Help: Courtesy Runner Rule 7.14

[irish]

We're trying to get some clarification on Rule 7.14 (the Little League "courtesy runner rule").

Can any player not in the line up at that time be a courtesy runner for another player (not substituting)? Or is it only for a player who has NOT YET BEEN IN THE LINE UP AT ANY TIME TO THAT POINT IN TIME?

We've seen the rule written and explained a couple different ways. The rule seems to be written a little ambigious.

The end of the rule seems to say that this special runner (or any other player) may be a courtesy runner again later in the game, whether they've been in the line up or not to that point, as long as when they are put in as a courtesy runner, that they are not, right then, in the line-up. (This end to the rule implies that, in fact, the rule permits a player NOT THEN IN THE LINE UP to be this kind of runner, and that whether or not the runner has ever been in the line-up or not previsously in the game does not matter.)

So if A and B start the game for the home team and B is substituted for by C on defense in the top of the 3rd inning. Can B run for A in the bottom of the third? What if A bats before B's original place in the order? (This gets to "when is a player 'removed' from the line up?) Can B then go back into the field for C in the top of the 4th? If B does not go back for C in the 4th (and is sitting on the bench), can B then run for D in the bottom of the fourth as a courtesy runner for the second time in the game for a different player? Ok, and the last one: Can B be doing all this courtesy running or not, but at any time run for C on the bases regardless of whether another courtesy runner has been used that inning or not because B, in that case, is a SUBSTITUTE for C, and not a courtesy runner and so not subject to this rule at all?

Anyone have any insight on this? Do the questions even make sense? Thanks.

Irish