Avoiding the Catcher: FED

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Spence

My understanding in FED is that the runner cannot truck the catcher. He has to either slide or go around the catcher.

Runner rounding third heading for home. Throw is up the 3rd base line. F2 goes after the throw and there is a collision between the runner and F2.

What are you looking for in order to determine if this violates the "don't hit the catcher" rule? The runner clearly sees the catcher coming up the line. Is that enough? Does the distance away from home plate come into play?

The runner cannot maliciosly contact the catcher, but the catcher cannot impede the runner's progress without the ball. The onus is on the runner to avoid malicious contact, but the catcher must avoid obstruction. There can be contact between the catcher and the runner without constituting malicious contact.