interference/obs

[bob jenkins]

Originally posted by GarthB
I hear words like "play must be imminent in order to call interference". FED rules say "attempting to make a play" in order to call interference. How do you determine these acts?? Fed states that in order for obstruction to be called we must observe an act that "hinders the runner".

Don't confuse a fielder fielding a batted ball and a fielder receiving a throw. Two different animals.

And, to expand on that, interference with a thrown ball (or with a fielder receiving a throw) must be intentional (with the possible exception of the running lane toward first -- although the runner should know where he is, so you could make the claim that even this interference is intentional).

So, in none of the plays mentioned do you have interference.

The question then becomes, is it obstruction, or nothing.

In FED ball (and OBR), it's all judgment. In NCAA, you could have obstruction if the runner was blocked off the base before the fielder was holding the ball AND the throw did not take the fielder into the path.