Quote:
Originally posted by chuckfan1
........."It is the base runner's responsibility to avoid contact with the fielder when he has the ball. Slide or avoid is in effect at all times when fielder is in possession of ball......"
That is from the USSSA website rules section.
It goes on to say if it is intentional, you may eject.
So....he didnt slide, and he didnt avoid. Sometimes ya just gotta umpire. Go with what you see, and if it looks like interference, to you, call it. You have the aforementioned rule reference to back you up.
Maybe in your scenario, call it. Without having seen the play, if you dont call it, it sets a precedent, at least for the rest of that game. The teams now think they may be able to go in like that on any play.
At that level, call that stuff early, USSSA being a youth league, has that safety stuff in place. And coach wont have much to argue your point with.
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Where did you find that? This is what I found:
8.03.F Whenever a tag play is evident, runners must slide or seek to avoid contact with the fielder. Malicious contact shall supersede all obstruction penalties.
PENALTY: Runner shall be declared out and may be ejected from the game at the umpires discretion.
NOTE: When enforcing this rule, the umpire should judge the runners intent. If the umpire feels that the contact was unintentional, then the runner should only be declared out. If the umpire feels that the contact was intentional and / or malicious, then the runner should be declared
out and ejected.
Note that
1) It refe4rs to tag plays, not force plays.
2) It does NOT require a slide, only a choice of sliding or seeking to avoid contact.
A search reveals that it is the only instance of the word "slide" in their book.