NFHS Examples of Batter Interference

[youngump]

Originally Posted by Manny A

I'm preparing a presentation to give a NFHS rules class next week. I'm responsible for covering Rule 7 on Batting.

Rather than the typical rules briefing that I've seen in many clinics, where the slides basically regurgitate the rules as written in the rule book, I'm providing examples of how the rules are applied. The one I'm struggling with is for 7-4-4 on batter interference.

The examples I've come up with so far are, but not sure if they really apply, are:
- She leans into a throw
- She moves out of the box and hinders the throw to a base
- She moves into the catcher and causes her to throw wild or abort the throw
- She hits the catcher with her follow-through swing
- She does not leave the batter’s box and hinders a play at the plate

Are any of these wrong? Are any others missing? Some I'm not sure of include when:
= she swings and her follow-through hits a loose ball (as opposed to hitting the catcher)
= she backs out of the box and kicks a loose ball as a runner from third tries to score
= she backs out of the box and falls over the catcher who is trying to pick up the loose ball as a runner from third tries to score
= she does vacate the box on a loose ball as a runner tries to score, and she still gets in the path of a throw back to the pitcher

Thanx in advance!

I think this kind of training is very helpful. A few of thoughts: one, don't formulate everything in your list as interference. Present the scenario and let people discuss then reveal the training answer. It will improve recall.

Two: - She hits the catcher with her follow-through swing
I haven't had time to break out my rule book yet this year (it's on the nightstand for hopefully tonight), but I thought there was a rule that if no play is being made, this is just a dead ball? Is that only for hitting the ball out of the glove, or am I confusing it with something else?

Three: she backs out of the box and falls over the catcher who is trying to pick up the loose ball as a runner from third tries to score

This has to be interference, she actively did something which prevented fielding the ball. There's a slight modification though that I'm not sure I understand well. That is the case where no play is happening and then seeing the tangle the runner from third comes home. Your training would be better with a play like that.