Positions of the players on each team shall be designated as such: Pitcher (1), Catcher (2), First Baseman (3), Second Baseman (4), Third Baseman (5), Shortstop (6), Left Fielder (7), Center Fielder (8), and Right Fielder (9). If a Designated Player is used it shall be identified as (DP).

A legal lineup presented to game officials at the pre-game conference must include First Name, Last Name, position, jersey number, and batting position order for each starting player as well as every eligible substitute.

Eligible players on a team's roster may be added to the lineup as substitutes at any point.

Lineups are official once they have been accepted and declared official by game officials.

1. Name shall supersede number regarding lineup errors. Incorrect lineup numbers are correctable without penalty.

Each player may be removed from the game and re-entered one time. If a player is to re-enter they must be placed in the same batting position in the lineup.

GOLD CLASSIFICATION BATTING

A legal lineup shall consist of 9 batters with or without the incorporation of a DP/Flex.

Starter refers to the first 9 or 10 (if a designated player is used) players listed on the lineup card submitted to the game officials prior to the start of the game.

Each starter is entitled to be replaced and to re enter one time as long as she assumes her original spot in the batting order.

Substitute under the “GOLD” Classification refers to a player not listed on the lineup card as a starter but who may legally replace one of the first 9 or 10 (if a designated player is used) players listed on the lineup card submitted to the game officials before the start of the game. A substitute who is removed may not reenter the game at any time for any reason.

A team may play and legally end the game with 1 batting position vacant which will result in an out being declared every time the vacant position is due to bat. Sub a. A team may legally start a game with 1 vacant batting position which shall be placed in the last position in the batting order.

1. If a team falls below 1 vacant batting position the game will be declared a forfeit.

If a vacant player is the batter or runner that player shall be declared out.

Eligible players on a teams roster may be added to the lineup at any point as a legal substitute.

TRADITIONAL BATTING OPTION (A & B DIVISIONS MAY USE EITHER A TRADITIONAL LINEUP OPTION OR ROSTER LINEUP)

A team may legally have up to two extra players (EPs) with or without the incorporation of a DP/Flex.

The maximum number of players in a traditional lineup is 12 with a maximum of 11 batters.

By utilizing a traditional batting option a team is certifying they will end the game with the number of batters they start the game with.

1. A team may play and legally end the game with 1 batting position vacant which will result in an out being declared every time the vacant position is due to bat.
2. A team may legally start a game with 1 vacant batting position which shall be placed in the last position in the batting order.
3. If a team falls below 1 vacant batting position the game will be declared a forfeit.

If a vacant player is the batter or runner that player shall be declared out.

EXCEPTION: If the player was injured while a batter-runner or runner the last completed at bat (LCAB) may be inserted to take her base running obligations. This exception only applies to first occurrence and does not apply to any future time at bat.

1. Vacant players may not return to the lineup. The only way a vacant player may return to the lineup is if they left under the conditions of the blood rule or concussion rule.

ROSTER BATTING OPTION (REQUIRED FOR FUTURES & ALL STARS DIVISIONS)

A team may incorporate as many additional EPs as necessary to bat their entire roster.

Roster batting must be declared at the pre-game conference. All eligible players present must be included in the batting order. If a player is ineligible due to illness or injury she shall be ineligible for the entire contest.

1. Under roster batting a team will not be penalized for vacant batting positions until a team drops below 9 batters.

Each team shall have at minimum eight legally eligible players in the game at any given time.

1. A team must have at minimum 8 batters to continue a game while taking an out for the vacant batting position.
2. If at any point a team falls below 8 batters the game shall be declared a forfeit.

Eligible players on a team's roster may be added to the lineup at any point in the following precedence

1. To fill a vacant batting position.
2. At the bottom of the batting order.

Under the traditional batting option teams may utilize the Designated Player (DP)/Flex option. Teams must declare their batting option at the pre-game meeting.

The Designated Player (DP) is the player who is initially listed on the lineup card in the batting order and not on the defensive lineup.

The Flex is the player who is initially listed in the last spot on the lineup card who may play defense at any position and may only enter the game on offense in the designated player's spot in the batting order.

