Line Up Help

Question
Here are the answers to your questions.  Yes, it is fastpitch with 9 players.  We have 10 on the roster, so one will sit out at a time.  No DH/EH.  In any game, each child must play in the infield for at least one inning.  This prevents coaches from sticking the worst kids in the outfield and never letting them play the infield.  I'm going to estimate we would play 4 innings per game.  We have a 75 minute time limit.  Thanks.

I would need more information to help you solve this problem.  I've never heard of any rules like this.  You definitely have your work cut out for you.  I would need to know if this is fast pitch (9 players in the lineup) or slowpitch (10 players in the lineup)  How many players you have on your roster.  Are you allowed to use a DH or EH and does this count toward innings played?  I'm assuming you meant each child must play at least one inning on defense and not one inning in the infield.  If you'll answer these questions for me, I'll try and give you a hand.


Answer
Hello Julie,

If you only have one player on the bench, that simplifies things a bit.  I would rotate one outfielder to the infield in each inning, probably at second base.  That way you don't disrupt you infield to badly and you only have one child who is better suited for outfield in your infield at a time.  Once the girl rotates from the outfield to the infield, have her rotate to the bench the next inning, then back to the outfield the following inning.  Do just the opposite the next game.  When a girl rotates out of the infield to the outfield, have her rotate to the bench, then back to her starting infield position.  Obviously only playing 4 innings per game, you will only be rotating 4 girls to the bench, so you can alternate sitting infielders one game and outfielders the next.  Prepare to hear a lot of complaints from parents.  Some parents don't handle their kids being rotated to the bench as well as others do.  Good Luck.

Coach Mike