The below post got me thinking about a disagreement I was in a few years ago. Here are the plays tell me if you would have verbal interference.

1) High pop up near visiting teams dugout, three girls going for it F1, F2 and F3. F3 has best chance of getting it, but all 3 running hard all looking up, visiting bench starts yelling "I got it, I got it" so F1, F2 and F3 all back off thinking it is one of the other girls calling it out, ball falls to ground just in middle of all 3 players. It is judged that at least 1 if not 2 of them could have caught it if they didn't stop due to bench yelling.

2) Same as above but bench just yells "Hey" and screams loudly.

What say you all?

I don't think there is any such thing as verbal interference, although obstruction can be verbal.
Then again, there is UC.

Dave - I would say that both of the plays you posted could be called interference on the bench.

Really? Runners on 2nd & 3rd with no outs, the ball is popped up in the infield. As F6 is camping under the ball, R2 runs up to F6 and screams "MINE, MINE, MINE" at the top of his/her lungs and retreats to 2B after F6 jumps back. The ball drops to the ground, R1 scores and the BR is safe at 1B.

I'm calling interference, what are you calling? Nothing?

Read ASA POE #33
 

Excerpt: (emphasis added by me)

Interference is defined as the act of an offensive player or team member which impedes, hinders or confuses a defensive player attempting to execute a play. It may be in the form of physical contact, verbal distraction, visual distraction, or any type of distraction which would hinder the fielder in the execution of the play.

Does POE #33 cover this??? ....with R1 on 2B and ball is hit towards F6, R1 takes two steps off the bag towards 3B stomping his feet and waving his arms to distract F6 (no physical contact) who is about 2-3 feet away. F6 bobbles the fielding attempt and does not attempt to throw to F3.

Is this to be considered interference? If so, who gets called out?

Rob - yes, and R1 is out, BR to first base. Put a runner on 1st, and I can see R1 and BR out.

That was exactly what I was thinking as I read through this.

Reminds me of one I had here a long time ago. Liner down 1st base line. Ball lands on chalk and catcher running down the line next to me yells "FOUL". BR turns to express his displeasure with me only to see me furiously signalling fair. After he turns to run out goes the left arm. Meanwhile in right the fielder stops chasing the ball because of the foul call. He finally catches on and throws it in after the BR has taken a wide turn at 3rd and then changes his mind and retreats. I then announce BR get home on the OBS. Catcher tries the "but it made the fielder stop too" line to which I replied, "don't care if you interfere with a teammate, do care what happens to the other team".

PS: Still in Kananga, DR Congo. Not a softball game in sight but had a strong urge to visit y'all.

Jim [email protected]

The definition of obstruction doesn't include verbal, although it doesn't seem to exclude it either, anymore than the definition of interference. The POE for interference (33) does include a verbal distraction; not so on obstruction (36). But, I can't really think of a circumstance where I would rule it to have happened. Remembering that the runners have base coaches to whom they should be listening rather than defensive players, I would be REALLY hard pressed to do it. Can you give an example of your thoughts, Cecil?

Or, did you just have it reversed in your thoughts, but type it out wrong?

I was a second year umpire and had a high fly foul near the dugout. The catcher was going for it, but not really "camped" under it. The dugout all yells, "Out of play! Out of play!" The catcher pulled-up just as the ball drops at her feet.

I sold it big time. "That's verbal interference on the dugout! That's an out! You can't be yelling like that!" Big voice and big hand motions.

But then I had to over turn it. They got a good laugh at me. It ended up that was the catcher's own team members and her dugout.