running lane
 

We have a coach here that teaches his players to run inside the running lane on ground balls to the infield. Now, a throw from the F5 (charging in), which F3 has to reach for (up the foul line), causes either a hit runner or a minor collision (with F3's mitt), just before B1 reaches the base. (B1 is/was clearly out of the running lane leading up to the base.
Would we have anything in either fed, obr or mlb?

Sure. All of them.

There was talk that the throw had to come from the catcher/plate area.
Please help me understand by clarifing.

Would have to see it, but if B/R is within a step of the base he can exit the running lane to touch the base. However, he's coaching his players to do that hoping that the umpires aren't trained enough to actually call it.

He's not exiting the lane to reach the base. He's out of the lane the whole time.

I am assuming that "inside the running lane" in the OP means out of the lane on the infield side. If that's not the case, I retract everything.

That is correct. B/R running (just barely on the grass) towards first base. Just as he gets to first, the ball, F3's glove & runners leg (in front base, fair side), all meet at the same time, causing F3 to drop ball.
What ya got?

Not true per PBUC. No rule support either, actual or implied.

The rule supports the quality throw concept on the thought that you cannot interfere with catching an uncatchable throw.

A runner can exit the lane at the base to touch the base, BUT - if he's out of the lane all the way he's then subject to an interference call.

Probably interference on the BR.


Agreed, but the practical implication of "quality throw" is nearly identical to "the throw must come from the box." I agree it's not an absolute, but I've never had a quality throw from outside the box hit a runner to cause interference.

Does it have to be the ball hitting the runer. Can't it be the runner hitting the fielder? The rules say "interferes with the fielder taking the throw".

"Agreed, but the practical implication of "quality throw" is nearly identical to "the throw must come from the box." I agree it's not an absolute, but I've never had a quality throw from outside the box hit a runner to cause interference."

So, in Fed, B/R running outside the running lane to first base, a throw from F6, over the F3's head, could result in interference? (In Fed, the throw does have to be a quality one).

Any time you have a runner, including a batter-runner, you can have interference by the runner. That's not the point of this thread.

This thread concerns running lane interference, which can only be called on a BR, and only when certain conditions are met (different conditions for FED and OBR).

Two kinds of INT, with two sets of criteria of application.

Doubtful.

In FED, if (a) the BR is out of the running lane, and (b) the BR is "between" the thrower and F3 (or whoever is at first), then a poor throw is presumed to have been caused by the BR and the BR is out.

The requirement in (b) is not met in your play.

The coach is teaching his players to cheat--as a ump you see this(runner out of running lane) and if batter-runner hinders F3 from making the play- it is simple- the batter-runner is out.

Running outside the lane is not cheating because ther's no rule against running outside the lane.

You can get called for interference if you're outside the lane AND interfere but just being there is not in and of itself illegal.

Any decent catcher from JV on up knows how to find a clear throwing lane. The only time you'll see a problem with older players is when the runner is almost to the base. Otherwise the catcher will find the lane and the throw will be made OK.

A throw from F5 - even from 30' form the plate to a "receiver" that knows how to stretch, shouldn't come close to the runner.

....yes, but....the coach is teaching his runners to try to create a bad throw and hope he doesn't get that interference call. On lower levels he may get away with it more often than not. Legal to run there, but.......

JJ