NFHS: Photographer Outside Media Area
 

Perusing the FED Case Book, I came across this play:

Say what?? Why wouldn't 8-4-3k be more appropriate here? Shouldn't a photographer outside of his/her designated area be considered a de facto spectator, and the ball be killed immediately, allowing the umpires to award runners any bases they judged appropriate? I have a hard time allowing the ball to remain Live when a bonehead photographer affects play outside of his/her box.

The Definition of Blocked Ball also comes to mind, since the live ball is "touched...by a person not engaged in the game".

I've seen situations where a photographer will pick up his/her gear to move from one designated media area to the other, with total disregard that play is still Live. I've never seen him/her affect play, but it's quite possible. What if there's a pop foul near the area, and the photographer, thinking he/she needs to vacate the space to allow the fielders a chance to make the play, does so and inadvertently hinders the fielder most likely to make the catch. I guess from the implication of the case play, this is treated as no harm, no foul, right? That doesn't seem correct, in my mind.

This is last year's casebook play 5.1.1 Situation G. I guess the photographer is to be treated like dirt. :D

Though the media is supposedly restricted to DBT in NFHS, should they wonder out and get involved in the play, I would think they would be treated as part of the playing field.

I would think the reason they are not considered a spectator is because they are permitted to be within the perimeter of the playing field. Think of it as a coach who is permitted on the field, but is confined to a certain area or allowances when not in DBT.