Partner

[CecilOne]

Actually, he said .5 sec before the runner, but it doesn't matter, .5 sec before or after is close to me. As Sam said, where you draw the line is impossible to determine. Most rules like this say "when a play is being made", not "when it is close". It's still a bad rule, usually made because the locals don't understand that there already is a book rule that solves the problem (or because the league president's child was hurt in a collision). The book rule is more likely to result in a better call because the umpire is using the same rule from league to league. Part of the problem is umpires who don't enforce the no collision rule and so the leagues think they have to make another rule.