Slide in direct line.
 

R1 slides into 2b, he's within arms reach to F4's side of bag. Is this slide considered in a direct line? we had major discussion at our recent meeting. would like other's interpretation of direct line. thanks.

No, it's not in a direct line.

Another case of differing rules codes confusing an issue.

His body has to go straight into the bag.

Only on a force play, he can also slide AWAY from the fielder to the 2nd base side.

No, but does it matter might be a follow-up question?. Depends on the situation and the rule set. If the force is on and it is NCAA or FED game he must slide directly into the bag, or away from the fielder, or he can just veer away from the fielder and not slide at all. If the force is not on it depends on where F4 is and whether you think he was sliding that way in an effort to injure F4, in which case it's illegal. If it is to F4's side of the bag and F4 is nowhere near it's legal.

If it is OBR game it's legal if he slides within arm's reach whether force or not.

DG,
I concur with your interpretation and all of the others as well. Basically that is how I covered this rule set in the meeting (Fed). Obviously several of our umpires(wanna be big dogs) still believe on a force play, sliding within arms reach and altering the play, is a good baseball play.

It is, in OBR...

I don't know how many times I have heard HS coaches hollering across the field to "break it up", when there is a DP situation. Just leads to FPSR violations when they do as they are told.

If I see FPSR violation I call it. If I have turned with the throw I expect the PU to catch FPSR that happens behind my back. So no need to call him out for discussion. If he saw it he would have called it. I would do the same if I was PU. And of course this was discussed as a pre-game item.

Yes! This should be a part of everyone's pregame since it's something that's sometimes looked over.

Obviously wanna be umpires ...
 

just laughin at your comment about wanna be umpires.

If they wanna be, then they should know the rules - be interesting to ask one of them about the difference in that rule with FED and NCAA -

Then of course ask them about OBR ...

Thanks
David:D

I have sent an email to our state rules interperter and asked him to cover the fpsr when we take the state test on feb 1 and define a straight line between bases. most of our umpires still consider an arm's reach as meeting the requirements of a straight line.

Should be interesting!
 

And exactly which rule are they using to define this requirements?

Sounds like your local group has problems if your own rule interpreter can't define something that is "black and white"

But maybe the state guy will help - the problem is that with many of the state guys, they don't know the rules any better than the local guys. (g)

So I would ask the state interpreter for rules to back up what he is saying.
Not just his opinion.

Thanks
David

When I do rules meetings for FED I tell the listeners that "straight into the bag" means head, legs, trunk, a$$, and elbows. :D

JJ

It would simplify things if the NFHS were to put a small picture showing a shaded area around the bag where it is considered a direct line. The NCAA FPSR also says the runner must slide on the ground in a direct line, but they give the runner the option of sliding just to the left or right of the bag.



Tim.

Maybe I'm missing something, but the NCAA rule specifically says what JJ posted (legs, arms, trunk, etc.) in a direct line betweent he bases. THere's no "just to the left or the right of the bag" (unles it's "away from the fielder" -- the same as FED).

No. The rule says

“Directly into a base” means the runner’s entire body (feet, legs, trunk and arms) must stay in a straight line between the bases.

And the diagram shows the fielder protected on both sides of the base.

But you know how the NFHS rule book is- everything is crammed together to save the extra half cent on paper and ink.

Uhhhhh, nope.

That was a huge brain cramp on my part. I looked at the diagram and read that the fielder was protected in that area, but it registered as the runner was the one afforded the protection.


Thanks,


Tim.