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Grrr,
Sorry Tim, I did not see your question until a few moments ago.
The NFHS Executive Committee is reviewing the Oregon Malicious Contact guidelines as we speak.
FED has decided that coaches and administrators constant request for some type of guidelines has finally struck a nerve.
The majority of ejections in Oregon were for MC, the majority of additional game suspensions that were overturned on appeal were MC.
Oregon Malicious Contact Guideline:
The NFHS Baseball rulebook does not have a written definition for malicious contact. Refer to rule 3-3-1. Umpires must rule on all contact. The Umpires must determine if it is a violation of the rules and determine if the contact was incidental, interference or interference and malicious.
Keep in mind that; not all contact is malicious. Some interference calls involve contact.
Some contact is malicious.
We will attempt to give you some tools to understand contact and malicious contact.
Remember, if all players are doing what they are supposed to be doing, then there is probably not going to be an interference ruling. If a player is initiating contact, then there will be an interference ruling. More must occur to result in a ruling of Malicious Contact.
Please read on.
Oregon Ruling: Malicious Contact
Malicious contact: any willful or reckless actions or behavior(s) by any player either on offense or on defense, with intent to commit an unsportsmanlike act and/or cause harm or injure a player.
This usually centers on an attempt to dislodge a baseball, take the player out of the play, inflict pain or punishment on a player or to strike an opponent.
Since 99.9% of plays concerning Malicious Contact are instigated by the offensive player the following references are offered:
Guideline for 2006:
1) If a runner has time to get down and does not, the onus is for contact is on him.
2) If the runner then crashes into a fielder and knocks the fielder down, it is malicious contact.
3) If "malicious contact" is instigated by the offensive palyer and is called, the runner will always be called out.
As noted above this is now in the hands of the NFHS BUT the Oregon School Activities Association unanimously approved these guidelines for all high school baseball games played in this state for 2006.
Hope this helps.
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