RABA Player Substitution Rules
(AKA -- Ed Stark Ruling)


Printable PDF File For:    Player Substitution Rules.pdf


If a team is short of players, the coach may borrow a player(s) from another team building to 9 players only. A team cannot borrow players to build the team to 10 or more.


If a player(s) is borrowed from a team other than the opponent, the following rules must be followed:

  1. The borrowed player must be a registered player in the recreation league.


  2. The borrowed player can be from within the current league or playing from one league lower.

      3. a. Example -- A Pony team has only 8 players. Even though the team can play with 8, the coach would like to have 9. The coach may borrow a player from either the Pony league or Bronco league building his team to 9.


  3. The borrowed player(s) can play both offense (batting) and defense (fielding). When playing defense, the borrowed player(s) must play right field (position 9) for player 1, then center field (position 8) for player 2, etc. When playing offense, the borrowed player(s) must bat last in the batting order (9th) for player playing position 9, batting 8th for player playing position 8, etc.

      4. a. Example -- Team A has borrowed 2 players from another Pony team (other than opponent). The two players must play defense position 9 (right field) for 1st borrowed player and position 8 (center field) for 2nd borrowed player.

      b. Example -- The two players can play offense (bat), however the player playing position 8 (center field) bats in the 8th slot and the player playing position 9 (right field) bats in the 9th slot.

If a player(s) is borrowed from the opponent, the following rules must be followed:

  1. The borrowed player(s) can only play defense (fielding). When playing defense, the borrowed player(s) must play right field (position 9) for player 1, then center field (position 8) for player 2, etc.

      2. a. Example -- Team A has borrowed 2 players from the opponent�s team. The two players must play defense position 9 (right field) for 1st borrowed player and position 8 (center field) for 2nd borrowed player.


  2. When it comes time to play offense (batting), one out will be recorded for each borrowed player. The borrowed player(s) will be assigned batting position 9 for first player borrowed and position 8 for second player borrowed.

      3. a. Example -- The borrowed defense player(s) cannot play offense (bat). If one player was borrowed then when batter 9 was supposed to be up, one out will be recorded. If two players were borrowed then when batters 8 and 9 were supposed to be up, one out for each will be recorded (2 outs).