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Originally posted by Dakota
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This year, I had a coach that would stand approximately 3 feet past the base giving the "hands-up" stop sign. He was very close and right in the base path. From the way he stands and his motionless posture, I'm imagining that he thinks he is not physically assisting. Even though the coach is doing nothing, if a player touches him in this situation, I've got an out for physical assistance.
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A bit of preventative umpiring would put this guy back in the coach's box. Otherwise, I would agree with the call. Would anyone make the call without contact? Is getting in the way of a runner (in the runner's basepath) "physically assisting?" Hmmm... seems like it would be a supportable call.
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Not in the manner described above, but I have seen it. It took a while to set in and I warned the coach that if it happened again, I would rule the runner out.
Co-rec game. As a female was rounding third, the coach intentionally stepped into the basepath with his back to the runner. She stopped on a dime and I didn't pick-up on it until a few moments after the play was over. In effect, he used his body to block a runner who was bent on proceeding.
However, to call this, I would really have to be convinced the coach was intentional in his/her action and it is going to be a helluva "sell" call.