The DP position will stay in the same batting position in the lineup for the duration of the game.

The DP and the Flex may both play defense at the same time. However, the DP and the Flex can never play offense at the same time.

The player in the DP spot is charged with a substitution only when she is removed from the batting order and the player in the Flex position is charged with a substitution only when she is no longer playing defense.

The DP position may be substituted at any time and any number of times by either a legal substitute or the player in the flex position.

1. If the DP re-enters or a substitute enters for the DP and the Flex was occupying the DP's batting position the Flex can either return to the Flex position and play defense or leave the game if the DP plays defense for the Flex.
2. If the player in the Flex position assumes the DP's spot in the batting order and plays both offense and defense the lineup is reduced by one and the game may legally end with one less player in the lineup.
3. The Flex position may move in and out of the DP's spot in the batting order and back to the Flex position any number of times and it does not count as a substitution for the Flex.

The DP may play defense at any position.

The Flex position may be substituted at any time and any number of times by either a legal substitute or the player in the DP position.

The player in the DP position may play offense and defense for the Flex and return to playing offense only or play defense for an EP any number of times and it does not count as a substitution for the DP.

The starting DP reentering or a substitute DP entering the game must be placed in the DP's position in the batting order. The player may either play offense only for the Flex or play defense at any position for the Flex or an EP.

The starting Flex re entering or a substitute Flex entering the game may either be placed in the Flex position in the last spot in the line up and play defense only or be placed in the DP's position in the batting order and play both offense and defense. If placed in the DP's position in the batting order the player currently in the DP's position will be withdrawn from the game.

All substitutions shall be reported to the plate official.

A player may be removed as a pitcher and return to the pitching position once per inning, as long as the player does not violate either the pitching, substitution, or charged conference rule.

With the exception of the GOLD DIVISION, a substitute may be removed from the game and re enter one time. The substitute must re-enter in the same batting position in the lineup.

EFFECT: Any violation results in an illegal player.

The use of an ineligible player in a game currently being played results in a forfeit.

When an ineligible player protest occurs after a game is completed

1. Protests for pool play games must be completed prior to the conclusion of pool play for the division.
2. Protests for bracket play games must be filed prior to the game officials leaving the playing field during the game in question for the results of the game to be dependent on the protest. If the protest is upheld the team in violation will be charged a forfeit and will be removed from the tournament. The protesting team will advance in the bracket.
3. Protests for bracket play games that are filed after game officials have left the playing field will be accepted. However, the outcome of the game will stand as finished.

Protest Process

1. Protests are to be allowed for player eligibility only. The team protesting must make a cash payment of $100 to the Site Director at the time of the protest. If the protest is ruled in the protesting team's favor the $100 will be refunded. Protests must be filed before officials leave the field of play.

EFFECT: If the protest is upheld the team in violation will be credited with a win for the game and subsequently removed from the tournament. The team that filed the protest will not be revived and the loss will stand.

A player who enters the lineup without the claim to an offensive or defensive position.

1. A player entering in an incorrect batting position in the order.
2. A player who re enters a second time.
3. A player who enters to pitch who was removed from the pitching position due to a defense's use of their 3 charged conferences.
4. A Flex player inserted in a position in the batting order other than that of the DP.

An illegal player is treated as a protest which can be made at any time the player is in the game. A player will not be in violation until the player enters the game and one pitch (legal or illegal) is thrown.

PENALTY: An Illegal Player is ejected from the game as well as the acting head coach. The following are applicable in congruence with the ejections:

1. If the illegal player has completed their turn at bat and prior to the next pitch, the illegal player is declared out.
2. If the illegal player is a baserunner and is on base, the illegal player is called out.
3. If the illegal player has made a defensive play and prior to the next pitch (or before the defensive team or game officials have left the playing field) the offensive team may elect to 1) take the final result of the play or 2) elect for a no pitch and replay the pitch.

During a live ball scenario, if a player becomes injured and in the official's judgment deems the player requires immediate attention or further playing action could result in further injury to that player or others the official shall declare a “Dead Ball” and allow for appropriate attention to be given. NOTE: The game officials should always default to protecting player safety.

