Yelling Back

[Limacon2]

High School Baseball Game under NFHS rules. With runner on second base, umpire tells shortstop that he is not allowed to say back while he is working to hold the runner close to the base. Is the umpire correct?

[mbates50]

Originally Posted by Limacon2

High School Baseball Game under NFHS rules. With runner on second base, umpire tells shortstop that he is not allowed to say back while he is working to hold the runner close to the base. Is the umpire correct?

Yes

[Limacon2]

Can you give me a rule reference? I could not find one in the NFHS Rule Book.

[bob jenkins]

There's some case play where the fielders say that phrase on either a grounder, or a "throw" from the catcher.

The general philosophy in FED ball is that the fielders are not allowed to say things that an opposing coach or umpire would say.

[LRZ]

I don't do FED, but Rule 2-22-1 supports a verbal obstruction call:
"Obstruction is an act (intentional or unintentional, as well as physical or verbal) by a fielder, any member of the defensive team or its team-personnel that hinders a runner or changes the pattern of play...."

[scrounge]

Here is a case play attached to the rule that LRZ posted that pretty much covers the situation. At higher levels of ball, this kind of bush stuff can be self-policed...but obviously we don't want HS students doing that.

2.22.1 SITUATION A:

R1 attempts to steal second. F2, upon receiving the pitch, throws a pop-up to F6. F5 yells “get back, get back.” R1 thinks B2 has hit a popup and starts back to first where he is tagged out.

RULING: This is verbal obstruction and R1 shall be awarded second base.

[LRZ]

Originally Posted by Limacon2

Can you give me a rule reference? I could not find one in the NFHS Rule Book.

By the way, Limacon2, I prefer to find answers in hard copy rule books and case books, in part because I almost always come across other issues that I did not know or had forgotten. But on-line search capabilities can be helpful.

There are fairly current, not too out-of-date NFHS baseball rules books on-line, where you can easily do a word search. As I said, I don't do FED, so I don't have NFHS rule books on hand; instead, I got the answer to your question in a 2015 on-line rule book by doing a "find" for "verbal."

My apologies if this alternative is not news to you--I don't mean to condescend.