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NCAA Collision Rule at home plate
How do you interpret the college collision rule at home plate?
Are there video clips anywhere that people would be willing to share? More specifically, how do you interpret the train wreck? How do you interpret "made an attempt to avoid contact?" I know a lot of this is "had to see it" or HTBT, but what cues do you look for? I haven't had to rule on this yet, but the time will come and I want to do my best to prepare for this and get it right. Here's the 2009 Rule: Collision Rule SECTION 7. The rules committee is concerned about unnecessary and violent collisions with the catcher at home plate, and with infielders at all bases. The intent of this rule is to encourage base runners and defensive players to avoid such collisions whenever possible. a. When there is a collision between a runner and a fielder who clearly is in possession of the ball, the umpire shall judge: (1) Whether the collision by the runner was avoidable (could the runner have reached the base without colliding) or unavoidable (the runner’s path to the base was blocked); (2) Whether the runner actually was attempting to reach the base (plate) or attempting to dislodge the ball from the fielder; or (3) Whether the runner was using flagrant contact to maliciously dislodge the ball. PENALTY—If the runner attempted to dislodge the ball, the runner shall be declared out even if the fielder loses possession of the ball. The ball is dead and all other base runners shall return to the last base touched at the time of the interference. A.R. 1—If the fielder blocks the path of the base runner to the base (plate), the runner may make contact, slide into, or collide with a fielder as long as the runner is making a legitimate attempt to reach the base or plate. A.R. 2—If the flagrant or malicious contact by the runner was before the runner’s touching the plate, the runner shall be declared out and also ejected from the contest. The ball shall be declared dead immediately. All other base runners shall return to the bases they occupied at the time of the pitch. A.R. 3—If the contact was after a preceding runner had touched home plate, the preceding runner will be ruled safe, the ball becomes dead immediately and all other base runners will return to the base they had last touched before the contact. A.R. 4—If the runner is safe and the collision is malicious, the runner shall be ruled safe and ejected from the game. If this occurs at any base other than home, the offending team may replace the runner. b. If the defensive player blocks the base (plate) or base line clearly without possession of the ball, obstruction shall be called. The umpire shall point and call, “That’s obstruction.” The umpire shall let the play continue until all play has ceased, call time and award any bases that are justified in Rule 2. The obstructed runner is awarded at least one base beyond the base last touched legally before the obstruction. A.R.—If the base runner collides flagrantly, the runner shall be declared safe on the obstruction, but will be ejected from the contest. The ball is dead. |
Looks like your post of NCAA excerpts pretty well covers.
If runner was not attempting to reach the plate and instead made malicous attempt to dislodge the ball then MC. |
It's pretty clear as written - not much left to interpretation.
If the runner is making a legitimate attempt to touch the plate (umpire judgment), colliding with the catcher is legal, even if the runner does not slide (no force). If the runner is attempting to dislodge the ball (umpire judgment), or went out of his way to contact the catcher (umpire judgment), the runner is ejected and also out, unless he scored before the contact. BTW: The collision rule applies only when the fielder clearly has possession of the ball. Search ncaa.org for the video. I don't recall seeing one, but I wouldn't be surprised if one existed. |
Okay, so the "in the act of fielding the ball" doesn't apply to NCAA? Or is there some gray area there? A.R. 4b...then we have OBS?
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More specifically, how do you interpret the train wreck?
How do you interpret "made an attempt to avoid contact?" Take a look at the runner as he is coming in. Usually he will make some type movement Eg: lower his shoulder, bring up his arm or elbow to brace for impact or punish the catcher. Sometimes it is tough to tell but I tend to favor the catcher. Did he try and run through the catcher? Look for these things. Does the runner barrel down on the catcher or initate a slide before he gets to the catcher? Was the catcher the agressor? Contact does not mean it is malicious contact because two people are both trying to be in the same place , at the same time. You have to experience this a few times to get it correct and even then there is always the fine line between what you see and what others think you should have seen. Now beyond that, it quite clear what the interp is. |
The rule is actually written quite nicely and uses good old common sense, which should be able to be applied universally across rule codes in practice.
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