[marvin]

Originally Posted by ronald

Sometimes people use terms back and forth and think it is perfectly clear to everyone what is happening or what the correct interpretaton is. I wonder if this is not the case with the DP and the Flex and the term out of the game (line up management tutorial or left the game). This deals with one going in for the other.

Regardless of the term, one means that the DP or the flex is not leaving the game under the substitution rubrics. It is a whole different rubric.

My understanding is the starting DP and Flex can swap back and forth all game long and it has no bearing on re-entry.

Originally Posted by NFHS Rules

Rule 2, SECTION 57 SUBSTITUTE, UNREPORTED, ILLEGAL
ART. 1 . . . Substitute. A substitute is a player not listed on the lineup as a starter but who may legally replace a starting player; any player who enters or reenters the game; the DP when the DP plays defense for the FLEX; or the FLEX when the FLEX plays offense for the DP.

The rules clearly state that when the DP plays defense for the Flex or the Flex plays offense for the DP this is a substitution.

Think of it this way. The DP has left the game when she is not playing offense. The Flex has left the game when she is not playing defense.

If you have left the game to play again you must re-enter the game. You can only legally re-enter one time. So while the Flex and DP can switch any number of times the players in those positions can only leave and re-enter once per game.

Abby is the starting DP
Betty is the starting Flex

Abby reaches base - Betty runs for her
Result Abby has left the game

Abby re-enters to hit when her spot comes up again and reaches base again
Betty runs for her
Abby has now left the game a second time and can not return

The DP's spot in the line-up comes up again, Coach uses sub Carol to bat for Abby. Carol reaches base.
Betty runs for the DP, who is now Carol.
Carol has left the game

When the DPs spot comes up again the coach can re-enter Carol or use another player as a sub and Betty can run for the DP again if the DP reaches base.

Betty has not left the game. The DP and Flex have been switched as many time as the coach wants. The substitution rules have been applied correctly.

You can not pick one sentence out of the rule book and ONLY apply that.
This phrase:

c. The DP can replace anyone on defense any time, any number of times while the FLEX player may replace the DP any time, any number of times.

appears in the NFHS rule book in the POE section under dp/flex as a basic rule to remember for coaches. It fails to mention that the DP and Flex are not players they are positions. While the two may replace each other any number of times the actual person/player is limited to one re-entry.