Little League - Senior Level Softball

[cmmguy]

I have a question about substitution in Little League - Senior Softball.
I know you guys have a little disdain for Little League but around here we get treated pretty good. Many of our girls play varsity HS ball and travel Ball, but fit little league in because it truly still is girls from the neighborhood and not recruits...and they have a lot of fun.

On to my question: Tournament Substitution Rules(3.03)

Player A is a starter. She plays two innings.
Third inning(which inning is not really important), we substitute Player S in for Player A when we go to defense. An inning passes and player S comes up in the batting order and we want to bat player A, so we substitute Player A in for Player S, she bats, inning ends. As we go back on defense, we sub Player S back in for Player A. We continue to do this. Using Substitution effectively as a pinch hitter.

Is this legal?

Notes:
No minimum play requirements at Senior Level and I can find no rule prohibiting back and forth substitution.

Thanks for your input and consideration.

[Dakota]

I don't know LL rules. There are a couple of LL umpires that frequent the eteamz fastpitch rules board; at least they did before eteamz killed a lot of the activity off with their inane auto log out coupled with taking the auto login out of their cookies.

[Steve M]

If I understand what you are asking, you are asking two questions:
1-Can both starters and substitues re-enter?
2-Is there a limit on the number of times a player may re-enter?

Tom is right, the e-Teams board had a couple of LL regulars, but their activity is way down since they "upgraded".

[cmmguy]

Originally Posted by Steve M

If I understand what you are asking, you are asking two questions:
1-Can both starters and substitues re-enter?
2-Is there a limit on the number of times a player may re-enter?

Tom is right, the e-Teams board had a couple of LL regulars, but their activity is way down since they "upgraded".

Yes to both I think...

Basically, swapping the starter and the sub. Keeping the Sub on defense and then when their turn to bat comes up, re-enter the starter to bat.

I can find no rules limiting re-entry. We are not subject to the minimum play rules. LL has complicated substitution rules especially when minimum play is required. They only address this by saying that the starter and their sub cannot be in the batting order at the same time - which limits the sub to only sub for one particular player during a game. But no limit that I can find on alternating entry/re-entry. If allowed(and I think I can) then it would have the effect of allowing a pinch hitter for a particular player in the lineup.

I will check the eteams site, but will still check here for answers. I have been a spectator here for a long time and have enjoyed the what-if scenarios.

[Mountaineer]

Originally Posted by cmmguy

Yes to both I think...

Basically, swapping the starter and the sub. Keeping the Sub on defense and then when their turn to bat comes up, re-enter the starter to bat.

I can find no rules limiting re-entry. We are not subject to the minimum play rules. LL has complicated substitution rules especially when minimum play is required. They only address this by saying that the starter and their sub cannot be in the batting order at the same time - which limits the sub to only sub for one particular player during a game. But no limit that I can find on alternating entry/re-entry. If allowed(and I think I can) then it would have the effect of allowing a pinch hitter for a particular player in the lineup.

I will check the eteams site, but will still check here for answers. I have been a spectator here for a long time and have enjoyed the what-if scenarios.

OK, first - there are manditory playing rules for everything but the Big League Division. Three consecutive outs and one at bat is required. If the game is shortened for any reason then manditory play is not required.

In order for the starter to re-enter the sub has to have met the manditory playing requirements. Everyone has one re-entry - including the substitute.

[Az.Ump]

Link or address to a cheat sheet for the 2007 L.L. softball tournament. No mandatory play for upper divisions.

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/llumpires/files/

Paul

[cmmguy]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer

OK, first - there are manditory playing rules for everything but the Big League Division. Three consecutive outs and one at bat is required. If the game is shortened for any reason then manditory play is not required.

In order for the starter to re-enter the sub has to have met the manditory playing requirements. Everyone has one re-entry - including the substitute.

Tournament Rules
Page T13, Rule 9 Mandatory Play only applies to Juniors and below - not Seniors or Big League.

Page T14, Rule 10 Substitution and Re-entry. This rule replaces complete rule 3.03 in regular season rulebook. There is no rule limiting re-entry to one time(in regular season rules it is limited)

I am thinking this is an oversight but nonetheless allowed according to the rules.

[Mountaineer]

Originally Posted by cmmguy

Tournament Rules
Page T13, Rule 9 Mandatory Play only applies to Juniors and below - not Seniors or Big League.

Page T14, Rule 10 Substitution and Re-entry. This rule replaces complete rule 3.03 in regular season rulebook. There is no rule limiting re-entry to one time(in regular season rules it is limited)

I am thinking this is an oversight but nonetheless allowed according to the rules.

Yep you are correct - the problem? I was actually looking at a 2005 rule book. That rule changed last year in 06 I believe.