Criteria
For college softball, the definition of an illegal player is a player who competes in the game in a way in which they are not entitled to play:
• Player who is not listed on the lineup card/roster.
• Starter who has entered or reenter the game to which she is not entitled.
• Nonstarter who has entered the game a second time.
• Ejected or suspended player who has entered or reentered the game.
• Player who has been rule ineligible based on Misconduct.
• Incorrect tie-breaker runner.
• Flex put into the offensive lineup other than the DP spot.
Violation reported
The key to understanding and administering this rule is determining when the violation is reported.
Coach in violation reports it first
Player is ejected; if a pitch is thrown, any advance made immediately before shall stand.
Opposing team reports it before a pitch is thrown
Player is ejected.
Defense reports the violation
• If pitch has been thrown and still at bat or just completed at bat and no pitches thrown to next batter – called out and ejected; any advances on pitch immediately before the report are nullified; advances on previous pitchers are legal.
• If pitch thrown to next batter – ejected and called out if on base; advances during her at bat and because of her becoming a batter-runner are legal.
• Tie-breaker or pinch runner:
o If on original base – no pitch; out and ejected
o If advances and before next pitch thrown – no pitch; ejected and out if still on a base; other runners’ advances are nullified
o If advances and next is pitch thrown – no pitch; ejected and out if still on a base; other runners’ advances stand
Offense reports the violation
• Illegal player made a play; no pitches thrown – ejected; offense has option of result of play or nullifying play (batter returns with count, and base runners awarded one base).
• Illegal player made a play; pitches thrown – ejected; all play stands
• Illegal player did not make a play; pitches thrown – ejected; all play stands
Example Plays
Play 1: The Flex bats in a spot in the batting order other than the DP’s spot and completes her turn at bat. Before the next pitch, the defense appeals batting out of order.
Ruling: On an appeal the defense is not required to identify the rule violation by number or page, but the terminology for the rule in question has to be correctly communicated to the umpire. To avoid miscommunication, the plate umpire should show the defensive coach the lineup card and have him/her walk through the complaint giving the coach every opportunity to see the mistake and better articulate the appeal. In the unlikely event that the coach still only appeals batting out of order, the plate umpire shall enforce the effect for the appealed batting out of order.
Play 2: The defensive coach calls time and tells the plate umpire that he wants #10 to replace #8 as the pitcher. The plate umpire looks at the team’s lineup card and cannot find a #10 on the lineup card, either in the batting order or in the substitute area. What should the umpire do?
Ruling: The umpire should tell the coach that there is no #10 on the lineup card, and then ask the coach for the player’s name. If there is a player listed on the lineup with that name but a different number, the umpire should confirm that this player is wearing #10 today. If so, this player is considered a misreported player which has created an inaccurate lineup (8.3.2 Note: A player’s name supersedes a listed uniform number). Since the defensive coach reported this before the player has made a play, the coach may correct this error without penalty and tell the umpire to change the number of that player to #10. (8.3.2 Effect)
Play 3: The defensive coach calls time and tells the plate umpire that he wants #10 to replace #8 as the pitcher. The plate umpire looks at the team’s lineup card and cannot find a #10 on the lineup card, either in the batting order or in the substitute area. What should the umpire do?
Ruling: The umpire should tell the coach that there is no #10 on the lineup card, and then ask the coach for the player’s name. If there is no player listed on the lineup with that name this player is considered an ineligible player (5.7.3 Note 1). The umpire should inform the coach that #10 is an ineligible player that cannot legally enter the game and allow the coach to either rescind their request to replace #8 or choose another eligible player to enter the game to replace #8 (8.5.1.2). If the player throws a warmup pitch while the umpire is conferring with the coach, the plate umpire shall direct the player to cease throwing any additional warmup pitches until the substitution can be legally accepted. Should the player be deemed ineligible to enter the game, the umpire shall issue a warning to the offending coach (10.19.4 effect).
Play 4: Without being reported to the plate umpire, #10 replace #8 as the pitcher at the beginning of the half-inning. #10 throws a strike to the first batter; the offensive coach reports this to the plate umpire. The plate umpire looks at the defensive team’s lineup card and cannot find a #10 on the lineup card, either in the batting order or in the substitute area. What should the umpire do?
Ruling: The umpire should check with the defensive coach and ask the coach for the player’s name. If there is no player listed on the lineup with that name this player is considered an ineligible player (5.7.3 Note 1). Once the coach requests that this player enter the game, she becomes an illegal player. Since a pitch has been thrown by #10, this player is ejected and the offense has an option of taking the play or nullifying the play. The obvious choice would be to nullify the play so the batter can start anew with no count. (8.3.4.2.1 Effect)