Coaches obligation

[mlancast]

No rule book handy,and one I saw tonight....3rd base coach is in his box,and a soft fly ball is hit towards him. Coach freezes, but makes no effort to get out of the way of the 3rd baseman. Is the coach obligated to try and move, or is he "safe" inside the box? The 3rd baseman was unable to make the catch, and may have made it if the coach had moved. Is this interference?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by mlancast

No rule book handy,and one I saw tonight....3rd base coach is in his box,and a soft fly ball is hit towards him. Coach freezes, but makes no effort to get out of the way of the 3rd baseman. Is the coach obligated to try and move, or is he "safe" inside the box? The 3rd baseman was unable to make the catch, and may have made it if the coach had moved. Is this interference?

Speaking ASA

The coach is obligated to vacate any area the defense needs to make a play.

[NYBLUE]

I actually called this type of INT once in a tournament.
It was the 1B coach who just stood her ground inside the box and unintentionally prevented F3 from making the catch.

If you call INT here, be prepared to do some talking.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by NYBLUE

If you call INT here, be prepared to do some talking.

Why? There is nothing to say, but "Dead Ball, batter is out". Even better if there is a runner on base, it could be two.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by mlancast

... snip ... "safe" inside the box? ... snip ...

Going out on a limb, only for unintentionally struck by a thrown ball.

[argodad]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Speaking ASA

The coach is obligated to vacate any area the defense needs to make a play.

Also true in NCAA and NFHS.