New ASA base runner rule?

[snoman76]

This didn't sound right to me but someone was saying that ASA/USA has a new rule that allows ANY bench player to run for P or C? This sounds more like a "modified" rule to me.

 

[BretMan2]

There's a new rule for POOL PLAY ONLY that involves courtesy runners when batting the entire roster.

I have to admit that this rule is so new that I'm not 100% up on all of the particulars...and my 2018 rule book is at home. I'll have to confirm the details later.

 

[BretMan2]

USA 2018 rule changes:

http://downloads.asasoftball.com/about/pdf/2018rulechangeswithcomments.pdf

They actually started the "bat the entire roster" rule about three years ago. Since that causes conflict with existing rules about substitutions, the DP/FLEX, and courtesy runners, each year since then they've tweaked these rules to fix the conflicts.

It's become a fairly complicted rule. Most tournaments seem to just come up with their own rules- for instance, "last batted out" for the courtesy runner, which is NOT a USA rule. I have yet to work a tournament that follows the "bat the order" rules exactly as written in the rule book.