NFHS: Verbal Interference
 

Pop up on the third base side. Dugout starts yelling as 3Bmen tries to complete catch and drops ball. Is this interference? I'm pretty sure it is. If so,can someone help me with a rules reference. Also, to take it further, is there an applicable rule in softball?

Dugout starts yelling

Please be more specific.

It's not something I'll call. It's bush league though.


Tim.

Where is the popup? "Third base side" is not specific enough. What are they yelling? Is it a constant noise or was it quiet until just before he caught the ball? Was the yelling intended as a distraction to the 3rd baseman, or was it just "rah-rah" stuff that had been ongoing?
If you pose a situation here you'd better be as specific as you can be or you won't get much of an answer (this being one of those responses).

JJ

chatter is baseball

Clarification
 

Situation 1: Right in front of 3B dugout, as player is about to make catch, bench yells giberish in an obvious attempt to distract the 3Bmen so he'll miss the catch.

Situation 2: Same as above only they are yelling, "I got it!"

Interference under FED rules.

Under FED - I would do nothing here, but I would watch for the "even the score" later.

Under OBR - Again nothing.
Under FED - Interfierence

Under OBR - Nothing!

Regards

What is the rules reference please?

w_sohl,

FED 2-21-1a works for me.

JM

And the related 2.21.1A

Implying a bean ball war?

Perhaps.

My experience with youth league ball, however, indicates that that almost never happens.

In fact, I don't think I have ever had to give so much as a warning in over 15 years of umpiring.

I have called but a handful of college games in my career, so I can't speak authoritatively about that level of play. But from high school on down - it is virtually non-existent.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

Originally Posted by w_sohl
Situation 1: Right in front of 3B dugout, as player is about to make catch, bench yells giberish in an obvious attempt to distract the 3Bmen so he'll miss the catch.

Over this? You must do HS in the ghetto. Never once seen such a reaction in HS ball over so little.

I recommend getting a copy of the FED rule / case book

The rule mentioned in the OP is not that difficult to find. It's in the definition section of the FED rule book.

There is also a case play to explain the rule.

Pete Booth

Atta boy!
 

Atta boy, Pete - we all had to look up the rules we didn't know - it's only fair HE does as well!
JJ