R4 Sec. 1. COACHES.
a. The Head Coach is responsible for signing the line-up card.
b. Coaches must be neatly attired, including the wearing of suitable footwear, or dressed in team uniform in accordance with the color code of the team. If a coach wears a cap, it must be approved headgear. Caps are mandatory for male coaches.
c. An offensive team coach (base coach) is an eligible member of the team at bat who takes his place on the field, within the coachs box.
1. Two coaches are allowed to give words of assistance and direction to the members of their team while at bat.
2. One shall be stationed near first base and one near third base and they are required to remain, with both feet, within the confines of their respective coachs box. ,
EXCEPTION: A coach may leave the coachs box to signal a runner to slide, advance or return to a base, or move out of a fielders way, as long as he does not interfere with the play.
3. A base coach may address only his own team members.
4. One coach can have in his possession in the coachs box, a score book, pen or pencil and an indicator, all of which shall be used for score keeping or record keeping purposes only.
d. A defensive team coach/manager is an eligible member of the team in the field, who may be either a non-playing coach who remains in the dugout, or a playing coach who takes his place on the field. This coach may give direction and assistance to his team while they are playing defense.
e. Coaches may not use language that will reflect negatively upon players, umpires or spectators.
f. No communication equipment is allowed between:
1. The coaches on the field;
2. The coaches and the dugout;
3. The coaches and any player;
4. The spectator area and the field, including the dugout, coaches and players.
Effect 1b-f
Any infraction shall result in a warning for the first offense. Any subsequent infraction by a coach/manager of the same team shall result in the ejection of the Head Coach.
R4 Sec. 3. PLAYERS.
a. A team shall consist of players in the following positions:
1. Fast Pitch. Nine players: pitcher (F1), catcher (F2), first baseman (F3), second baseman (F4), third baseman (F5), shortstop (F6), left fielder (F7), center fielder (F8) and right fielder (F9).
2. Fast Pitch with a Designated Player (DP). Ten players: same as fast pitch plus a DP.
3. Slow Pitch. Ten players: pitcher (F1), catcher (F2), first baseman (F3), second baseman (F4), third baseman (F5), shortstop (F6), left fielder (F7), left center fielder (F8), right fielder (F9) and right center fielder (F10).
4. Slow Pitch with an Extra Player (EP). Eleven players: same as slow pitch plus an EP who bats in the line-up.
5. Co-ed Slow Pitch: Ten players (five male and five female) with the following positioning requirements: two male and two female in both the infield and the outfield, and one male and one female as pitcher or catcher.
6. Co-ed Slow Pitch with Extra Players (EP). Twelve players six male and six female: same as Co-ed slow pitch plus two EPs who bat in the line-up.
7NZ. Fast Pitch with a Designated Runner (DR). Ten players: same as fast pitch plus a DR.
8NZ. Fast Pitch with a Designated Player (DP) and a Designated Runner (DR). Eleven players: same as fast pitch plus a DP and a DR.
NOTE: Players of the team in the field may be stationed anywhere on fair territory, except the catcher, who must be in the catcher's box, and the pitcher, who must be in a legal pitching position at the start of each pitch, or within the pitcher's circle (FP ONLY) when putting the ball in play.
b. A team must have the required number of eligible players present in the team area to start or continue a game.
EFFECT- Sec. 3b: The game is forfeited.
EXCEPTION: NZ NOTE: A team need not replace the DR should he be unable to continue to play due to injury, ineligibility or ejection. An out will be recorded and the game will continue without a DR
R4 Sec 5g. The DP may play defense at any position. Should the DP play defense for a player other than the FLEX, that player will continue to bat, but not play defense, and is NOT considered to have left the game. The player for whom the DP is playing defense is referred to as the Offensive Player Only (OPO).
h. The DP may play defense for the FLEX and that person is considered to have left the game, reducing the number of players to nine.
NOTE: The DP replacing the FLEX on defense is not a substitution, but the change must be reported to the umpire.
i. The FLEX may be substituted for at any time, by a legal substitute. The starting FLEX may re-enter the game one time, either in the 10th position, or in the DPs position in the batting order.
1. If returning to the number 10 position, he will again play defense only, but may play in any defensive position.
2. If returning to the DPs position in the batting order, he will play offense and defense, and the game will continue with nine players.
EFFECT Sec. 5g-i:
The provisions of Rule 4 Sec.8 and penalties for violations apply. Placing the FLEX in a position in the batting order other than that of the starting DP, results in the ejection of both the manager/coach (whose name appears on the line-up card) and the Flex, or his substitute.
Sec. 5NZ. DESIGNATED RUNNER (FP ONLY)
a. A DESIGNATED RUNNER, referred to as a DR, may be used as a runner for any offensive player, provided it is made known prior to the start of the game and his name is entered on the line-up sheet in the eleventh position of the line-up sheet.
b. The DR may enter the game once only in each innings to run for any base runner.
NOTE: TIME is to be requested and given, prior to the base runner leaving a base to be replaced by the DR. Leaving a base before TIME is given will place the base runner in jeopardy as per Rule 8 sec. 9.
a. Any base runner replaced by the DR returns to the game on completion of the innings, or at his next turn at bat, whichever is the sooner. No re-entry is required.
b. The DR may be substituted by a legal substitute who then becomes the DR. The provisions of Rule 4 Sec 8 and penalties for violations apply.
c. The DR substituted as in d, may not re-enter the game.
d. The DR may not enter the game on defense, nor may the DR bat. Violation shall be considered an illegal re-entry. Effect Rule 4 Sec 7.
e. A team need not replace the DR should he be unable to continue to play due to injury, ineligibility or ejection. An out will be recorded and the game will continue without a DR.
SNZ notifies that the Designated Runner (DR) Rule shall not be used at any age grade National tournament including Secondary and Primary School Tournaments.
R4 Sec. 8. SUBSTITUTES/ILLEGAL PLAYER
Note 1 Effect Sec 2-4
Should an Ineligible Player return to the game, it is declared a forfeit in favor of the team not at fault.
Note 2 - Effect 2-4
After an upheld appeal for an unreported substitute or an illegal re-entry, the original starting player or his substitute is considered to have left the game.
R4 Sec. 10. DUGOUT CONDUCT.
a. Coaches, players, substitutes or other bench personnel shall not be outside the designated dugout area, except when the rules allow or when considered justified by the umpire.
Note: This includes players other than the on-deck batter (who must remain in the on-deck circle) at the start of the game, between innings, or when a pitcher is warming up
b. There shall be no smoking in the designated dugout area.
.
Effect Sec. 10
The first offense is a team warning. Any repeat offense shall result in the ejection of that team member.
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