EFFECT: Officials should award any bases that in their judgment would have been attained had the play not been declared dead.

Game officials are often in the best position to observe players up close on the playing field. This means game officials may be the primary party to observe unusual behavior that may indicate a concussion. Any player who is suspected to have a concussion of demonstrating indicators consistent with concussion symptoms must be removed from play immediately. Let it be clear, game officials are not expected to evaluate players. If a game official observes any unusual behavior the game officials should stop play immediately, call an injury timeout, and alert the head coach. At this time the player shall be removed from play until cleared by an appropriate health care professional.

1. Game Officials may observe the following behaviors by a player with a suspected concussion:
• Behavior/Personality changes
• Movement that is awkward or clumsy
• Stumbling; may need to be physically supported by teammates
• Shaking or rolling the head/neck
• Appears to be confused or incoherent
• Appears stunned or dazed
• While the evaluation is taking place, the injured player, whether a starter or a substitute, may be replaced by any eligible player who has not yet participated in the game.
• If the injured player is cleared to resume participation, they may resume their lineup spot. The temporary replacement player may again participate in the game as a substitute in the same lineup spot only, and provided they were not already a withdrawn substitute or a reentered starter before becoming the temporary replacement player or otherwise becomes ineligible.
• If a team has no remaining eligible players, a starter or substitute who has previously participated in the game may replace the injured player.

EXCEPTION: A player rendered ineligible by ejection cannot replace the injured player.

Any player, coach, manager, game official, or team member who is bleeding or has an exposed wound shall be prevented from further game participation until such time the bleeding has ceased and the wound covered,

If treatment can be applied and the wound appropriately addressed in a reasonable amount of time the afflicted individual is not required to leave the game. The amount of time is set by the game officials' judgment.

If treatment cannot be administered in a reasonable amount of time as determined by game officials the re-entry rule will apply to players.

Any time there is an excessive amount of blood on the uniform or if a bandage/wrapping becomes blood soaked, the player shall be removed from the contest until such time the uniform/bandage is replaced.

Courtesy Runners may be utilized in all playing divisions with the exception of the GOLD division.

The offensive team may utilize a courtesy runner for the pitcher and/or catcher of record at any point after the pitcher and/or catcher attain a base except by substitution.

Teams are not required to use a courtesy runner.

Teams shall utilize a player as a courtesy runner in the following order:

1. 1. An unused eligible substitute that has not yet entered the game. 2. Last Completed At Bat (LCAB).

The same player may not be utilized to run for both the pitcher and catcher in the same half inning.

EXCEPTION: In the case of injury and no other substitutes available.

Last Completed At Bat designation shall be defined as the player farthest away in the batting order.

1. The LCAB shall skip anyone currently on base, the pitcher and catcher of record, and anyone who has courtesy run for the other position in the same half inning.

EFFECT: If the incorrect courtesy runner is discovered while on base; if a pitch (legal or illegal) has been thrown the runner shall be declared out and the head coach warned. Any subsequent offense shall result in the head coach being ejected. If a pitch has not yet been thrown the error is correctable with no penalty.

A runner put in for any player other than the pitcher or catcher will constitute a substitution.

Once a courtesy runner is inserted that runner shall not be replaced by the original catcher, pitcher, or another courtesy runner until she is put out or reaches home plate. Should an injury occur the player may be replaced by another courtesy runner.

A courtesy runner may not be utilized for the Designated Player (DP) unless they are the pitcher or catcher of record.

In the top of the first inning prior to the visiting team playing defense for courtesy runner purposes the pitcher and catcher of record shall be the only players eligible to courtesy run for. The pitcher and catcher of record shall defensively face the first batter in the bottom half of the inning (at least 1 pitch).

EXCEPTION: When an injury or ejection occurs in the top of the first inning to the pitcher or catcher identified on the lineup card and she is unable to face the first batter in the bottom of the first inning, the player who ran for her is now declared her substitute (unless the substitute was an LCAB courtesy runner), no longer a courtesy runner. All substitution rules apply, but the pitcher/catcher has left the game and may not return to the original pitching/catching position.