DIGGING INTO RULE 4

PRESENTED BY:

Kevin Wallace – District #2

Leon Watson – District #4

RULE 4Players – Coaches -- Substitutes

WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE IN THIS PRESENTATION:

A WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF THE MAKE-UP OF RULE 4

RULE 4

LET’S DIG IN …… SECTION 1 NAME THE 10 SECTIONS OF THIS RULE

1. PLAYERS2. ADA3. DESIGNATED PLAYER4. EXTRA PLAYER5. RE-ENTRY6. SUBSTITUTES / ILLEGAL PLAYERS7. COACHES8. DISQUALIFIED OR EJECTED

PARTICIPANT9. BLOOD RULE10. INJURED PLAYER

TEACHING DP/FLEX

BEGINNING UMPIRES FLEX MUST PLAY DEFENSE

DP MUST PLAY OFFENSE

BOTH CANNOT BE IN THE GAME OFFENSIVELY AT THE SAME TIME

MOVING FROM 10 TO 9, OR 9 TO 10 IS A SUBSTITUTION AND GOVERNED BY THE SUBSTITUTION RULE

COMMON TOOL

LINE UP CARD

Team

Home Visitor

Manager

No. Pos1 19 62 17 43 20 84 24 75 15 36 22 27 25 DP8 7 59 3 9

10 18 111121314

Home 1 2 3 4Visitors 1 2 3 4

Pos. No.PC

Substitutes

XYZ Softball

John Doe

PlayerHarrisAble

ThomasJones

AlexanderMooreCooper

RodgersBrown (FLEX)

Morris

HowellBakerSmithGreen

Courtesy Runner

Defensive Conferences

655

Subs

No.104

THE LINEUP CARD

THE DP IS THE OFFENSIVE PLAYER AND MUST REMAIN IN SAME BATTING POSITION FOR THE ENTIRE GAME

• THE NAME OF PLAYER FOR WHOM THE DP IS BATTING (FLEX) WILL BE PLACED IN 10TH POSITION IN THE LINEUP

Team

Home Visitor

Manager

No. Pos1 19 62 17 43 20 84 24 75 15 36 22 27 25 DP8 7 59 3 9

10 18 111121314

Home 1 2 3 4Visitors 1 2 3 4

Pos. No.PC

Substitutes

XYZ Softball

John Doe

PlayerHarrisAble

ThomasJones

AlexanderMooreCooper

RodgersBrown (FLEX)

Morris

HowellBakerSmithGreen

Courtesy Runner

Defensive Conferences

655

Subs

No.104

SUBSTITUTING FOR THE DP

BAKER - PINCH-RUNS FOR COOPER

COOPER HAS LEFT THE GAME AND MAY RE-ENTER ONCE

WRITE BAKER IN THE CORRECT LINEUP POSITION AND ENTER THE PLAYER’S NUMBER

BAKER IS NOW THE DP

CIRCLE BAKER’S NUMBER

Baker 4

THE FLEX MAY PLAY OFFENSE

IF THE FLEX BATS OR RUNS FOR THE DP, THE DP HAS LEFT THE GAME(THIS IS A SUBSTITUTION – 10 Players to 9)

X’ing OUT COOPER’S NUMBER INDICATES THEY HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE GAME.

• THE FLEX (BROWN) IS NOW PLAYING OFFENSE IN THE 7TH POSITION

• THE LINEUP IS NOW DOWN TO 9

Team

Home Visitor

Manager

No. Pos1 19 62 17 43 20 84 24 75 15 36 22 27 25 DP8 7 59 3 9

10 18 111121314

Home 1 2 3 4Visitors 1 2 3 4

Pos. No.PC

Substitutes

XYZ Softball

John Doe

PlayerHarrisAble

ThomasJones

AlexanderMooreCooper

RodgersBrown (FLEX)

Morris

HowellBakerSmithGreen

Courtesy Runner

Defensive Conferences

655

Subs

No.104

X

THE DP RE-ENTERS

THE DP (COOPER) RE-ENTERS TO PLAY OFFENSE (BAT OR RUN)CIRCLING THE “X” INDICATES YOU ARE RE-ENTERING COOPER INTO THE 7TH POSITION.

• THE FLEX (BROWN) RETURNS TO #10 POSITION PLAYING DEFENSE ONLY(THIS IS A RE-ENTRY – 9 Players to 10)

• THE FLEX HAS NEVER LEFT THE GAME

Team

Home Visitor

Manager

No. Pos1 19 62 17 43 20 84 24 75 15 36 22 27 25 DP8 7 59 3 9

10 18 111121314

Home 1 2 3 4Visitors 1 2 3 4

Pos. No.PC

Substitutes

XYZ Softball

John Doe

PlayerHarrisAble

ThomasJones

AlexanderMooreCooper

RodgersBrown (FLEX)

Morris

HowellBakerSmithGreen

Courtesy Runner

Defensive Conferences

655

Subs

No.104

X

THE DP MAY PLAY DEFENSE

COOPER PLAYS SECOND BASE AND STILL BATS 7TH

ABLE (#17) IS NOW “HITTING ONLY – HO”

