28 NOTE 2: League officials, other than managers or coaches, shall be empowered to make exceptions in the event of injury or sickness of a player who is unable to complete an inning or a time at bat. 3.03(f) FREE SUBSTITUTION ON DEFENSE (1) All players on every team must play at least three consecutive outs on defense in each game played by his/her team. PENALTY: If the winning team violates this rule, it shall forfeit the game provided that the opposing manager files a protest within the fifteen-minute time limit allowed for such protest (Refer to Rule 4.15, Paragraph (e), Note 2). (In addition, the umpire-in-chief shall declare a forfeit for any team, which attempts to intentionally allow the opposing team to score to extend the game so that it may comply with the player participation requirement.) If both teams violate the rule, both teams shall forfeit the game. SPECIAL NOTE: Local leagues shall have the authority to adopt local rules requiring more than one defensive inning of participation and one complete time at bat. (2) Except for the pitcher, any player may enter the game in any defensive position as many times as deemed necessary by the team manager. (3) Players shall enter the game on defense only at the beginning of each team’s defensive inning unless the defensive player enters the game to replace an injured, ill, or ejected player or enters the game during a pitching change. 3.04– A "courtesy runner" may be used for the pitcher AND the catcher. The "courtesy runner" will be the batter who made the last out, or if no out has been recorded in the game, the batter farthest away from the batter for whom the "courtesy runner" is being used. Exception - If the player to be used as the "courtesy runner" happens to be the pitcher or catcher, then the last out made prior to the last out will be used as the "courtesy runner". 3.05–(a) The pitcher named in the batting order handed to the official scorer, as provided in Rules 4.01(a) and 4.01(b) shall pitch to the first batter or any substitute batter until such batter or any substitute batter is put out or reaches first base, unless the pitcher sustains injury or illness which, in the judgment of the umpire-in-chief, incapacitates the pitcher from pitching. (b) If the pitcher is replaced, the substitute pitcher shall pitch to the batter then at bat, or any substitute batter, until such batter is put out or reaches first base, or until the offensive team is put out, unless the substitute pitcher sustains injury or illness, which in the umpire-in-chief’s judgment, incapacitates the pitcher from pitching further. 3.06–The scorer, after having been notified, shall immediately announce, or cause to be announced, each substitution. 3.07–(a) If no announcement of a substitution is made, the substitute shall be considered to have entered the game when: (1) If a pitcher, the substitute takes position on the pitcher’s plate and commences making warm up pitches during an inning or commences making preliminary pitches at the beginning of his/her team’s defensive half of the inning. (2) If a batter, the substitute takes position in the batter’s box. (3) If a fielder, the substitute reaches the position usually occupied by the fielder being replaced and play commences. (4) If a runner, the substitute takes the place of the runner being replaced. (b) Any play made by, or on, an unannounced substitute shall be legal.