Obstruction vs Interference

[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.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by 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.

Not bad, not complete, but a good place to start. My only problem is the emphasis of "get the fielders out of the way". Did s/he give you any suggestions on how to effect this move?

I will not tell a player where to stand, but I will let them know of the repercussions should they cause obstruction. I would be afraid an over-zealous umpire may take such a statement to heart and begin holding up play and moving fielders, or get a little over-officious in ruling OBS before it actually occurs.

It's hard enough getting coaches to understand that a runner stopping 60' away because a player happens to be what she perceives is in her way is not OBS without having umpires go out there and actually making such a rulling.

[rodan55]

Let's take that question about interference. The one with bases loaded 1 out, tie score. B4 pops up down the first base line. Inf fly is called. The runner from third scores just before BR collides with 3B preventing the catch to double up the runner from third. Legal play, but hard to swallow.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by rodan55

Let's take that question about interference. The one with bases loaded 1 out, tie score. B4 pops up down the first base line. Inf fly is called. The runner from third scores just before BR collides with 3B preventing the catch to double up the runner from third. Legal play, but hard to swallow.

Joe,

I'm pretty sure we beat the crap out of this one earlier.

Yes, it may be hard to swallow, but thems the rules. Even though many think they are unfair, it is in line with the standard INT ruling and will occur as often as a third-world play.

[JFA67]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Not bad, not complete, but a good place to start. My only problem is the emphasis of "get the fielders out of the way". Did s/he give you any suggestions on how to effect this move?

I will not tell a player where to stand, but I will let them know of the repercussions should they cause obstruction. I would be afraid an over-zealous umpire may take such a statement to heart and begin holding up play and moving fielders, or get a little over-officious in ruling OBS before it actually occurs.

It's hard enough getting coaches to understand that a runner stopping 60' away because a player happens to be what she perceives is in her way is not OBS without having umpires go out there and actually making such a rulling.

From what I remember, the note was in reference to defensive players blocking bases while waiting for a throw. The jist was to warn the players and their coaches that defensive players w/o the ball should not to be in the basepath. We had some trouble around the area with umpires not wanting to call the obstruction. I should have left that part out of the rules of thumb post. After calling OBS, when I have a coach say "where are they supposed to be?", I answer "not there w/o posession of the ball"

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by JFA67

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

... snip ... 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.

No way am I telling a fielder where to be or not to be.
"No possession of the ball before a collision = obstruction. " is not true unless the runner alters his/her approach.
I try to always be ready to enforce the rules.

[mcrowder]

Cecil, can you give me an example of a collision WITHOUT alteration of course? Seems the collision itself is evidence of an alteration of course (either direction or speed or both).

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

Cecil, can you give me an example of a collision WITHOUT alteration of course? Seems the collision itself is evidence of an alteration of course (either direction or speed or both).

1) I read it too quickly and was too conscious of the problem this year of OBS being called just for blocking without runner reaction.
2) How about when a runner runs straight at the base with no alteration and initiates the collision?

[JFA67]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

1) I read it too quickly and was too conscious of the problem this year of OBS being called just for blocking without runner reaction.
2) How about when a runner runs straight at the base with no alteration and initiates the collision?

The quote I posted was in reference to defensive players seting up for a play at a base w/o the ball and the runner sliding into said base before the ball arrives. It was not his or my intent to say baserunners should lower their shoulders and crash into defenders in the way. Hence the part about not USC.

[tcannizzo]

INT -

R1 on 2B, B2 hits a pop fly that eventually lands on the edge of the grass behind 2B. F6 following the flight of the ball taking her into the proximity of R1 who was slowing and holding her lead off 2B. F6 takes a circular route to the ball, for one or two possible reasons:
a.) F6 is going around R1 to get to the ball
b.) F6 is still judging the flight path of the ball

Did not call INT. F6 and R1 never got closer than 4-5 feet. In my judgement, F6 would have had a very difficult time in catching the ball, but could not rule out the possibility that it might have been caught. I would not have ruled this an IFF as F6 would not have been able to catch the ball with normal effort. (IFF is not in the sitch, but I bring it up to help you understand the play.)

Coach asked why I didn't have INT. I said that if I felt that F6 would have been able to make the play, I would have called it.

Did I kick the call?