Sportsmanship issue?

[Little Angels Softball]

ASA - INTERFERENCE: The act of an offensive player or team member, umpire or spectator
that impedes, hinders, or confuses a defensive player attempting to execute a
play. Contact is not necessary.

USSSA - INTERFERENCE. Interference is an act which interferes with, obstructs, impedes,
hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play.
A. Offensive interference is interference (physical or verbal) by the team at
bat, or when a runner creates malicious contact with any fielder with or
without the ball, in or out of the baseline; or when a coach physically
assists a runner during playing action.

NSA - INTERFERENCE. Interference is the act of an offensive player or team member, who
impedes or confuses a defensive player while attempting to execute a play. If judged so by
the umpire, vocal interference may be called.

FED/PGF - Interference is an act (physical or verbal) by a member of the team at bat who illegally impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder; or when a runner creates malicious contact with any fielder with or without the ball, in or out of the baseline.

I have always found it interesting that the rules are written this way yet I have never seen any base runner called out for stalling in front of a ground ball and intentionally making it difficult for an infielder to see the ball coming, then jumping over the ball at the last second and proceeding to the next base. I've seen quite a few errors by infielders as a result of this practice, however.

 

[SoCalASABlue]

ASA - INTERFERENCE: The act of an offensive player or team member, umpire or spectator
that impedes, hinders, or confuses a defensive player attempting to execute a
play. Contact is not necessary.

USSSA - INTERFERENCE. Interference is an act which interferes with, obstructs, impedes,
hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play.
A. Offensive interference is interference (physical or verbal) by the team at
bat, or when a runner creates malicious contact with any fielder with or
without the ball, in or out of the baseline; or when a coach physically
assists a runner during playing action.

NSA - INTERFERENCE. Interference is the act of an offensive player or team member, who
impedes or confuses a defensive player while attempting to execute a play. If judged so by
the umpire, vocal interference may be called.

FED/PGF - Interference is an act (physical or verbal) by a member of the team at bat who illegally impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder; or when a runner creates malicious contact with any fielder with or without the ball, in or out of the baseline.

Totally agree - and in more than 15 years of coaching and umpiring I've never seen "verbal" interference called. In fact, at many umpire meetings the subject comes up and the answer is always the same - it's not your job as a blue to make sure that the player knows what she's supposed to do with the ball when the other team starts yelling - that's the coach's job.

 

[quincy]

DD ignores her coach and does what she wants anyways, good luck having your DD yell at her.

 

[CMMom1740]

What about the catcher yelling "Bunt!" if the batter is bunting to alert the rest of the team? That's kosher, isn't it? Is that really that different from what the OP said? If so, how?

 

[Little Angels Softball]

What about the catcher yelling "Bunt!" if the batter is bunting to alert the rest of the team? That's kosher, isn't it? Is that really that different from what the OP said? If so, how?

The catcher is alerting her own team, the other is trying to confuse the other team.

For example, a base runner is on 1B when her teammate hits a shallow fly ball to right field. Both the 2B and the RF are converging on the ball when the base runner stats yelling, "I got it! I got it! I got it!"

 

[Eric F]

What about the catcher yelling "Bunt!" if the batter is bunting to alert the rest of the team? That's kosher, isn't it? Is that really that different from what the OP said? If so, how?

I expect catchers (especially) to be yelling "bunt!". That's defensive communication.

An offensive player yelling something to distract the defense is a completely different scenario.

 

[chinamigarden]

So, my ultra competitive DD asked a question that I really don't know the decorum answer to. If she hits a pop up into the outfield, is it bad sportsmanship for her to scream "ball" or "mine" in efforts of distracting the fielder? I know that in basketball, this sort of thing was not frowned upon (back when I played 20 years ago at least). So, is that something that's considered taboo?

flip the script,, how would you or your dd feel if she is moving toward a pop up and someone from the other team screams out "Mine" causing her to miss the ball? Would you feel like that was part of the game and to be expected, or would you think that was a bush move?

I'll give you my answer, in every level Its a bush move.

 

[sluggers]

If she hits a pop up into the outfield, is it bad sportsmanship for her to scream "ball" or "mine" in efforts of distracting the fielder?

When she pops up, she has been beaten by the pitcher. Losing is part of life

She shouldn't cry or whine about it...she should figure out "why" she lost and get herself mentally ready for her next at bat.

I love the cutthroat attitude!

I don't...the kid needs to be taught about sportsmanship and respect for the game.

 

[SoCalASABlue]

I love the cutthroat attitude! Would advise against it though.

Then the fastball to the head, ribs, knee, etc. wouldn't come as a surprise...because pulling that bush league crap would happen exactly once...

 

[CMMom1740]

I expect catchers (especially) to be yelling "bunt!". That's defensive communication.

An offensive player yelling something to distract the defense is a completely different scenario.

Just playing Devil's Advocate (I actually agree with you), couldn't it be argued that the catcher is distracting the batter by yelling? Bunting takes skill and that could startle the batter and cause her to miss the ball altogether.