Substitute Re entry?

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Oct 5, 2017
214
43
Western Indiana
I have read several online discussions about this issue and still have not found the actual rule of legal or illegal.
Note: we are not talking DP/Flex

Last night I pinch ran for my 3B (so not pitcher or catcher) when returning to defense I re entered my starting 3B. Later in the game tried to re enter the pinch runner for the 3B (so same position in the order) and was told I could not do this.

Does anyone have the actual rule stating legal or illegal. My AD has not received our rule books for this year so I do not have one handy and can not find it online. Thanks in advance for any help.

--Side note: of course the parent was upset because her DD "only" got to pinch run. I hope I can tell her I was correct in my thought process.
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
The NFHS rule you are looking for is 3-3-Art 5. Any player, starter, or substitute may be withdrawn from the game and re-enter once, provided such player occupies the same position in the lineup. A starter and any substitute for the starter may not be in the game at the same time. A violation results in an illegal substitution.

Every player has and entry and re-entry into the game. They may play, be taken out of the game and put back in once. The 2nd time they are removed they are done for the game. And as stated, once they are in the game that is the only position in the batting lineup they may occupy.

And, while the rule numbers may change from rule set to rule set, the rule is universal among all standard softball rule sets EXCEPT NCAA.
 
Feb 13, 2015
164
18
I have read several online discussions about this issue and still have not found the actual rule of legal or illegal.
Note: we are not talking DP/Flex

Last night I pinch ran for my 3B (so not pitcher or catcher) when returning to defense I re entered my starting 3B. Later in the game tried to re enter the pinch runner for the 3B (so same position in the order) and was told I could not do this.

Does anyone have the actual rule stating legal or illegal. My AD has not received our rule books for this year so I do not have one handy and can not find it online. Thanks in advance for any help.

--Side note: of course the parent was upset because her DD "only" got to pinch run. I hope I can tell her I was correct in my thought process.
I reply to rules questions to try to under them better. I'm not an ump and don't have any rule books. That said, here is what I think:

There is no pinch running in softball, there are courtesy runners for pitchers and catchers.

you subbed in player A for 3rd base while on offense. You then subbed 3rd base back in for A. A is allowed one retry so you should have been able to put her back.

Someone will probably correct part or all of post later.

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
I have read several online discussions about this issue and still have not found the actual rule of legal or illegal.
Note: we are not talking DP/Flex

Last night I pinch ran for my 3B (so not pitcher or catcher) when returning to defense I re entered my starting 3B. Later in the game tried to re enter the pinch runner for the 3B (so same position in the order) and was told I could not do this.

Does anyone have the actual rule stating legal or illegal. My AD has not received our rule books for this year so I do not have one handy and can not find it online. Thanks in advance for any help.

--Side note: of course the parent was upset because her DD "only" got to pinch run. I hope I can tell her I was correct in my thought process.

Legal. Everyone is allowed one re-entry.

- You substituted SUB1 for 3B (SUB1 entered the game, 3B now not in the lineup)
- You reentered 3B for SUB1 (3B re-enters, SUB1 now not in ineup)
- You reentered SUB1 for 3B (SUB1 re-enters, 3B now done for the game)

Ths is the basics of how substituting works in softball.

What was the explanation on why you couldn't do this?
 

TMD

Feb 18, 2016
433
43
I have read several online discussions about this issue and still have not found the actual rule of legal or illegal.
Note: we are not talking DP/Flex

Last night I pinch ran for my 3B (so not pitcher or catcher) when returning to defense I re entered my starting 3B. Later in the game tried to re enter the pinch runner for the 3B (so same position in the order) and was told I could not do this.

Does anyone have the actual rule stating legal or illegal. My AD has not received our rule books for this year so I do not have one handy and can not find it online. Thanks in advance for any help.

--Side note: of course the parent was upset because her DD "only" got to pinch run. I hope I can tell her I was correct in my thought process.

Unless I'm missing some nuance in Indiana HS rules, you should have been able to re-enter the runner for 3B. This would have burned the 3B, as she had already re-entered once so she'd be done.
 
Oct 5, 2017
214
43
Western Indiana
I made a call to the head of our local umpiring organization with my AD this morning.

You may re enter every player one time and that means starter or sub. That is an NFHS rule.

Thank you for all the responses.
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
There is no pinch running in softball, there are courtesy runners for pitchers and catchers.

Simply not true. Any player in any position in the line-up or in the field may be replaced by a legal substitute at any time during the game
 

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