Obstruction vs Interference

[CecilOne]

#2. Interference. F3 was in the act from the moment she reacted to the direction of the ball (common sense, not book).
#3. Also Interference.

"Does F3 have to get out of the way if she has time to get to the ball and still make a play or can she stand in the base line on a slow roller like I've described? " no, yes

"If the defense and offense arrive at the same point in the base line/base path at the same time, do we have obstruction, interference or a live ball train wreck?" If fielder is fielding a batted ball or in possession, intereference or just a tag out. If not those, obstruction if the runner's path is altered or if NFHS.

[rwest]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

#2. Interference. F3 was in the act from the moment she reacted to the direction of the ball (common sense, not book).
#3. Also Interference.

"Does F3 have to get out of the way if she has time to get to the ball and still make a play or can she stand in the base line on a slow roller like I've described? " no, yes

"If the defense and offense arrive at the same point in the base line/base path at the same time, do we have obstruction, interference or a live ball train wreck?" If fielder is fielding a batted ball or in possession, intereference or just a tag out. If not those, obstruction if the runner's path is altered or if NFHS.

So you place the responsibility on the runner to avoid the defense whenever they are in the act of fielding the ball, regardless of how far away the ball is or how fast the ball is traveling? In my original play where F3 was in the base line at the start of the play, do you have interference since the ball was hit down the first base line and F3 reacted to it, even though she didn't move out of R1's way?

Thanks!

[mcrowder]

I think that was already answered.

A fielder can begin the play wherever she wants.

A fielder in the act of fielding a batted ball has the right-of-way (assuming this fielder is the one who, in the judgement of the umpire has the best play on the ball), and "fielding a batted ball" begins when she reacts to the ball being batted, regardless of speed or distance.

It is not obstruction to just be in the way. At least not yet.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

It is not obstruction to just be in the way. At least not yet.

OOOHHHH !

[4Beemer]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

I think that was already answered.

A fielder can begin the play wherever she wants.

A fielder in the act of fielding a batted ball has the right-of-way (assuming this fielder is the one who, in the judgement of the umpire has the best play on the ball), and "fielding a batted ball" begins when she reacts to the ball being batted, regardless of speed or distance.

It is not obstruction to just be in the way. At least not yet.

I am a HS coach, and I had an ump call OBS on my 2nd baseman for charging the ball to get out of the baseline, and instead of running behind the ball, she ran in front if the batted ball and the umps called OBS. My JV coach then described the same play to me and the umps called INT. Can someone help us out?

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by 4Beemer

I am a HS coach, and I had an ump call OBS on my 2nd baseman for charging the ball to get out of the baseline, and instead of running behind the ball, she ran in front if the batted ball and the umps called OBS. My JV coach then described the same play to me and the umps called INT. Can someone help us out?

Not sure what you are saying. Are you saying the fielder charged forward from the "baseline" and then the runner ran in front of her? If so, and the runner intentionally did that to block or distract the fielder, that sound like INT.
If the fielder did nothing but try to field a batted ball, there can not be OBS.

[debeau]

I have about a metre (3ft 3 inches ) circle for interference .
1 -This to me is obst . The fielder has made no attempt to field the ball .
A slow roller the payer should be moving towards the ball to make a play
2- Intereference A sharp hit to the fielder .
Here the fielder has to wait and we are talking momentarily.

[JFA67]

Got the following last year from our state UIC. Good simple guidelines for OBS/INT.

We all might need a reinforcement of the obstruction rule. I have had emails about catcher 's setting up and blocking the base path without the ball many times this season. We as umpires need to be proactive and get that catcher out of the way to avoid an obstruction call on a play at the plate. The whole intent of the rule change was to reduce injuries.

To boil it all down:
About to receive has been removed from the rule book except in the NCAA.
No possession of the ball before a collision = obstruction.
Possession of the ball before a collision = nothing (assuming a legal slide and not USC).
A runner altering her path or slowing to avoid a player without possession of the ball = obstruction.
Runners colliding with or hindering a player fielding a batted ball = interference.
Get the fielders out of the way! Or be ready to enforce the rules.