RULE 3 SUBSTITUTING, COACHING, BENCH AND FIELD CONDUCT,                   CHARGED CONFERENCES

            Section 1: Substituting

Article 1...Unlimited substitution is permitted, subject to the conditions set forth in RULE 3.  After the head umpire has received the official lineup card prior to the start of the game, the pitcher shall pitch to the first batter until the batter has been put out, strikes out, or scores a run (unless the pitcher is removed due to injury or ejection).  In any other case, a substitute may replace a player of his team when the ball is dead and time out has been called or a half inning has been completed.  The substitute or his coach or captain shall report to the head umpire prior to the next pitch by stating the substitute’s name, shirt number, the name of the player he is replacing in the batting order, and the position he will play in the field.  A projected substitution shall not be reported to the head umpire prior to the actual change.  If a player fails to report and enters the game, the player he replaced is considered to have remained in the game.  Any play in which the illegal substitute earned a run on offense or made a putout on defense for his team shall have the play ruling reversed.  The illegal substitute may also be removed from the game for six outs or until the end of the game, whichever comes first.  The player he replaced will return to the game, unless the replaced player left the game because of injury.  If the replaced player cannot return to the game, some other eligible player must replace him.  If there are no more eligible replacements the team must play the game one player short, taking an automatic out whenever that spot in the batting order comes up, until a replacement becomes eligible or the game ends, whichever occurs first.  SIX OUT PENALTY REMOVAL FOR ILLEGAL SUBSTITUTION APPLIES UNDER REGULAR OR TWELVE-RUN RULE.  If enforcement of this article results in the affected team having less than five players to continue the game, the game shall be forfeited to the other team. [Rule 4, Sect. 4, Art.1-f,g]  NOTE: The Head Umpire will ignore Illegal Substitution unless his attention is called to it by the opposing team through appeal as outlined in Rule 2, Sect. 1, Art. 3.  The six out penalty for Illegal substitution will begin at the time the Illegal Substitution is reported to the umpire.  Enforcement of the penalty for Illegal Substitution will not result in a team replaying any part of any previous inning, even if it causes more or less than three outs to be recorded in that previous inning.  Since the replaced player is considered to have remained in the game, the result of any times at bat by the Illegal substitute will recorded on the replaced player’s record. [Rule 2, Sect.Aired.2-b]

Article 2...If a pitcher is replaced while his team is at bat, the replacement pitcher shall pitch to the batter then at bat until such batter has been retired or has scored a run.

Article 3...Once a player is removed due to injury, that player cannot return for the remainder of the game unless approved by the head umpire, or the tournament committee if in tournament play.  Any player who is removed from a game due to a serious head injury or suspected broken bones or dislocations may not return without a signed release from a licensed physician permitting that player to participate in the remainder of the game or tournament.

Article 4...Once a player other than the pitcher or catcher has been replaced by a substitute, the two players involved must remain in or out of the game for the completion of six outs from the time of the substitution, or to the end of the game, whichever comes first; except as provided for in Article 1, or Article 6.  If a substitution occurs prior to institution of the Twelve Run Rule, or after the Twelve Run Rule has been revoked, the players involved shall remain subject to this rule, EVEN IF THE TWELVE-RUN RULE IS INVOKED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SUBSTITUTION.  The rule which applies is the rule in effect at the time the substitution is reported to the head umpire.  (For substitution during the Twelve Run Rule, see Article 6.)

Article 5...TWELVE RUN RULE: If a team establishes a lead of twelve or more runs at the end of any full inning, the head umpire will inform both teams that the Twelve Run Rule is in effect.  At this time, the trailing team will become the batting team and will remain at bat until they either tie the score, take the lead or use all of their remaining outs for the game.  The outs remaining will be recorded in units of three (½ innings).  If the trailing team should tie the score or take the lead, play will continue to the nearest full unit of three outs when the opposing team will come to bat and complete their half of each inning played until both teams have had an equal number of at bats; at this time the head umpire will check with the official scorekeeper to determine if the Twelve Run Rule should be revoked or continued in effect.  If a team comes to bat under the Twelve Run Rule and fails to tie the score or take the lead after using all of their remaining outs for the game, the game ends.

