1. PLAYERS: 

A team shall consist of at least nine players, whose positions shall be designated as; (1) Pitcher, (2) Catcher, (3) First Baseman, (4) Second Baseman,  (5) Third Baseman, (6) Shortstop, (7) Left Fielder, (8) Center Fielder, (9) Right  Fielder. 

A.) A team must have the required number of players present in the dugout or team area to start or continue a game. 

B.) The team’s lineup card shall include the first name, last name, jersey number, position, and batting order of each starting player and should include each eligible substitute. The first and last name of the eligible player takes precedence over the jersey number if there is a discrepancy on the lineup card. All listed starters must be present in the team area. Lineups become official after they have been exchanged, verified, and then accepted by the Plate Umpire during the pregame conference. 

C.) Eligible roster members may be added as substitutes at any time. 

D.) (Non-ELITE SELECT divisions): ROSTER BATTING OPTION Teams may bat the required number of players for that age group or bat their entire roster (i.e.,  ALL players present) 5.3. Under Roster Batting, player(s) arriving late shall be placed in the lineup in the following priority: 

    1. to fill any Absent Player (automatic out) position 
    2. if no Absent Player position exists, then the late arrival will be placed last in the batting order (i.e. - a team batting 13 will add the late arrival in the 14th batting position) 
    3. Roster Batting must be declared at the pregame conference, and all players physically present must be listed in the batting order. If a player is physically present but is unable to play because of injury or illness, that player shall be ineligible for the entire game if the team elects Roster Batting. 

2. SHORT-HANDED RULE: 

Playing short-handed is an exception to Rule 5.1 above. A team shall be allowed to play with one batting position unfilled, provided they have a minimum of 8 batters present. The vacant batting position will be designated as the absent player. Whenever the absent player is scheduled to bat, an out shall be declared. A team may play short-handed under the  following circumstances: 

A.) A team may continue a game with one fewer batter than is listed in the starting batting order, whenever a player leaves the game (for any reason) and no substitutes are available. If a team falls below 8 batters, a forfeit shall be declared. 

    1. If the absent player is the batter or a runner, she shall be declared out. Exception: if the absent player was injured while a batter-runner or runner, the absent player may be replaced by the last completed at bat (LCAB) as defined in Rule 8.3.B, to fulfill her baserunning responsibility. However, this exception does not apply to any future at-bat. 
    2. An absent player may not return to the lineup. Exception: a player who left under the Blood Rule may re-enter, subject to Rule 5.6. 

B.) A team may begin the game short-handed. The absent player must be listed in the ninth (9th) batting position. Under no circumstances shall a team be allowed to have less than eight (8) players in the batting order. 

C.) The team may not play short-handed if an eligible substitute arrives. Upon arrival, she must be inserted in the absent player’s position in the batting order. A  team may drop more than 1 batting position (i.e., may have multiple absent players),  provided the lineup is maintained with at least 8 batters physically present (9 batters for 6u/8u). All other restrictions above apply. If a team has multiple absent players and an eligible substitute arrives, she must enter the game immediately in the first available absent player position due up in the batting order. 

3. SUBSTITUTE: 

A player who replaces a player that is in the game (offense only). Teams are required to immediately report all substitutions to the Plate Umpire. Upon notification by either team, the Umpire shall announce the legal substitute and make the appropriate lineup card changes. An unreported legal substitute brought to the Umpire’s attention will result in a penalty, all prior play shall stand. 

PENALTY: For unreported substitution, 

First offense: A team warning is issued. 

Second offense: The head coach is ejected for the remainder of the game only. A substitute or player who replaces a pitcher while the team is on defense shall pitch to the first opponent to bat against the substitute until that batter has advanced to first base or has been put out or until there has been a  third out. To ensure that the requirements are fulfilled, the Umpire will deny any coach defensive player conference that will violate it. 

A.) The starting pitcher must face one complete batter. If the starting pitcher is replaced before the first opposing batter has been put out or advanced to first base, the pitcher may play or re-enter at another position, but shall not return to pitch. If a courtesy runner is used in the first half-inning for the starting pitcher or catcher who does not pitch or catch to start the first inning then the player who was a courtesy runner is considered a substitute. 

B.) A player may be removed as a pitcher and returned as a pitcher only once per inning. Provided the return as a pitcher does not violate either the pitching, substitution, or charged conference rule. If the pitcher, because of injury or being incapacitated, is replaced as pitcher and the above rule is not satisfied; or if the pitcher’s substitute requires more warm-up throws than permitted, the pitcher shall not return to the game as a pitcher. 

4. RE-ENTRY: 

Any player may be withdrawn from the game and re-entered once, provided such player occupies the same batting position whenever in the line-up. A  violation results in an illegal substitution. A substitute who is withdrawn may re-enter. 

5. ILLEGAL PLAYER: 

Is a player who enters the line–up without the right to an offensive or defensive position.

Examples of an Illegal player(s), but not limited to, are: 

A.) Starter and/or substitute who re-enters in an incorrect batting position. 

B.) Starter and/or substitute who re-enters a second time. 

C.) Using a player to pitch who was removed from the pitching position because of  Rule 4 Sec 8 A “Penalty”. The use of an illegal player is handled as a protest that can be made at any time, while the player is in the game. A player will not violate the illegal player provision until he/she enters the game and one (1) pitch is thrown.  Any action before one pitch is thrown is correctable. 

PENALTY: An illegal player violation results in the immediate ejection of the illegal player and his/her coach. In addition, the following penalties will apply 

      1. If the illegal player has completed a turn at bat and before the next pitch, the illegal player is called out. Any advance by any runner as a result of the illegal player becoming a batter-runner is nullified. Any additional outs recorded on the play stand.
      2. If the illegal player has made a defensive play and before the next pitch  (or the defensive team or the Umpires have left the field), the offensive team has the option:

a) the result of the play 

b) replaying the last pitch. 

NOTE: The illegal player can be legally replaced by any eligible substitute. 

 

6. INELIGIBLE PLAYER: 

The penalty for using an ineligible player is a forfeit of any/all games played or in progress. 

7. INJURED PLAYER: 

A.) During a live ball situation, when a player becomes injured such that, in the  Umpire’s judgment, requires immediate attention, the Umpire shall call “DEAD  BALL” and allow or seek first aid. EFFECT: Award any bases that would have been reached. 

B.) A player who exhibits signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a  concussion (such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion, or balance problems) shall be immediately removed from the game and shall not return to play that day until cleared by an appropriate health-care professional in writing. 

8. BLOOD RULE: 

Player/Substitute, Manager, Coach, Trainer, Batboy, or other Team member or Umpire who is bleeding or who has an open wound shall be prohibited from participating further in the game until the bleeding is stopped and the wound covered. 

A.) If treatment can be administered in a reasonable amount of time, the individual would not have to leave the game. The amount of time is determined by the Umpire’s judgment. 

B.) If excessive time is involved, the re-entry rule would apply to players. 

C.) If there is an excessive amount of blood on the uniform or if a bandage becomes blood-soaked, in the judgment of the Umpire, the uniform/bandage must be changed before the individual may participate.