Missing Player in Lineup

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

.......need to learn this rule and be SURE of it - I bet more than half of the umpires out there are caught off guard by this rule at some point in the season ... and sometimes illegal things are allowed to happen because someone misses a small part of this rule. We ALL need to be SURE on this rule - because it has a lot of possibilities and flexibility - and coaches are creative.

mb makes an excellent point here.

We all pretty much umpire for multiple sanctioning bodies during the course of a week, month, season; and I'm sure on some occasions the same day.

I can't say (without going to my books) if every part of the DP/Flex rule is exactly the same for every code that I work. And even after going to the books, I'll be the first to admit that I have trouble keeping them all straight in my head...especially when you add to the mix (depending on the code) the use of EP's, AP's, and CR's.

To that end, keeping in mind that misapplication of the rule could lead to a protest, I keep a small DP/Flex "cheat sheet" for the code I'm working in my line-up card holder. I also make it a point to review it prior to taking the field.

If a coach comes to me with a DP/Flex change or question that for whatever reason makes me go "Huh??", or the coach is trying to be, as mb said "creative" with the DP/Flex; and is adamant that his 'creativity' is allowed by rule, I just consult my sheet.