Article 6...SUBSTITUTION UNDER THE TWELVE RUN RULE differs from substitution under the normal rule.  When a substitution occurs under the Twelve Run Rule, the players involved must remain in/out of the game while three outs are recorded from the time of the substitution; or, until the end of the game, whichever comes first.  If the Twelve Run Rule is revoked immediately after the substitution, the players involved will remain subject to this rule since it was the rule in effect at the time of the substitution.

            Section 2: Coaching

Article 1...The coach may keep statistics on the opposing team and may communicate them to his team on defense prior to the time of the pitch for the first pitch to the current batter.

Article 2...A coach or any other person associated with a team may not assist a runner or a fielder by giving any verbal or physical assistance in locating the activated base or the ball (Exception: A team’s legal spotters).  If such assistance is noted by an umpire, the offended team will be awarded a run or an out.

Article 3...Any person not a batter/runner or one of the six defensive players in the field, shall not fail to vacate any area needed by a runner or fielder attempting to reach a base or field a batted ball.  This shall apply to a runner going to the wrong base, a malfunctioning base, the correct base; or a fielder trying for a live ball, foul ball, malfunctioning ball, going toward the ball or away from it in the attempt to field the ball.  For failure to vacate, the offended team shall be awarded an out or a run subject t Rule 2, Sect. 5, Art. 2a-b-c-d.

            Section 3: Bench, Field and Spectator Conduct

Article 1...A coach, player, substitute, attendant, spotter, other team personnel, or spectators shall not:

[a] Carelessly throw a bat; or

[b] Deliberately throw a bat or equipment; or

[c] Call “Time” or use any command or commit any act for the  purpose of trying to confuse the batter or fielders or disrupt the rhythm of the pitcher; or

[d] Use word or act to incite or try to incite spectators to demonstrations, or use profanity or remarks which reflect upon opposing player, umpire or spectator; or

[e] Remain in the area behind the catcher within a distance of twenty-  five feet while the pitcher and catcher are in their legal positions; or

[f]  Use amplifiers or bullhorns from the bench, spectator area, or on the field during the course of the game; or

[g] Maliciously approach or contact a player, bench personnel, a spotter, an umpire, or other game official; or

[h] Be outside the vicinity of the designated bench area if not a batter, on-deck batter, in the coaches area, spotter, battery, or one of the six players on defense; or

[i] Verbalize in any way with the opposing team for the purpose for intimidation; or

[j] Exhibit behavior that is not in accordance with the spirit of fair play; or

[k] Charge an umpire; or

[l] Players in the game shall not wear jewelry (safety hazard). EXPECTION: Medical Alert bracelets or necklaces.  (This rule is not heavily enforced expect for rings, earrings, and watches.)

PENALTY: In (a) and (l) the umpire shall issue a warning to the coach of the team involved which will result in the next offender being ejected.  In (b), (g), and (k), umpire shall eject the offender from the game.  Failure to comply shall result in game being forfeited.  However, in (c), (d), (e), (f), (h), (i), and (j) if the offense is judged to be of a minor nature, the Umpire may warn the offender and then eject him if he repeats the offense.  Also, in (c) and (g), an ejected player may be declared out if on offense and run scored if on defense.

Article 2...Any player, coach, spotter, or bench personnel removed from the game by the umpire for disciplinary reasons may not reenter that game under any circumstance and , in tournament play, is barred from participating in the next game for that team or any other team present at the tournament.  Two ejections in a series or tournament will result in the individual being barred from further participation of any kind, other than as a spectator, for the remainder of the series or tournament.

            Section 4: Charged Conferences

Article 1...Each team, when on defense, may be granted not more than four (4) Charged Conferences during a six-inning game without penalty, to permit a coach or his non-playing representative to confer with a defensive player or players.  In any extra-inning game, each team shall be permitted one (1) charged conference each inning on defense without penalty.  The number of charged conferences in not cumulative.  A request for time for this purpose may be made by a coach, player, substitute, or attendant.  Time granted for an obviously incapacitated player shall not constitute a charged conference.  For a defensive charged conference in excess of four in a six-inning game or in excess of one in each extra-inning, the current batter shall be awarded a “free” pitch (one strike deducted from current count).

Article 2...Each team, when on offense, may be granted not more than two Charged Conferences per inning to permit a coach or any of that team’s personnel to confer with the batter.  The Umpire shall deny any subsequent requests for time for this purpose.