.
04/22/234
THE LINEUP CARD THE LINEUP CARD • The DP is an offensive
player and must be listed in one of the nine batting positions
• The name of player for whom the DP is batting (FLEX) must be placed in 10th position in lineup
04/22/235
THE LINEUP CARD THE LINEUP CARD • A starting DP may re-enter one
time but must return to the original position in the batting order.
• A starting FLEX may re-enter one time but must return to the 10th position on the lineup card.
04/22/236
SUBSTITUTING FOR THE DP SUBSTITUTING FOR THE DP
• The DP may be replaced by: Substitute hitter or runnerFLEX
• In all cases, the DP has left the game, with one re-entry permitted.
04/22/237
HITTER OR RUNNER HITTER OR RUNNER SUBS FOR THE DPSUBS FOR THE DP
• Baker runs for Cooper
• Cooper (DP) has left the game and has a re-entry remaining
• Baker is now the DP
04/22/238
THE FLEX MAY PLAY THE FLEX MAY PLAY OFFENSE FOR THE DPOFFENSE FOR THE DP
• If the FLEX bats or runs for the DP, the DP leaves the game
• The FLEX (Brown) is now batting in the 7th position
• Lineup down to 9
04/22/239
THE DP RE-ENTERSTHE DP RE-ENTERS• The DP (Cooper) re-
enters to bat or run• The FLEX (Brown):
Returns to #10 position
Plays defense onlyHas never left the game
04/22/2310
THE DP MAY PLAY DEFENSETHE DP MAY PLAY DEFENSE
• The DP may play defense for the FLEX
• The DP may play defense for any player in the top nine positions of the batting order
04/22/2311
THE DP PLAYS DEFENSE THE DP PLAYS DEFENSE FOR THE FLEXFOR THE FLEX
• Cooper goes in to pitch
• Brown has left the game
• Lineup down to 9• Brown may re-enter
04/22/2312
THE DP PLAYS DEFENSE THE DP PLAYS DEFENSE FOR THE FLEXFOR THE FLEX
• If the DP plays defense for a player other than the FLEX, that player still bats and has not left the game
04/22/2313
THE DP ON DEFENSETHE DP ON DEFENSEfor another playerfor another player
• Cooper plays second base and still bats 7th
• Able no longer plays defense but still bats 2nd
• Able has not left the game
04/22/2314
ILLEGAL SUBSTITUTION ILLEGAL SUBSTITUTION
You CANNOT:• Place the FLEX player into the first
nine positions for someone other than the DP…
• Results in an illegal substitution.• FLEX is OUT, disqualified and a legal
substitute is required (the player the FLEX tried to replace can use a re-entry if available)
04/22/2315
KEY POINTS KEY POINTS
• The role of the DP/FLEX is never terminated.
• A team may go from 10 to 9 players and back to 10 players any number of times during the game.
• The game may end with 10 or 9 players.
04/22/2316
EASY REMINDERS EASY REMINDERS • The DP can never be on defense
only. • The FLEX can never be on
offense only. • The DP and FLEX can never
be on offense at the same time. be out of the game at the same
time.
04/22/2317
EASY REMINDERS EASY REMINDERS
• The DP and the FLEX can play defense at the same time.
• Only 9 players can play on offense at a time. defense at a time.
