Rule Clarification

Hi All

So coaching a game on the weekend and a player from the opposition team comes into the game to replace an injured runner at 2nd base. The next pitch the ball is hit safe scoring the substitute runner from second.

My scorer informs me that the substitute is not on the team card or acknowledged as a player for this game, I have informed the chief umpire who has suggested I overlook this for which I politely declined and the player was removed from the game and the run was not counted at the chief umpires disgust. (mind you if she had of checked the card at the time of the sub this would not have occurred.)

This raises these questions

1. Is this the correct decision.

2. Are there repercussions for the umpire for suggesting I overlook a major rule infringement.



Cheers Justin

1) Yupp

2) I guess you can talk to the UIC about it. It didn't really effect the outcome of the game, did it? What age group was it?

TigerForty said:

Hi All

So coaching a game on the weekend and a player from the opposition team comes into the game to replace an injured runner at 2nd base. The next pitch the ball is hit safe scoring the substitute runner from second.

My scorer informs me that the substitute is not on the team card or acknowledged as a player for this game, I have informed the chief umpire

Click to expand...

Do you mean the plate umpire, the UIC or someone else?

who has suggested I overlook this for which I politely declined and the player was removed from the game and the run was not counted at the chief umpires disgust. (mind you if she had of checked the card at the time of the sub this would not have occurred.)

This raises these questions

1. Is this the correct decision.

2. Are there repercussions for the umpire for suggesting I overlook a major rule infringement.

Click to expand...

Speaking ASA

This would be an eligibility issue which is not the umpire's call at any level. The fact that a player is not on a "line up card" (assuming that is to what you are referring), does not preclude that player from participating in the game. If it turned out this was an eligibility issue, removing the player from the game and negating the run is not the proper solution. That would be a forfeiture.

You are assuming there is a "major" rule infringement. And if the "chief umpire" didn't remove the player, who did?

MTR said:

Do you mean the plate umpire, the UIC or someone else?



Speaking ASA

This would be an eligibility issue which is not the umpire's call at any level. The fact that a player is not on a "line up card" (assuming that is to what you are referring), does not preclude that player from participating in the game. If it turned out this was an eligibility issue, removing the player from the game and negating the run is not the proper solution. That would be a forfeiture.

You are assuming there is a "major" rule infringement. And if the "chief umpire" didn't remove the player, who did?

Click to expand...

So the plate umpire has made all decisions and enforced them, We are talking A1 open women.

I have had clarification from my association and they have a bylaw that states as follows.

1.2 Each Team to have a softball Scorebook. The Association will provide Scorecards which MUST be
filled in for each match.
(a) Names of all players, substitutes and coaches must be written on the card, and both scorebooks
filled in with black/blue pen before start of game.
(b) Players who arrive late to a game must be named as a substitute on the card before the start of the
game, and may enter the game when they arrive.
(c) Names of substitutes who enter the game must be added to the line-up on the card.

2.7 PLAYING INELIGIBLE PLAYERS - No club shall play a player who, for any reason whatsoever, is
ineligible to play.
A club breaking this rule shall forfeit the match, provided that any such infringement of the rule is
reported within seven (7) days of the infringement, or no action can be taken.
(a) Ineligible Player shall include players who are un-financial, unregistered, playing without a clearance
or permit, suspended, or playing in any game contrary to the rules contained in these By-Laws.

TigerForty said:

So the plate umpire has made all decisions and enforced them, We are talking A1 open women.

Click to expand...

Then to whom are you referring as the "chief" umpire?

I have had clarification from my association and they have a bylaw that states as follows.

1.2 Each Team to have a softball Scorebook. The Association will provide Scorecards which MUST be
filled in for each match.
(a) Names of all players, substitutes and coaches must be written on the card, and both scorebooks
filled in with black/blue pen before start of game.
(b) Players who arrive late to a game must be named as a substitute on the card before the start of the
game, and may enter the game when they arrive.
(c) Names of substitutes who enter the game must be added to the line-up on the card.

Click to expand...

Must be rules exclusive to your league or Australia. I know these are not ISF since that org. allows you to add an eligible player to the line up card at any time.

2.7 PLAYING INELIGIBLE PLAYERS - No club shall play a player who, for any reason whatsoever, is
ineligible to play.
A club breaking this rule shall forfeit the match, provided that any such infringement of the rule is
reported within seven (7) days of the infringement, or no action can be taken.
(a) Ineligible Player shall include players who are un-financial, unregistered, playing without a clearance
or permit, suspended, or playing in any game contrary to the rules contained in these By-Laws.

Click to expand...

So as I read this, the rule was not applied properly and the game should have been forfeited.

MTR said:

Then to whom are you referring as the "chief" umpire?



Must be rules exclusive to your league or Australia. I know these are not ISF since that org. allows you to add an eligible player to the line up card at any time.





So as I read this, the rule was not applied properly and the game should have been forfeited.

Click to expand...

By Chief umpire I mean plate umpire

These are bylaws that have been created by this particular league, unsure why this is the case.




Yes you are correct, the wrong decision was made and the game should have been played out under protest for which if upheld would have been a forfeit to the other team giving my side a 7 - 0 win under the forfeit rule . instead of the 3 - 0 win that we had earned.

My only guess is these rules were created to stop clever coaches manipulating the sub rule for traveling players getting to the game late and or players finishing another games.