Interference

[berryman]

This is High School Softball. R1 on first. Ground ball to shortstop who either throws to 2nd covering or steps on bag herslf and fires to first for the double play. R1 does not slide and stays in baseline and does nothing to interfere. Coach wants interference saying his shortstop or 2nd baseman had to alter throw because runner did not slide. Many officials in our organization are calling interfernce and calling batter runner out even if she was safe. High school rule states the runner does not have to slide and is entitled to the baseline running between 1st and 2nd. That is part of the game if the 2nd baseman or shortstop has to alter the throw to get the runner at first. Throws are altered the whole game to get runners out. Now, R1 does some act causing interference of the shortstop or 2nd baseman throwing to first, then we have interference.

I want to bring this up at our umpiring meetings to help youngr officials get this right. Replies, please.

[WestMichBlue]

Once again, the "retired runner" issue.

NFHS 8.6.17: "After being declared out, a runner intentionally interferes with a defensive player's opportunity to make a play on another runner."

A runner is not expected to disappear; she should be allowed to continue her running as long as she does not deliberately interfere.

HOWEVER, be careful about using the NFHS casebook to support your position. It give two example of interference, one contact, the second an altered throw. It does not state that the action was intentional or not. But it does say, in the umpire's judgment, that if interference prevented an out or hindered a play the runner closes to home will also be called out.

The rule says that interference has to be intentional; the case book is not clear on that.

WMB

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by berryman
This is High School Softball. R1 on first. Ground ball to shortstop who either throws to 2nd covering or steps on bag herslf and fires to first for the double play. R1 does not slide and stays in baseline and does nothing to interfere. Coach wants interference saying his shortstop or 2nd baseman had to alter throw because runner did not slide. Many officials in our organization are calling interfernce and calling batter runner out even if she was safe. High school rule states the runner does not have to slide and is entitled to the baseline running between 1st and 2nd. That is part of the game if the 2nd baseman or shortstop has to alter the throw to get the runner at first. Throws are altered the whole game to get runners out. Now, R1 does some act causing interference of the shortstop or 2nd baseman throwing to first, then we have interference.

I want to bring this up at our umpiring meetings to help youngr officials get this right. Replies, please.

There is no rule requiring a runner to vacate a space to which they are legally entitled.

It is actually to the fielder's benefit for a runner to stay the course when advancing to a base, even after being put out.

If you call interference for a runner not vacating their basepath, what are you going to do when the runner DOES move out of the way and right in the way of the player making the relay throw? Trust me, the coach is going to want that call, too!

The coach is WRONG. The umpires who give the coach this call are WRONG.

Sounds like some of your group could use a remedial clinic.

Thanks,

[Roger Greene]

Or the umpires are confusing the Fed baseball "Force Play Slide Rule" with the softball rules.

Don't get me started on the FED BB FPSR though. It is not a pretty sight!

Roger Greene

[TexBlue]

The only way this would be a correct call is if the BR is obviously out and continues to run at the defensive player, who has to avoid the BR to prevent a collision, while trying to make a throw to 1st.