SAMPLE EXERCISES
NFHS DP/FLEX RULE
JUA
04/22/2319
SAMPLE LINEUPSAMPLE LINEUP CARD CARD
All samples will use this card and progress through a series of substitutions
04/22/2320
SAMPLE EXCERCISE #1SAMPLE EXCERCISE #1
• “Jones" (DP) bats and gets on base safely
• The offensive coach asks for time for a change
“Green will run for Jones"
04/22/2321
SAMPLE EXCERCISE #1SAMPLE EXCERCISE #1
• Green (FLEX) running for Jones (DP)
• Jones has left the game
04/22/2322
SAMPLE EXCERCISE #2SAMPLE EXCERCISE #2
• Two innings later, Green singles to left
• The offensive coach asks for time to make a change
"Smith in to run as the DP and Green will still be playing right field” (now playing with 10)
04/22/2323
SAMPLE EXCERCISE #2SAMPLE EXCERCISE #2
• Smith enters the game for the first time and is the new DP
• Green (FLEX) has NOT left the game – back to defense only
04/22/2324
SAMPLE EXCERCISE #2SAMPLE EXCERCISE #2
•Smith (sub) (now the DP) running for Green (FLEX)
•Green remains in game playing right field - defense only
04/22/2325
SAMPLE EXCERCISE #3SAMPLE EXCERCISE #3
• In the 4th inning, the offensive coach asks for time to make another change
“Jones to re-enter and bat for Smith”
04/22/2326
SAMPLE EXCERCISE #3SAMPLE EXCERCISE #3
• Jones is using her re-entry
• Smith is leaving the game and has a re-entry remaining
04/22/2327
SAMPLE EXCERCISE #3SAMPLE EXCERCISE #3
• Jones (DP) re-enters for Smith
04/22/2328
SAMPLE EXCERCISE #4SAMPLE EXCERCISE #4• In the next half inning, the
defensive coach asks for time to make another change
“Jones (DP) will play defense in center field for Thomas”
04/22/2329
SAMPLE EXCERCISE #4SAMPLE EXCERCISE #4
• Jones (DP) is now playing offense and defense
• Thomas still bats in the 3rd position in the lineup and is playing offense only
• Green (FLEX) still in the field
04/22/2330
SAMPLE EXCERCISE #4SAMPLE EXCERCISE #4
• Jones (DP) to play defense in center field for Thomas Note POS change
04/22/2331
SAMPLE EXCERCISE #5SAMPLE EXCERCISE #5
• An inning later, the defensive coach asks for time to make another change
“Jones will move to right field and play defense for Green; Thomas will go back to center field.”
04/22/2332
SAMPLE EXCERCISE #5SAMPLE EXCERCISE #5
• Jones (DP) is still playing offense and defense
• Green (FLEX) has left the game since she is not playing defense (still has a re-entry remaining)
04/22/2333
SAMPLE EXCERCISE #5SAMPLE EXCERCISE #5
• Jones (DP) to play defense in right field for Green (FLEX)• Thomas goes back to center field
NFHS DP/FLEX RULE
QUESTIONS?
JUA
SAMPLECASE STUDIES
NFHS DP/FLEX RULE
JUA
04/22/2336
SITUATION ASITUATION AIn the fifth inning, Jones enters the game
as the DP and is placed at the end of the batting order. RULING:
04/22/2337
SITUATION ASITUATION A In the fifth inning, Jones enters the game as the DP and is
placed at the end of the batting order. RULING: Illegal. The DP must be announced prior to the start of the game with her name entered on the starting lineup.
04/22/2338
SITUATION BSITUATION BDP-Jones hits a triple and sprains her ankle
sliding into third base. The coach has substitute-Howell enter the game to be a pinch-runner for DP-Jones. How does this affect the playing status of DP-Jones and the FLEX player, Green, for whom Jones is batting? RULING:
04/22/2339
SITUATION BSITUATION B DP-Jones hits a triple and sprains her ankle sliding into
third base. The coach has substitute-Howell enter the game to be a pinch-runner for DP-Jones. How does this affect the playing status of DP-Jones and the FLEX player, Green, for whom Jones is batting? RULING: When a pinch-runner or pinch-hitter replaces the DP, that player becomes the new DP. DP-Jones can re-enter later or the FLEX-Green could bat in substitute-Howell's position later and it would be legal.
04/22/2340
SITUATION CSITUATION CIn the first inning, the DP-Jones, listed in
the fourth spot of the batting order, hits a double. Substitute-Brown replaces DP-Jones on second base. In the fourth inning, substitute-Howell bats for Brown and has a 1-1 count. The coach elects to replace Howell with the FLEX-Green. RULING:
04/22/2341
SITUATION CSITUATION C In the first inning, the DP-Jones, listed in the
fourth spot of the batting order, hits a double. Substitute-Brown replaces DP-Jones on second base. In the fourth inning, substitute-Howell bats for Brown and has a 1-1 count. The coach elects to replace Howell with the FLEX-Green. RULING: Legal. The FLEX player must bat in the listed DP's position regardless of the number of substitutions in that batting position.
04/22/2342
SITUATION DSITUATION DFLEX-Green begins the game playing
defense at second base. In the fourth inning, without reporting, she bats in place of Jones, the starting DP. RULING:
04/22/2343
SITUATION DSITUATION D FLEX-Green begins the game playing defense at second
base. In the fourth inning, without reporting, she bats in place of Jones, the starting DP. RULING: Legal, it is not required for FLEX-Green to report when batting in DP-Jones's position. However, when FLEX-Green bats, this removes DP-Jones from the game and requires re-entry to return to the game.
