I think I made up a rule and award

[vcblue]

ASA 16U Rec. Runner on 3rd ball four on batter. As BR is walking to first the first base coach is looking at her a point towards second (left hand going back and forth in front of his belly). At the same time the D Coach walks fast out of the dugout calling time. I give him a hand gesture to wait, but he keeps coming walking right in front of the BR. I kill the ball call coaches obstruction and award the BR 2nd and the girl at 3rd home.

Can't find anything in the book to support my call, but here was my thinking. The coach walking out on the field during live ball play basically stopped everything including the opportunity of the BR to continue to second, and the possibility that the pitcher would make a play on her, thus allowing the runner on 3rd to attempt home.

Is there anything in the book that supports my call or did I make up a rule and award?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by vcblue

ASA 16U Rec. Runner on 3rd ball four on batter. As BR is walking to first the first base coach is looking at her a point towards second (left hand going back and forth in front of his belly). At the same time the D Coach walks fast out of the dugout calling time. I give him a hand gesture to wait, but he keeps coming walking right in front of the BR. I kill the ball call coaches obstruction and award the BR 2nd and the girl at 3rd home.

Can't find anything in the book to support my call, but here was my thinking. The coach walking out on the field during live ball play basically stopped everything including the opportunity of the BR to continue to second, and the possibility that the pitcher would make a play on her, thus allowing the runner on 3rd to attempt home.

Is there anything in the book that supports my call or did I make up a rule and award?

Rule 10.3.C

Don't know if I would have killed the ball immediately. Might have let it play out unless the coach's presence actually interfered with the play. And I probably wouldn't have awarded the runner on 3rd home unless there was actually an attempt to score.

But I wasn't there, you were and the rule with authorizes your ruling is listed above.

[vcblue]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Rule 10.3.C

Don't know if I would have killed the ball immediately. Might have let it play out unless the coach's presence actually interfered with the play. And I probably wouldn't have awarded the runner on 3rd home unless there was actually an attempt to score.

But I wasn't there, you were and the rule with authorizes your ruling is listed above.

I was leaning towards 10.1(Plate Umpire shall have the athority to .... not covered in these rules).

I could have call a ddb. Then if the runner stopped at 1st call DD on award her 2nd. Based on using the principles of OBS.

You are right probably did go to far in award 3rd home, but the strategy behind the "continuation play" is to get the pitch to throw to second to score the run. Although we all know in REC that at least 75% of the time the pitcher is just going to hold the ball and let the BR go to second.

After the game the coach and I talked. He has years of Hardball exp. First year in fastpitch (jumped right into 16U ). Told me he would never do that again. I felt bad because they ended up loosing by that 1 run. He told me he told the girls, "you tied the other team, I lost to the other team". Good Guy.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by vcblue

I was leaning towards 10.1(Plate Umpire shall have the athority to .... not covered in these rules).

You are correct. That is what I get for taking my eyes off the book while typing.

I could have call a ddb. Then if the runner stopped at 1st call DD on award her 2nd. Based on using the principles of OBS.

You are right probably did go to far in award 3rd home, but the strategy behind the "continuation play" is to get the pitch to throw to second to score the run. Although we all know in REC that at least 75% of the time the pitcher is just going to hold the ball and let the BR go to second.

My logic: If you use OBS as a guideline, the BR reaching 2B probably would have meant the runner on 3B would have stayed on 3B as the defense most likely made no play affording her the opportunity to score.

After the game the coach and I talked. He has years of Hardball exp. First year in fastpitch (jumped right into 16U ). Told me he would never do that again. I felt bad because they ended up loosing by that 1 run. He told me he told the girls, "you tied the other team, I lost to the other team". Good Guy.

Well, it is nice he realized he screwed up, but I don't think it would have been any different in baseball.

[BretMan]

Yeah, I was going to say...

I hope that his having "years of hardball experience" wasn't meant to imply that baseball coaches are allowed to fly out on the field during a live ball whenever they want to!

[wadeintothem]

There is nothing in your scenario that leads me to think you should have awarded that runner home and I doubt you should have even awarded the runner 2nd, regardless of what could be conceivable or imaginable within the written rule. I think you got a little to rambunctious in your ruling.