Catch/No Catch

[Illini_Ref]

I read in the NFHS handout that I got at theis years rules meeting about catch/no catch. I said that there MUST be a voluntary release. However, in the NFHS rules, under the definition of catch it says that the fielder must complete the catching action, or something to that effect. It says that if he stops, he ends the action and the catch is completed. Under NFHS rules, other than on a third out where he is running in, does he have to have a voluntary release?

What if a fielder dives and catches the ball, but is injured? Can another fielder remove the ball from his glove and the catch still stand?

[mcrowder]

If a fielder dives and catches the ball, and is injured, and another fielder removes the ball, of course you have a catch. This rule would be much clearer if instead of saying there MUST be a voluntary release it said there cannot be an INvoluntary release - this would clarify it's intent.

In your scenario, the ball never hit the ground anyway - so there's no reason to call no catch (think of this - ball bounces off OF's glove INvoluntarily - OF has no catch - but another fielder gains possession of the ball before it hits the ground. Now, you have a catch.)

If action stops and the fielder demonstrates control, it's a catch, regardless of what he does afterward. Say he jogs in 4 steps, transfers the ball to his hand, jogs another 4 steps, and then drops the ball. Still a catch.

[Jeff Davis]

Illini Ref,

In the sitch at the bottom of your post, you DO have voluntary release. The other fielder VOLUNTARILY released the ball from the injured fielder's glove. If you read the rule, it doesn't say the release must be made by the fielder who "caught" the ball, right? By not reading into what is actually written in the rule, you meet all requirements for a catch (control before the batted ball hits ground/object, voluntary release). Therefore, THAT'S A CATCH! and an out.

mcrowder,

In your last sitch, when the fielder "transfers the ball to his hand", THAT'S A VOLUNTARY RELEASE! So you counter your own statement about "regardless of what he does afterward". "Voluntary release" doesn't mean a throw.

Just my two cents' worth.

Rick

[mcrowder]

Err... good point. Was trying to come up with an obvious example to illustrate a point, and botched it.