STATE MEETING 2013 SOFTBALL

National Federation of State High School Associations

HISTORY of the DP/FLEX  Replaced the Designated Hitter (DH)  AZ, IN, MN, NM, & PA were the guinea pigs in  Originally adopted in 2004 because it gave coaches more flexibility and student-athletes more participation opportunities.

GAME BASICS  A batter may only bat in one position in the batting order.  Any player - starter or substitute, is permitted to re-enter the game ONE time and one time only. They can leave and come back ONCE.

DP/FLEX Basics  Primary role of DP is… OFFENSIVE (batting, running)

DP/FLEX Basics  Primary role of Flex is… DEFENSIVE (on the field)

DP/FLEX Basics  If used, it must be made known at the pre-game conference.  Lineups become ‘official’ after the have been exchanged, verified and accepted  DP/Flex cannot be added after lineups become ‘official’.

DP/FLEX Basics  If used, the DP will be listed on the lineup in one of the first nine positions in the batting order.

DP/FLEX Basics  If used, the Flex is ALWAYS listed on the lineup in the 10th spot.

DP/FLEX Basics  Cannot have one without the other… just like having twins…  If used, the lineup can go from 10 to 9 and back to 10 players any number of times…  As long as…

DP/FLEX Basics  THEY HAVE ENOUGH ELIGIBLE PLAYERS ON THE BENCH!  When a player is removed from the batting order, she is considered to have left the game.  The Flex has left the game any time the DP plays defense for her.

DP/FLEX Privileges & Restrictions  The Flex can only enter the game on offense (bat or run) in the DP line-up position. If the Flex bats or runs for someone other than the DP, she would be considered an Illegal Substitute.  The DP & Flex may never be on offense at the same time.

DP/FLEX Privileges & Restrictions  The Flex may never play offense only. Why? Because her primary role is DEFENSIVE! The Flex is tied to the DP. In order for the Flex to play offense, the DP has to come out. When this happens, the Flex is now playing both offense and defense, lineup down to 9.

DP/FLEX Privileges & Restrictions  The DP may never play defense only. Why? Because her primary role is OFFENSIVE! The DP is an offensive player batting for the Flex. Because of that, she must remain on the line-up card (in her ORIGINAL batting position).

DP/FLEX Privileges & Restrictions  The DP may play defense at ANY position. The DP can play defense for any of the other 8 defensive positions that are listed in the batting order without it counting as a substitution. SAY WHAT??

DP/FLEX Privileges & Restrictions  A unique privilege the DP enjoys.  Batting order does not change.  No one has left the lineup.  The player (non-Flex) the DP went in to play defense for will still bat in her original spot.

DP/FLEX must be made known at the pre-game conference DEFENSIVELY The DP can play ANY of the 9 DEFENSIVE POSITIONS The FLEX MUST BE listed in the 10 th spot on the LINEUP CARD & is listed as a DEFENSIVE PLAYER OFFENSIVELY DP HITS for the FLEX & the DP is listed in ANY of the first 9 positions. The DP may be substituted for by: A LEGAL substitute OR The FLEX ( DP has left the game ) DP FLEX DP can play for the FLEX (FLEX has left the game), lineup goes down to 9 players DP can play defense for a non-FLEX player (any of the other 8 positions) Non-FLEX remains in the game but is only batting. FLEX may be substituted for by: A LEGAL substitute OR The DP ( FLEX has left the game ) RE-ENTRY RULE The FLEX who was substituted by the DP is allowed ONE re-entry in the original batting order and the lineup goes back to 10. The non-FLEX may go back in to play defense in her original batting position in the lineup – This is a defensive move only RE-ENTRY RULE The DP who was substituted by the FLEX is allowed ONE re-entry in the original batting order and the lineup goes back to 10. If the DP is substituted by the FLEX, the lineup goes down to 9 players RE-ENTRY RULE The DP is allowed ONE re-entry in the original batting order and the lineup goes back to 10. DPFLEX If the FLEX is substituted by the DP, the lineup goes down to 9 players

SIMPLE ENOUGH… RIGHT?

DP/FLEX Situations Play: You are doing your pre-game meeting with the head coaches. The home team is using the DP/Flex. At the end of the meeting, the home team coach tells you that she would like to substitute her, (A) DP for the Flex or (B) Flex for the DP.

DP/FLEX Situations Ruling: Both (A) and (B) are legal. Substitutions can be made anytime after the line-up card has been declared official. Many coaches are realizing that they must have the DP/Flex listed in the line-up at the beginning even if they do not want to use it at that time.

