Courtesy Runners in Softball: Umpire Rules and Best Practices

Question
I have worked this past year in a spring softball league and now in a shortened fall league. Both are run by the same city sports organization. The spring league did not allow for courtesy runners, but the fall one does. Several of my umpires have insisted that the courtesy runner has to be the last person to record an out. While I understand this is done, in part, to ensure that the courtesy runner's batting spot will not come up while he is on base, I would like to know if this is a rule, or just umpires applying their own preference.

Answer
Hi Marc

This is a local league rule, not an ASA rule.  In ASA we only allow crs in JO and Senior play and each has their own different rule set.

That being said sometimes the last person to make an out is not the last person due up in the lineup for that 1/2 inning.  If they're going to allow crs and I see no problem w/ that in league play, I would make it the last person due up at bat that 1/2 inning.

Mark

ps thank you for the kind evals