Minimum players to take the field?

[Top_Notch]

Something happened this weekend that I've never seen before. And I think I know the answer, but will ask anyway.

Opposing coach had sufficient girls to field a full team. However, for the first inning the opposition only fielded 6 players in the infield, no outfield. (The rest sat in the dugout as apparently some form of punishment)

I asked the umpire if this was against the rules and he stated he didn't know. Of course, I did not know either.

We wouldn't have called them on it, but it became a curiousity nontheless.

 

[canyonjoe]

Hackman played with 4 in Hoosiers?

 

[SoCal_Dad]

ASA rules require all defensive players, except the catcher, be positioned in fair territory before a pitch is delivered (6FP-5A). Umpire should have held off play until that was the case.

 

[Top_Notch]

For the record this was USSSA.

 

[CoogansBluff]

ASA rules require all defensive players, except the catcher, be positioned in fair territory before a pitch is delivered (6FP-5A). Umpire should have held off play until that was the case.

Yeah, the coach was out of line. What he should've done was designate a penalty box, or seat of shame, in the actual playing field, like up against the fence at the left-field foul pole, just inside fair territory. The three players on punishment would be assigned to sit criss-cross apple sauce, no talking, until the inning was complete.

 

[Sweet Lou]

Maybe they were trying to be like the King and his Court (plus 1)

 

[quandofloo]

RULE 5. PLAYERS AND SUBSTITUTES
Sec 1. PLAYERS A team shall consist of at least nine players, whose positions shall
be designated as; (1) Pitcher, (2) Catcher, (3) First Baseman, (4) Second
Baseman, (5) Third Baseman, (6) Short Stop, (7) Left Fielder, (8) Center
Fielder, (9) Right Fielder. In addition, a team may optionally include a
DP/FLEX and/or up to two Additional Players (AP). The maximum number of
players in the lineup is 12; the maximum number of batters in the lineup is 11.
A. A team must have the required number of players present in the dugout or
team area to start or continue a game.
B. The team’s lineup card shall include first name, last name, jersey number,
position and batting order of each starting player and should include each
eligible substitute. First and last name of eligible player takes precedence
over jersey number whether incorrect on the lineup card. All listed
starters must be present in the team area. Lineups become official after
they have been exchanged, verified and then accepted by the Plate Umpire
during the pregame conference.
Eligible roster members may be added as substitutes at any time.
Sec 2. PLAYING SHORT is an exception to Rule 5.1 above . A team shall be
allowed to play with one batting position unfilled. The batting position the
team cannot fill shall be designated as the absent player. When the absent
player is scheduled to bat, an out shall be declared for each turn at bat. A team
may play short under the following circumstances:
A. A team may continue a game with one less player than is currently in the
batting order whenever a player leaves the game for any reason other than
ejection and no substitutes are available.
1. If the player leaving the game is the batter or a runner, they shall be
declared out. Exception: If the player is injured, the player may be
replaced by the player not currently on base who had the last
completed time at bat. This exception does not apply to any future
time at bat.
2. The players who have left the game cannot return to the lineup.
Exception: a player, who has left the game under the blood rule, may
return.
B. A team may begin the game with eight (8) players in a 9 player lineup.
The absent player shall be listed in the ninth (9th) batting position and the
team will be required to take an automatic out in the ninth position in the
batting order. under no circumstances shall a team be allowed to have less
than eight (8) players in the batting order.
C. The team may not play short if there is an eligible substitute available. If
an eligible player arrives, they must enter the game immediately.

Only thing in the USSSA rulebook about number of players that I could find. Doesn't say how many must take the field on defense. Just how many must be in lineup.

 

[SoCal_Dad]

Yeah, the coach was out of line. What he should've done was designate a penalty box, or seat of shame, in the actual playing field, like up against the fence at the left-field foul pole, just inside fair territory. The three players on punishment would be assigned to sit criss-cross apple sauce, no talking, until the inning was complete.

Yeah, I had the same thought - put'em in a timeout corner.

OTOH, maybe he was thumbing his nose at OP's team - we don't need no stinkin' outfielders against you! Which begs the question, did OP's team get a ball out of the infield?

 

[SoCal_Dad]

USSSA also has it within their pitching rules...

Sec 2. CATCHER and DEFENSIVE POSITIONING
A. A catcher shall be inside the lines of the catcher’s box and all other defensive players positioned in fair territory when the pitcher takes their position to pitch and when the pitch is released.
PENALTY: An illegal pitch is called.

Not sure whether these rules apply to players in the dugout or just those in field of play...

 

[quandofloo]

USSSA also has it within their pitching rules...

Sec 2. CATCHER and DEFENSIVE POSITIONING
A. A catcher shall be inside the lines of the catcher’s box and all other defensive players positioned in fair territory when the pitcher takes their position to pitch and when the pitch is released.
PENALTY: An illegal pitch is called.

Not sure whether these rules apply to players in the dugout or just those in field of play...

Yeah, I would guess since they are technically supposed to be listed on the lineup at a position then they should be located at that position in fair territory before a pitch is released and the opposing coach could argue for an illegal pitch. Could probably argue for unsportsmanlike conduct for making a mockery of the game.