ABLE NO LONGER PLAYS DEFENSE BUT STILL BATS 2ND

ABLE HAS NOT LEFT THE GAME

F4

Team

Home Visitor

Manager

No. Pos1 19 62 17 43 20 84 24 75 15 36 22 27 25 DP8 7 59 3 9

10 18 111121314

Home 1 2 3 4Visitors 1 2 3 4

Pos. No.PC

Substitutes

XYZ Softball

John Doe

PlayerHarrisAble

ThomasJones

AlexanderMooreCooper

RodgersBrown (FLEX)

Morris

HowellBakerSmithGreen

Courtesy Runner

Defensive Conferences

655

Subs

No.104

X

HO

THE DP MAY PLAY DEFENSE FOR THE FLEX

COOPER GOES IN TO PITCH

X’ing OUT BROWNS’S NUMBER INDICATES THEY HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE GAME.

• BROWN HAS LEFT THE GAME

• THE LINEUP IS NOW DOWN TO 9(THIS IS A SUBSTITUTION – 10 Players to 9)

• BROWN MAY RE-ENTER ONCE

F4

Team

Home Visitor

Manager

No. Pos1 19 62 17 43 20 84 24 75 15 36 22 27 25 DP8 7 59 3 9

10 18 111121314

Home 1 2 3 4Visitors 1 2 3 4

Pos. No.PC

Substitutes

XYZ Softball

John Doe

PlayerHarrisAble

ThomasJones

AlexanderMooreCooper

RodgersBrown (FLEX)

Morris

HowellBakerSmithGreen

Courtesy Runner

Defensive Conferences

655

Subs

No.104

X

HO

X

SAMPLE LINEUP CARD

ALL SAMPLES WILL USE THIS CARD AND PROGRESS THROUGH A SERIES OF SUBSTITUTIONS

Team

Home Visitor

Manager

No. Pos1 19 62 17 43 20 84 24 75 15 36 22 27 25 DP8 7 59 3 9

10 18 111121314

Home 1 2 3 4Visitors 1 2 3 4

Pos. No.PC

Substitutes

XYZ Softball

John Doe

PlayerHarrisAble

ThomasJones

AlexanderMooreCooper

RodgersBrown (FLEX)

Morris

HowellBakerSmithGreen

Courtesy Runner

Defensive Conferences

655

Subs

No.104

Lineup Card Management

SAMPLE EXERCISE #1

“COOPER" (DP) BATS AND GETS ON BASE SAFELY

THE OFFENSIVE COACH ASKS FOR TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE

“BROWN WILL RUN FOR COOPER"

SAMPLE EXERCISE #1BROWN (FLEX) RUNNING FOR COOPER (DP) NOTE – COOPER HAS LEFT THE GAME

Team

Home Visitor

Manager

No. Pos1 19 62 17 43 20 84 24 75 15 36 22 27 25 DP8 7 59 3 9

10 18 111121314

Home 1 2 3 4Visitors 1 2 3 4

Pos. No.PC

Substitutes

XYZ Softball

John Doe

PlayerHarrisAble

ThomasJones

Alexander

MooreCooper

RodgersBrown (FLEX)

Morris

HowellBakerSmithGreen

Defensive Conferences

Courtesy Runner

655

Subs

No.104

x

SAMPLE EXERCISE #2

TWO INNINGS LATER, BROWN SINGLES TO LEFT

THE OFFENSIVE COACH ASKS FOR TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE

"SMITH RUNNING FOR BROWN AND BROWN WILL STILL BE PITCHING”

*THE TEAM IS BACK TO 10 PLAYERS!

SAMPLE EXERCISE #2SMITH (SUB) RUNNING FOR BROWN (FLEX) SMITH - PINCH-RUNS FOR BROWN

WRITE SMITH’S NUMBER IN THE CORRECT LINEUP POSITION

SMITH IS NOW THE DP CIRCLE SMITH’S NUMBER (BELOW)

BROWN REMAINS IN GAME – PITCHING.

THE “X” INDICATING COOPER HAD LEFT THE GAME MUST NOW BE CIRCLED INDICATING BROWN HAS RETURNED TO THE “FLEX” POSITION

BACK TO TEN PLAYERS!

6

Team

Home Visitor

Manager

No. Pos1 19 62 17 43 20 84 24 75 15 36 22 27 25 DP8 7 59 3 9

10 18 111121314

Home 1 2 3 4Visitors 1 2 3 4

Pos. No.PC

Substitutes

XYZ Softball

John Doe

PlayerHarrisAble

ThomasJones

AlexanderMooreCooper

RodgersBrown (FLEX)

Morris

HowellBakerSmithGreen

Defensive Conferences

Courtesy Runner

655

Subs

No.104

x

SAMPLE EXERCISE #2

NOTE – SMITH ENTERS THE GAME FOR THE

FIRST TIME AND IS THE NEW DP

BROWN (FLEX) HAS NOT LEFT THE GAME – BACK TO DEFENSE ONLY

THE LINEUP IS NOW BACK TO 10 PLAYERS

SAMPLE EXERCISE #3

IN THE 4TH INNING, THE OFFENSIVE COACH ASKS FOR TIME TO MAKE ANOTHER CHANGE

“COOPER TO RE-ENTER AND BAT FOR SMITH”

SAMPLE EXERCISE #3COOPER (DP) RE-ENTERS FOR SMITH CIRCLE THE #6 INDICATING “SMITH” HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE BATTING ORDER.

