Mc

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Malicious contact is "intent to injure." That's a standard above (or "more egregious") than just "attempt to dislodge the ball."

Thanks Bob. I understand the dictionary definition but the application of the rule is far more difficult. If a runner forcibly dislodges the ball it is difficult to believe that he simply wanted to induce a muscular relaxation response from the guy trying to tag him out. Lowering a shoulder in a posture to attack is malicious in my book. I'm not terribly concerned with keeping someone like that in the game. Retaliation often follows and that is a bigger mess to clean up. I have never had a coach complain that I ejected his player for lowering a shoulder when going into a fielder with the ball. Often, they apologize or simply shake their head in disbelief at their player.

I still find it funny that in a world where we define what kind of product can be used to mark the field, we don't have an NFHS or NCAA definition for malicious contact. Thanks again for helping to clarify the play.