[Dakota]

Speaking ASA / NFHS.

Sometimes we make the DP/FELX rule more complicated than it is by listing how all the rules other rules are applied with DP/FLEX.

If you just stand back a moment and consider what hasn't changed, and then treat the DP and the FLEX like any other player under these rules that haven't changed, it is much simpler, IMO.

Examples of rules that haven't changed:

1. Substitution rules haven't changed. Such as, the sub is announced at the time she enters the game. Players get one reentry. Subs bat in the position of the player they are replacing.

2. A defensive position swap is not a substitution. The ONLY special case to remember here is when the DP plays defense for the FLEX. Otherwise, defensive players can move around all they want.

3. CR rules haven't changed. A CR is allowed for the last pither / catcher of record. It has nothing to do with DP/FLEX.

FLEX is a starting position (not a player - a position). It is kind of an overarching position - that is, the FLEX position doesn't "occupy" a specific fielding position (F1-F9), but it is a defensive position, and a specific player is named to start in that position. The FLEX has no batting order position. This means that if the FLEX is not playing defense, she has left the game. The FLEX may bat, but only in the DP's batting order position, and when the DP leaves the game.

DP is a starting position (again, not a player - a postion). A specific player is named to start in that position. The DP does occupy one of the batting order postions (B1-B9), but the position is more flexible than that, since the DP also occupies the defensive "position" of "F10 - benchwarmer" (my name). This means the DP may swap with any of the other fielder positions (F1-F9), and it is a defensive position swap and no one has entered or left the game - they still bat (EXCEPTIION for playing defense for FLEX - but that is because the FLEX has no batting position, and so if she is not playing defense, she has left the game).

As I said above, subs must always be announced at the time the substitution is made. No difference when DP/FLEX is used. No future / planned subs should be recognized. Of course, this allows for the possiblity of a sub for the DP being entered while the team is on defense (since the sub can play defense) and for a sub for the FLEX being entered while the team is on offense (would happen when the DP is due up).