Interference Question

Stair-Climber · #1 (**permalink**) Fri Mar 19, 2004, 11:55pm

New softball umpire, so please be gentle. Worked first high school scrimmage this evening and have question--NFHS rules. R3 on 1st base with two outs. B4 hits pop-up toward 2nd base. F4 is waiting to catch the pop-up about one step off of 2nd base, kind of on the 1st base side of 2nd base. As R3 gets to 2nd base, she brushes against/ slightly contacts F4 who is still waiting to catch the pop-up. Even though F4 was brushed by R3, she still has a very good opportuntiy to catch the ball--about two seconds elapsed between contact and ball hitting glove. However, F4 drops the pop-up--goes off of her glove to the ground. I called R3 safe at 2nd. Coach wanted interference on R3. I did not call interference because even though there was slight contact, I felt that F4 had a good opportunity to catch the pop-up. Was my call a good one considering it was NFHS rules?

[Edited by Stair-Climber on Mar 19th, 2004 at 11:10 PM]

whiskers_ump · #2 (**permalink**) Sat Mar 20, 2004, 01:11am

New softball umpire, so please be gentle. Worked first high school scrimmage this evening and have question--NFHS rules. R3 on 1st base with two outs. B4 hits pop-up toward 2nd base. F4 is waiting to catch the pop-up about one step off of 2nd base, kind of on the 1st base side of 2nd base. As R3 gets to 2nd base, she brushes against/ slightly contacts F4 who is still waiting to catch the pop-up. Even though F4 was brushed by R3, she still has a very good opportuntiy to catch the ball--about two seconds elapsed between contact and ball hitting glove. However, F4 drops the pop-up--goes off of her glove to the ground. I called R3 safe at 2nd. Coach wanted interference on R3. I did not call interference because even though there was slight contact, I felt that F4 had a good opportunity to catch the pop-up. Was my call a good one considering it was NFHS rules?

Gently - No, not a good call. You had a runner interfere
with a fielder attempting to field a batted fair ball.

See NFHS Rule 8-6-10a. thru d.

Welcome to the board Stair Climber.

WestMichBlue · #3 (**permalink**) Sat Mar 20, 2004, 02:43am

Allow me to expand on Glen's answer. Interference is called right now! You do not wait to see the results of the play. The fact that the ball was still in the air and you thought the fielder should have been able to make the catch is immaterial.

Interference is immediate dead ball, therefore anything that happens after that doesn't matter - ball is dead.

WMB

Stair-Climber · #4 (**permalink**) Sat Mar 20, 2004, 08:31am

Thanks for the help. Let me explain just a little further in order to see what R3 should legally do.

(1) F4 was standing a step away and in front of 2nd (on the 1st base side). R3 was attempting to reach 2nd base bag, but F4 was in the way waiting for the ball to come down. Should R3 go around F4 and come from the other side of the bag in order to touch it and is that legal?

(2) Or what if in this case F4 is actually standing right next to the bag (so close her foot is touching side of bag) and R3 has no way of touching the bag without getting in F4's way.

What is R3's responsibility in either case?

Oh, again I am new, what does "HTBT" mean. I asked some veteran umpires last night and they didn't know. I know it has something to do with an interference/obstruction situation.

[Edited by Stair-Climber on Mar 20th, 2004 at 07:35 AM]

whiskers_ump · #5 (**permalink**) Sat Mar 20, 2004, 08:46am

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Stair-Climber
Thanks for the help. Let me explain just a little further in order to see what R3 should legally do.

(1) F4 was standing a step away and in front of 2nd (on the 1st base side). R3 was attempting to reach 2nd base bag, but F4 was in the way waiting for the ball to come down. Should R3 go around F4 and come from the other side of the bag in order to touch it and is that legal?
__________________________________________________ ___

F4 must be afforded every opportunity to field the batted
ball. R3 can go around, or hesitate to see result of play.

(2) Or what if in this case F4 is actually standing right next to the bag (so close her foot is touching side of bag) and R3 has no way of touching the bag without getting in F4's way.
__________________________________________________
Samo

What is R3's responsibility in either case?
__________________________________________________
Stay out of F4's way... Go back to 1B.

Oh, again I am new, what does "HTBT" mean. I asked some veteran umpires last night and they didn't know. I know it has something to do with an interference/obstruction situation.
__________________________________________________ _
HTBT has nothing to do with OBS/INTFR....It means in board
talk, the play is a had to be there thus (HTBT)situation
to see just what did happen.

[Edited by whiskers_ump on Mar 20th, 2004 at 07:53 AM]

mick · #6 (**permalink**) Sat Mar 20, 2004, 08:52am

Quote:

Originally posted by Stair-Climber
What is R3's responsibility in either case?

See NFHS Rule 8-2-5
mick

whiskers_ump · #7 (**permalink**) Sat Mar 20, 2004, 08:56am

WOW

Up moderatoring and on top of the answers.

mick · #8 (**permalink**) Sat Mar 20, 2004, 09:00am

Quote:

Originally posted by whiskers_ump
WOW

Up moderatoring and on top of the answers.

Glen,
I'm not moderatin', ...I'm umpin'.

mick

whiskers_ump · #9 (**permalink**) Sat Mar 20, 2004, 09:03am

Your season has started then? Hope by now everyones has.
We are about halfway through NFHS. All the NSA, NFSA,
AFA, and some USSSA qualifiers are starting now.

mick · #10 (**permalink**) Sat Mar 20, 2004, 09:12am

Quote:

Originally posted by whiskers_ump
Your season has started then? Hope by now everyones has.
We are about halfway through NFHS. All the NSA, NFSA,
AFA, and some USSSA qualifiers are starting now.

Well, Yeah!

I mean, ...Geez!!!!
Started in a dome two weeks ago.

(Still have 24" of snow on the ground.)
Next game may be in June.

mick