Clarification of the Pinch/Courtesy Runner Rule
The Pinch/Courtesy Runner Rule was changed at the 2005 AGM. The new rule
for 2006 and future is:
“In order to acquire a pinch runner, the batter must reach 1st base. If
this said batter reaches 2nd, the pinch runner is no longer available.
The pinch runner will be the last batter out.
Exceptions will be discussed among the Executive for approval to
get a replacement runner from home plate. Duration of replacement
will be revised monthly by the Executive, unless said player makes
the decision to start running on her own.”
The purpose of this document is to clarify the implications of the rule, and to
detail how it will be implemented. It was discussed and approved by the
Captains and Executive at a meeting on March 15, 2006.
We agreed to adopt the following terminology in order to avoid confusion:
• The term pinch runner refers to when a batter makes it safely to first
base herself and obtains a replacement runner from first base.
• The term courtesy runner refers to when the batter doesn’t run at all and
obtains a replacement runner from home plate.
Question 1: Under what circumstances should a player obtain a “pinch
runner from first base” versus a “courtesy runner from home plate”?
The majority of replacement runners will be from first base. Even if a
player cannot run full speed and/or cannot run distances longer than first
base without risking further injury, as long as she is able to jog to first
base without risking further injury, she will be expected to make it to
first on her own.
Courtesy runners from home plate should be rare. Most players who are
well enough to play their defensive position should also be well enough to
jog to first base for an expected 2 to 5 at-bats per game. Exceptions will
be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Question 2: When you use a pinch runner or courtesy runner, can you
obtain more than a single?
No. Any batter who goes up to the plate and who at that time declares that
she is using a replacement runner will be limited to a single for her at-bat
(regardless of whether she uses a pinch runner from first base or a
courtesy runner from home plate).
Question 3: Under what circumstances is a player allowed to get a pinch
runner? How will it work?
Any player can obtain a pinch runner at any time during any game, if she
feels that running distances further than first base could risk her to further
injure herself.
Scenario 1 – A player is injured prior to the game and is certain that
she wants to use a pinch runner for the entire game:
As she goes up to the plate for her first at-bat, she should announce to the
home plate umpire that she will be using a pinch runner from first base.
The umpire will then loudly announce it for everyone on the field to hear.
She will then run/jog to first base on her own and if she is safe, another
player will replace her from first base after the play is dead.
Note that whenever a player announces her intention to use a pinch
runner, if that announcement was made prior to her starting her at-bat,
then she must continue to use a pinch runner from first for every
subsequent at-bat.
Scenario 2 – A healthy player starts the game running the bases
herself, but is later injured during the game:
If she is injured while running the bases, as long as she is not called “out”,
she may request a pinch runner from the last successfully reached base
(first, second or third).
If she continues to play the game, then at her next at-bat she must
decide whether she will continue with a pinch runner from first*** for the
balance of the game, or whether she will run for herself for the balance of
the game. These are her only two options. If she declines a pinch runner
at this time, she will forfeit her right to a pinch runner for the remainder of
the game. She cannot flip-flop back and forth between the two throughout
the game. This is in line with existing rule 8.15.
***
Note that if she opts for a pinch runner then she must announce it to the
home plate umpire prior to her next at-bat and every subsequent at-bat.
The umpire will then loudly announce it for everyone on the field to hear.
Scenario 3 - A player is mildly injured before the game starts and
isn’t sure whether or not she will be able to run the bases on her
own:
She can use her first at-bat to test her injury. If she wants to do this, then
she should go up to the plate without asking for a pinch runner. If her
running feels fine, then she can continue running for herself.
If during her first at-bat (or during any subsequent at-bat), she feels that
she can’t continue to run on her own, then she can stop at first base (or at
any other base) and after the play is dead, ask for a pinch runner from that
base. She will then be treated the same way as if she had been injured
while running the bases (as per Scenario 2). Therefore, at her next at-bat
she must decide whether she will continue with a pinch runner from first
for the balance of the game, or whether she will run for herself for the
balance of the game.
Etiquette: As soon as a batter announces, prior to her at-bat, that she has
elected to take a pinch runner from first base, the replacement runner
should get ready to promptly replace her once the play is dead.
Captains: in order to avoid delays of game, please make sure that the
intended replacement runner is identified and getting ready when the
batter is going up to the plate – not after she has safely reached first base!
Question 4: Under what circumstances is a player allowed to get a courtesy
runner from home plate? How will it work?
In order to get a courtesy runner from home plate, you must get special
approval prior to the game. Here’s how it will work:
•
Each request will be evaluated on its own merits and as such, we
cannot possibly attempt to list what types of injuries or conditions will
be approved/denied. However, as a general guideline, you should only
ask for a courtesy runner from home plate if you are not able to jog to
first base (for the expected two to five at-bats per game), without
risking injuring or further injuring yourself.
•
You must speak to any member of the Courtesy Runner Committee at
least 24 hours prior to the start of your game in order to be
considered for approval.
•
That person will contact two of the other members of the Courtesy
Runner Approval Committee for a vote in order to approve/decline the
request. The members of the committee will change each year, and
will be announced to the captains at the beginning of the season.
•
If your request is denied, your options will be to either jog to first base
and get a pinch runner from there, or to not play at all in the next
game(s) until you feel that you can jog to first.
•
If your request is approved, note that it may be re-evaluated and even
revoked at a later date. For example, if a player heals to the point that
she is now starting to make running/diving catches in the outfield, she
will no longer be allowed a courtesy runner from home plate.
Question 5: What happens if the runner makes an attempt to go to second
base?
Whether the batter is obtaining a courtesy runner from home plate or
indicated that she will be using a pinch runner from first, the runner will be
obligated to run to or through first base, stepping on the orange safety
bag, and not make any attempt to advance toward second base. After
she runs through first base, she is advised to walk back towards first in
foul territory.
If the umpire judges that there was an attempt to go towards second base,
the runner will be called “out” in accordance with rule 8.17.
Question 6: If a player is injured DURING a game, can she get a courtesy
runner from home plate for the balance of that game?
No - nobody can ever ask for a courtesy runner from home plate DURING
a game. The only way to obtain a courtesy runner is by special approval
24 HOURS PRIOR to a game, as described in Question 4.
If a player injures herself during a game, she can elect to use a pinch
runner from first base, as described in Scenario 2 of Question 3.
Existing rule 4.7 states that “A team must have a minimum of 8 players
including spares to start AND continue to play. If not, the game is forfeited
to the team not at fault.” What happens if a team is playing with only 8
players and one of them is injured during the game and as a result she
cannot jog to first base on her own. Must they forfeit the game? Not
necessarily.
If the injured player is willing and able to continue playing defensively, and
the team doesn’t want to forfeit the game – there is a way to continue.
The injured player would elect to take a pinch runner from first base, and
at worst, she could hit the ball and walk to first or just hit the ball and not
even advance toward first, effectively “taking an out”.