DP/FLEX Situations Play: Home team is using the DP/Flex. The DP is listed as the #5 batter in the line-up. In the 2 nd inning, the coach comes to you and (A) wants to have the Flex bat for the shortstop listed #2 in the line-up and (B) put in a substitute for the DP.

DP/FLEX Situations Ruling: Illegal substitution in (A), legal in (B). Remember that the Flex can only go in and play offense for the DP who was listed in the #5 batting spot.

DP/FLEX Situations Play: In the 3 rd inning, the DP gets a single. Once the play has ended, the coach calls time and (A) substitutes her Flex as a runner for the DP. In the 4 th inning the Flex player is coming up to bat when the coach calls time and (B) re-enters the DP for the Flex. The DP then gets another base hit. The coach calls time and (C) once again substitutes the Flex as a runner for the DP.

DP/FLEX Situations Ruling: Legal in (A), (B) and (C). Remember that the Flex can only go in and play offense for the DP. In (C), this is nothing more than a simple re-entry of a starter. The key to remember is that the Flex NEVER left the game. If the coach wants to bring back the DP, she will have to use an eligible substitute.

DP/FLEX – LINEUP CARD Maintaining your lineup card: 1.DP/FLEX option may be used provided it is made known at the pre-game conference. 2.DP must be listed in one of the first nine slots in the lineup. 3.FLEX (player for whom DP is batting) must be placed in 10 th position in lineup.

DP/FLEX – LINEUP CARD 4.A legal substitute may replace the DP at any time or the FLEX may bat or run for DP – DP has left game. 5.DP may play defense at any position. 6.A Legal substitute may replace FLEX at any time or DP may play defense for FLEX – FLEX has left game.

DP/FLEX – LINEUP CARD 7.It is an ILLEGAL SUBSTITUTION if FLEX goes in to bat for anyone but the DP. 8.Team may go from 10 to 9 and back to 10 players any number of times…. - as long as the substitution rule is not violated -game can end with 10 or 9 players. 9.DP and FLEX may never be on offense at the same time – but may be on defense at the same time.

SAMPLE LINE-UP CARD All samples will use this lineup card and progress through a series of substitutions

Sample Exercise #1  Jones (DP-#24) bats and gets on base safely  The offensive coach asks for time for a change…  Green (FLEX-#18) will run for Jones (DP-#24)

Sample Exercise #1 Green (FLEX-#18) running for Jones (DP-#24)

Sample Exercise #1 Note –  Jones (DP-#24) has left the game.  Down to 9 players

Sample Exercise #2  Two innings later, Green (#18) singles to left  The offensive coach asks for time to make a change…  Smith (#6) running for Green and Green will go back to right field

Sample Exercise #2 Smith (#6) running for Green (FLEX-#18) Green remains in game playing right field again.

Sample Exercise #2 Note –  Smith (#6) enters the game for the first time and is the new DP  Green (FLEX-#18) has NOT left the game – back to defense only

Sample Exercise #3  In the 4 th inning, the offensive coach asks for time to make another change…  Jones (#24) to re-enter

Sample Exercise #3 Jones (DP-#24) re-enters for Smith (#6)

Sample Exercise #3 Note –  Jones has used her re-entry  Smith has left the game and has a re-entry remaining

Sample Exercise #4  In the next half inning, the defensive coach asks for time to make another change…  Jones (DP-#24) will play defense in center field for Thomas (#20)

Sample Exercise #4 Jones (DP-#24) to play defense in center field for Thomas (#20)

Sample Exercise #4 Note –  Jones DP (#24) is now playing offense and defense  Thomas (#20) still bats in the 3 rd position in the lineup and is playing offense only

Sample Exercise #5  An inning later, the defensive coach asks for time to make one final change…  Jones (DP-#24) will move to right field and play defense for Green (FLEX-#18) & Thomas (#20) will go back to center field

Sample Exercise #5 Jones (DP-#24) to play defense in right field for Green (FLEX-#18) Thomas (#20) goes back to center field

Sample Exercise #5 Note –  Jones (DP-#24) is still playing offense and defense  Green (FLEX-#18) has left the game since she is not playing defense (still has a re-entry remaining)

National Federation of State High School Associations

May You be Blessed… Every once in awhile… With only 9 in each lineup!

National Federation of State High School Associations

STATE MEETING 2013 SOFTBALL