(Team warning for unreported substitute is warranted.)
04/22/2344
SITUATION ESITUATION ETeam A is using 10 players in its lineup,
with the DP-Jones batting third. FLEX-Green is playing right field and is a very fast runner. In the first, third and sixth innings, DP-Jones gets on base and, in each case, the FLEX-Green is put in to run. Is this legal? RULING:
04/22/2345
SITUATION ESITUATION E Team A is using 10 players in its lineup, with the DP-
Jones batting third. FLEX-Green is playing right field and is a very fast runner. In the first, third and sixth innings, DP-Jones gets on base and, in each case, the FLEX-Green is put in to run. Is this legal? RULING: It is legal for the defensive position player (FLEX) to do this since she never leaves the game. However, it would be illegal for the starting DP-Jones to return to
bat in the sixth inning. This is a violation of the re-entry rule.
04/22/2346
SITUATION FSITUATION FThe FLEX-Green enters the game to bat
for F1-Rodgrs, listed ninth and has a 1-1 count at discovery. RULING:
04/22/2347
SITUATION FSITUATION F The FLEX-Green enters the game to bat for F1-Rodgers,
listed ninth and has a 1-1 count at discovery. RULING: Illegal substitution. Since the FLEX-Green is at bat, she is declared out and disqualified. The FLEX-Green can only bat in the DP position. (3-4-1 Pen)
(If the FLEX is to return to the field, a legal substitute is required.)
04/22/2348
SITUATION GSITUATION GThe DP-Jones bats fourth in the lineup. In
the third inning, the DP-Jones plays defense for F2 who bats sixth in the order. In the fifth inning, the FLEX-Green, who is listed 10th, bats for F2. RULING:
04/22/2349
SITUATION GSITUATION G The DP-Jones bats fourth in the lineup. In the third
inning, the DP-Jones plays defense for F2 who bats sixth in the order. In the fifth inning, the FLEX-Green, who is listed 10th, bats for F2. RULING: Illegal batter. The defensive position player (FLEX) can only bat in the DP batting position. The FLEX-Green is OUT, disqualified and replaced with a legal substitute. (3-4-1 Pen)
04/22/2350
SITUATION HSITUATION HDP-Jones is listed fourth in the batting
order and is the runner on third base. R2 is on second and R3 is at first base. The FLEX-Green enters the game replacing R3 as the runner at first base. RULING:
04/22/2351
SITUATION HSITUATION H DP-Jones is listed fourth in the batting order and is the
runner on third base. R2 is on second and R3 is at first base. The FLEX-Green enters the game replacing R3 as the runner at first base.
RULING: Illegal runner. The defensive position player (FLEX) can only run for the listed DP position. The FLEX-Green is OUT, disqualified and replaced with a legal substitute. (3-4-1 Pen)
04/22/2352
SITUATION ISITUATION IDP-Jones is on first base and is replaced
by substitute-Howell. Later in the game, starting DP-Jones re-enters as a batter and reaches first base safely. Substitute-Brown then replaces DP-Jones as a runner. During extra innings, starting DP-Jones is at the plate with a 1-2 count when the situation is brought to the plate umpire's attention. RULING:
04/22/2353
SITUATION ISITUATION I DP-Jones is on first base and is replaced by substitute-
Howell. Later in the game, starting DP-Jones re-enters as a batter and reaches first base safely. Substitute-Brown then replaces DP-Jones as a runner. During extra innings, starting DP-Jones is at the plate with a 1-2 count when the situation is brought to the plate umpire's attention. RULING: Illegal re-entry, DP-Jones is OUT, disqualified and replaced by a legal substitute. (3-3-5; 3-4-1 Pen)
04/22/2354
Bonus Question: T or FBonus Question: T or F It is possible for the FLEX to bat out of order. TRUE
Placing the FLEX into one of the first nine positions for someone other than the original DP is considered an illegal substitution. (3-3-6g). Illegal offensive players may be discovered: when in the batter's box, the ball is live and/or before the batter-runner reaches first base, or is put out and before a pitch is delivered to the next batter of either team (3-4-2a)
PENALTY: The illegal substitute is restricted to the bench/dugout and called out. The proper batter is considered to have lost her turn at bat. The next proper batter shall bat.
NFHS DP/FLEX RULE
MORE QUESTIONS?
JUA