Softball DP/FLEX Rule Explained (With Lineup Examples)

The two players

• The DP (designated player) is in the batting order but doesn’t have to play defense. She bats for one of the nine fielders.
• The FLEX is that fielder: she plays defense but doesn’t bat. She’s listed 10th on the lineup card, below the nine batters.

So a team using the option starts with 10 players: nine batters (including the DP) and the FLEX. Using it is optional at every high school level; a team can also play “straight nine.” In the 2026 NFHS book the rule is 3-2-6. Older guides cite 3-3-6, from before NFHS renumbered Rule 3.

What each may do

Player	On defense	On offense
DP	May play any position, for anyone	Bats in her own spot
FLEX	Plays her position	May bat or run only in the DP’s spot

The DP and the FLEX are never on offense at the same time. A FLEX who bats anywhere other than the DP’s spot is an illegal substitute.

How 10 becomes 9

The FLEX bats or runs for the DP. The DP has now left the game, and the FLEX plays both ways in the DP’s batting spot. The team is down to 9.

The DP plays defense for the FLEX. Now the FLEX has left the game, and the DP bats and fields. Again the team is down to 9.

The DP plays defense for someone else (say the shortstop). This one doesn’t change the count. The shortstop stays in the game and keeps batting in her own spot, and the DP is just fielding for her. The team still has 10.

Examples

Lineup: Ava (DP) bats 4th; Mia, the catcher, is the FLEX, listed 10th.

1. Mia gets a hit you want in the lineup. In the 5th, Mia pinch-hits in the 4th spot. Ava is out of the game; Mia now catches and bats 4th. 9 players.
2. Ava wants to catch. Ava catches in the 3rd inning, so Mia is out of the game. Ava catches and bats 4th. 9 players.
3. Ava plays shortstop for Zoe, who bats 7th. Zoe keeps batting 7th and Ava keeps batting 4th; Zoe just isn’t fielding. Mia is still catching. 10 players.

Re-entry

The DP and the FLEX each have one re-entry, like any starter. A DP who left must come back in her original batting spot. If the FLEX re-enters, or an eligible substitute comes in as the FLEX, the lineup can go back to 10.

NFHS and USA Softball

The core works the same in high school (NFHS) and USA Softball. The differences are at the edges:

• Youth batting options. USA Softball’s youth (JO) play has extra ones, like batting the whole roster or adding an extra player (EP). NFHS has no such rule.
• An illegal player. USA Softball disqualifies her. NFHS restricts her to the bench and calls her out if she’s on offense.
• Little League uses DP/FLEX only in Senior League softball.

Report every DP and FLEX change to the plate umpire. The DP/FLEX lineup card has a line for the FLEX and columns to track who’s in and who’s re-entered.