He spit at me....

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by 7in60

I find the terms Interference and Obstruction very ambiguous. What finally helped me is remembering 'interference is what A-Rod did when he yelled at the Blue Jays' IF this year'. I told myself that on the field sometimes, so I knew what I would be calling.

I think every one of us that is a trainer at any level tells new umpires to start with definitions. It really doesn't matter what the dictionary meaning and similarities are between interference, obstruction, hindering, or impeding; the bottom line is that interference and obstruction are defined terms.

It should be simpler than using A-Rod. How about "Interference is the act of an offensive player or team member ..." and "Obstruction is the act of a defensive player or team member ..." ?? Maybe I'm over-simplifying it, but why is that hard to remember? Any harder than remembering which team is on offense and which is on defense??

[7in60]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

I think every one of us that is a trainer at any level tells new umpires to start with definitions. It really doesn't matter what the dictionary meaning and similarities are between interference, obstruction, hindering, or impeding; the bottom line is that interference and obstruction are defined terms.

It should be simpler than using A-Rod. How about "Interference is the act of an offensive player or team member ..." and "Obstruction is the act of a defensive player or team member ..." ?? Maybe I'm over-simplifying it, but why is that hard to remember? Any harder than remembering which team is on offense and which is on defense??

Both acts involve interference in the literal sense. Obstruction suggests a physical act but it doesn't have to involve contact. Neither does interference. Part of the problem is that in my first couple years I didn't see it enough to solidify the meaning. This year (4) I saw both several times.