Baseball lineup card and template
A good lineup card answers three questions without anyone asking: who hits, in what order, and where every kid stands each inning. Here is what belongs on one, and a card you can print already filled in.
Back to LineupBudWhat belongs on the card
- Batting order with jersey numbers. Numbers matter more than names once the game starts, because that is what the scorekeeper and the umpire see from a distance.
- Defense by inning. One column per inning, one row per player, so a parent helping in the dugout can send kids out without asking you.
- The bench row. Who sits which inning, written down before the game so it does not turn into whoever is nearest the gate.
- Pitchers and bullpen. Your planned pitchers by inning, plus who is available in relief and how many innings they have left under your division's guidance.
- Anyone absent. Listed at the bottom so nobody spends the third inning looking for a kid who is not there.
- A small field diagram. Handy for the youngest divisions, where half the job is pointing at where to stand.
The printable dugout card
This is the card LineupBud prints for every game. Print one full page for the dugout rail, two per page, or four pocket-size cards for your assistant coaches.
LineupBud Sluggers
Sample dugout card · T-Ball · LineupBud demo
at Blue Jays · 2026-04-18 · 4 innings
| # | Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bill Blue | RF | 2B | P (IF) | LF |
| 2 | Marcus Orange | 3B | 1B | RF | 2B |
| 3 | John Red | LF | SS | 3B | 1B |
| 4 | Martin Black | 2B | P (IF) | LF | SS |
| 5 | Juan White | 1B | RF | 2B | P (IF) |
| 6 | Andre Gray | SS | 3B | 1B | RF |
| 7 | Mike Green | P (IF) | LF | SS | 3B |
| Trent Yellow | - | - | - | - | |
| Susie Purple | - | - | - | - |
How to fill one out
- 1. Cross off who is out. Build the order from the kids actually at the park, not from the roster sheet.
- 2. Set the batting order. Most youth leagues bat the whole roster, so this is about rotating who leads off rather than stacking your best hitters. More on that in our batting lineup guide.
- 3. Place your pitchers and catchers first. Those two spots drive the rest of the defense, and you want a kid who just pitched to get a breather rather than the gear.
- 4. Fill the infield, then the outfield. Give the infield innings to the kids who have had the fewest so far this season. See the field positions guide if you are new to the numbering.
- 5. Spread the bench. Nobody should sit back-to-back innings, or two games in a row.
Common questions
- What goes on a baseball lineup card?
- The batting order with jersey numbers, each player's defensive position by inning, substitutes and bench innings, and the pitchers you plan to use. Youth coaches usually add who is absent so the order is not left with holes.
- Do I have to give a copy to the umpire?
- Most youth leagues ask for a copy of the batting order for the umpire and the opposing coach before the first pitch. Printing three copies of the same card covers you, your scorekeeper and the plate.
- Is there a free lineup card template?
- LineupBud prints a filled-in card for every game, and your first two games on a new team are free. Print it as a full page, two per page, or four pocket-size cards per page.
- Can I write the card by hand?
- Yes, and plenty of coaches do. The trouble with a handwritten card is remembering who sat last week and who has not played infield yet. LineupBud fills those in from the season totals so the card is already fair when it prints.