THE LINE UP CARD IS NOW BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL START.

6

Team

Home Visitor

Manager

No. Pos1 19 62 17 43 20 84 24 75 15 36 22 27 25 DP8 7 59 3 9

10 18 111121314

Home 1 2 3 4Visitors 1 2 3 4

Pos. No.PC

Substitutes

XYZ Softball

John Doe

PlayerHarrisAble

ThomasJones

AlexanderMooreCooper

RodgersBrown (FLEX)

Morris

HowellBakerSmithGreen

Defensive Conferences

Courtesy Runner

655

Subs

No.104

x

SAMPLE EXERCISE #3

NOTE –

COOPER HAS USED HER RE-ENTRY

SMITH HAS LEFT THE GAME AND MAY RE-ENTRY ONCE *MUST BE IN SAME SPOT!

SAMPLE EXERCISE #4

IN THE NEXT HALF INNING, THE DEFENSIVE COACH ASKS FOR TIME TO MAKE ANOTHER CHANGE

“COOPER (DP) WILL PLAY DEFENSE IN CENTER FIELD FOR THOMAS”

SAMPLE EXERCISE #4 COOPER (DP) TO PLAY

DEFENSE IN CENTER FIELD FOR THOMAS

THOMAS IS NOW “HITTING ONLY – HO”

COOPER CONTINUES TO HIT IN THE #7 SPOT OF THE LINE UP.

6

Team

Home Visitor

Manager

No. Pos1 19 62 17 43 20 84 24 75 15 36 22 27 25 DP8 7 59 3 9

10 18 111121314

Home 1 2 3 4Visitors 1 2 3 4

Pos. No.PC

Substitutes

XYZ Softball

John Doe

PlayerHarrisAble

ThomasJones

AlexanderMooreCooper

RodgersBrown (FLEX)

Morris

HowellBakerSmithGreen

Defensive Conferences

Courtesy Runner

655

Subs

No.104

x

HO

SAMPLE EXERCISE #4

NOTE – COOPER, THE DP IS NOW PLAYING

OFFENSE AND DEFENSE

THOMAS STILL BATS IN THE 3RD POSITION IN THE LINEUP, IS HITTING ONLY (HO) AND HAS NOT LEFT THE GAME

SAMPLE EXERCISE #5

AN INNING LATER, THE DEFENSIVE COACH ASKS FOR TIME TO MAKE ANOTHER CHANGE

“COOPER WILL MOVE TO RIGHT FIELD AND PLAY DEFENSE FOR RODGERS; THOMAS WILL GO BACK TO CENTER FIELD.”

SAMPLE EXERCISE #5 COOPER (DP) TO PLAY DEFENSE IN RIGHT FIELD FOR RODGERS

COOPER STILL BATS IN THE 7TH POSITION

RODGERS IS NOW “HITTING ONLY – HO”

THOMAS GOES BACK TO CENTER FIELD

6

Team

Home Visitor

Manager

No. Pos1 19 62 17 43 20 84 24 75 15 36 22 27 25 DP8 7 59 3 9

10 18 111121314

Home 1 2 3 4Visitors 1 2 3 4

Pos. No.PC

Substitutes

XYZ Softball

John Doe

PlayerHarrisAble

ThomasJones

AlexanderMooreCooper

RodgersBrown (FLEX)

Morris

HowellBakerSmithGreen

Defensive Conferences

Courtesy Runner

655

Subs

No.104

xHO

SAMPLE EXERCISE #5

NOTE – COOPER (DP) IS STILL PLAYING

OFFENSE AND DEFENSE

REPORTING SUBSTITUTES

MANAGER, COACH OR TEAM REPRESENTATIVE MUST NOTIFY PLATE UMPIRE.

PLATE UMPIRE NOTIFIES THE SCORER AND OPPOSING TEAM.

RECORD INFORMATION ON THE LINE-UP CARD.

HOW TO MANAGE YOUR LINE-UP CARD: ADD SUB’S NUMBER IN THE CURRENT PLAYER’S

SPOT

CIRCLE SUB’S NUMBER IN THE SUB SECTION OF THE LINEUP CARD

LINE UP CARD MANAGEMENT

GOOD LINE-UP MANAGEMENT KEEPS YOU OUT OF TROUBLE

PROPER PREVENTIVE UMPIRING KEEPS THE COACH OUT OF TROUBLE

RULE 4

THANKS FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION

QUESTIONS