Quick Lineup Question

If, during the game, the coach "collapses" the DP/FLEX,
do you have the choice of which player remains in the game?

scenario #1
DP plays field for FLEX, FLEX is out of lineup (no longer playing the field) , DP remains batting at her spot in the lineup.

scenario #2
FLEX bats for DP, DP is now out of the lineup (no longer playing the field OR batting), FLEX now bats at DP's spot in the lineup.

Did I get that right?

corlay said:

If, during the game, the coach "collapses" the DP/FLEX,
do you have the choice of which player remains in the game?

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Your choice is made by what action you take

scenario #1
DP plays field for FLEX, FLEX is out of lineup (no longer playing the field) , DP remains batting at her spot in the lineup.

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You have effectively subbed the FLEX out in this scenario. The flex is allowed a rentry like any other player.

scenario #2
FLEX bats for DP, DP is now out of the lineup (no longer playing the field OR batting), FLEX now bats at DP's spot in the lineup.

Click to expand...

Correct. You have subbed the DP out of the game. The DP is allowed a reentry like any other player.

REMINDERS:
1)The DP can never be on DEFENSE ONLY.
2)The FLEX PLAYER can never be on OFFENSE ONLY.
3)The DP and FLEX PLAYER can never be on offense at the same time.
4)The DP and the FLEX can play defense at the same time.
5)The STARTER and the SUBSTITUTE can not be in the game at the same time.
6)The STARTING DP and FLEX PLAYER each have one reentry just as any other starting player.
7) Once the game is started with the DP/FLEX positions in the lineup, those positions are available for the entire game.
8) The penalty for illegal re‐entry of the DP or FLEX player is always restriction to the bench/dugout.
9) If the player is on offense, she is called out. If the player is on defense, the team on offense may have the choice of taking the result of the play or accepting the penalty.

Couple of good references:
The NFHS DP/FLEX reference chart:
https://www.nfhs.org/media/1017792/softball_flex_dp_chart.pdf

http://kelownafastball.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DPFlexRuleExplained.pdf

marriard said:

Correct. You have subbed the DP out of the game. The DP is allowed a reentry like any other player.

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To re-enter the DP, the former FLEX (currently batting in the DP spot in the lineup) just re-becomes the FLEX again and exits the batting lineup? and DP now bats at the DP spot in the lineup?

corlay said:

To re-enter the DP, the former FLEX (currently batting in the DP spot in the lineup) just re-becomes the FLEX again and exits the batting lineup? and DP now bats at the DP spot in the lineup?

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Yes or you can sub the DP in for the FLEX (though in my mind there is no real reason to do this - you are better letting the flex move back to the 10th position)

From the NFHS Card:

If the DP re‐enters the game, she must do so in her original batting order position and the FLEX player could:
(A) move back to the No. 10 position in the lineup, or (B) leave the game (i.e. subbed).
If the FLEX player moves back to the 10th position in the lineup, the team resumes the game with 10 players and the FLEX player has never left the game

4)The DP and the FLEX can play defense at the same time.

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This one sometimes gets teams who don't know the DP/FLEX rule and a lot of times parents. I used to do it all the time. There were occasionally some chirps about it. But no one ever challenged me on it. My guess.... They didn't understand the rule. It's great from getting a pitcher warmed up who is playing the field without burning subs or reentries.

Sparky Guy said:

This one sometimes gets teams who don't know the DP/FLEX rule and a lot of times parents. I used to do it all the time. There were occasionally some chirps about it. But no one ever challenged me on it. My guess.... They didn't understand the rule. It's great from getting a pitcher warmed up who is playing the field without burning subs or reentries.

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We used DP/FLEX and having both of them the field defensively in pretty much any game we were not allowed unlimited defensive substitutions. On a long day it was great way to get a player an inning or two of rest when needed but still have them in the lineup. If I had more than 11 available girls I always have had a DP/FLEX - sometimes who depended on how the courtesy runner rules were being enforced this week

If there is one thing softball coaches at all levels do not do enough of is taking advantage of DP/FLEX, courtesy runners and the ability to enter and re-enter players as they should. You can keep a larger roster happy by getting girls in and out in every game.