NFHS Substitution Question

[David Emerling]

Originally Posted by Dakota

I don't find the DP/FLEX rule to be particularly complicated. True, it is more complicated than an EP rule, but, then it is also more complicated than just allowing the team to bat the roster with unlimited subs on defense. Why not just do that?

Because that is not remotely in the spirit of what the ASA intended with the DP/FLEX rule.

Besides, batting the roster is inherently unfair since one team may have 15 players whereas the other may only have 10. The team with only 10 can have their best hitters bat more frequently.

Fundamentally, the way it is now, the DP and FLEX are two halves that make a whole. The DP can still play defense and the FLEX can still bat. Instead of having all these hard-to-remember stipulations, why not truly make them two players who occupy the same spot in the lineup?

The way it is now ...

1) The DP can play defense, and it doesn't count as a substitution provided the FLEX is also playing defense.

2) Yet, the DP can play defense without the FLEX still out there provided the umpire is informed. The FLEX would be out of the game.

3) The DP can stay on the bench while still participating on offense.

Everything above would still be true with my proposal, except there would be no substitution involved. One, or both, could play defense at any time. Simple. You don't even have to tell the umpire. They're both on the lineup card.

The way it is now ...

4) The FLEX can bat, but she has to bat in the DP's spot. When that happens the FLEX no longer occupies the obscure "10th spot" in the lineup. The team goes from 10 to 9 players at this point. This is a substitution. The DP can return (this is a reentry), but she has to return to the same spot and then the FLEX returns to the Netherworld of the "10th spot". Back to 10 players.

With my proposal, either of the two players can bat in that spot in the lineup. No substitution is required since, on the lineup card, they both occupy that spot.

Isn't that essentially the way it is now - they both have to occupy the same spot in the lineup? The only difference is that there is no substitution required.

None of this 10 to 9, then 9 to 10, move from the 10th spot to the 3rd spot then back to the 10th spot. Inform the umpire about the substitution and then the retry... etc.

My proposed method is both logical, in the spirit of the DP/FLEX rule as currently written, and intuitive.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN