Interference?

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Jul 21, 2015
167
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Can you all help clarify something for me? I've had two different opposing coaches try to have our girls called out for "interfering" with their fielders because they ran in front of them while they were trying to field a ball. In other words, the fielder was set up behind the baseline, the runner runs in front (in a direct line from 1st to 2nd) of the fielder at roughly the same time as the ball is intersecting her line to 2nd. In neither case did the runner make contact with either the ball or fielder. In neither case did the runner do anything other than run directly to second. Luckily, the umpires disregarded their pleas in both cases (although in one case the umpire said that if the fielder had been charging the ball instead of standing flat-footed, he would have called our runner out).

Both of these games were Little League 12U (but I would imagine that ASA interference rules would be the same as LL). The first time it happened, the opposing coach called the league president and was told that the runner should have been called out. I obviously disagree. The whole thing seems ludicrous to me and the rule book seems to support my notion.
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
Simply running in front of a fielder is not in itself interference. Assuming the runner gave the fielder room to field the ball, and did nothing to intentionally block the view, such as purposely hold up in front of the fielder or purposely timing their crossing with the ball it is nothing.

Is the league president an official? If not, how would they know the rules and how they are to be called?
 
Mar 1, 2013
396
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ASA just posted a similar play in their May rulings and clarifications

PLAY: R1on 2B with no outs, B2 hits a ground ball toward F6. F6 is moving to make a play on the ball as R1 jumps over the ground ball causing F6 to lose sight of the ball and not field it cleanly. The umpire does not signal interference because in their judgment R1 did not hinder, impede or confuse F6 from making a play. The umpire does not call interference. Is this a correct call?

RULING: The umpire is correct in their ruling. If in the umpires judgment the runner did not impede, hinder or confuse the defensive player from attempting to execute a play there is no interference. Rule 1 Definitions: Interference.

Essentially, as Comp said, simply being there or crossing in front is not by itself an act of interference.
 
Nov 8, 2014
182
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Is the league president an official? If not, how would they know the rules and how they are to be called?

I truly don't think you meant that the way it reads. But in response to your hypothetical question...the league president, like anyone who can read, has access to all the rules that an accredited umpire does. As a coach, I can get accredited as an umpire. It doesn't make me one, but it surely doesn't take away from my ability to accurately opine on a play. I think given the same exact explanation the OP gave, any league president or umpire with knowledge of the rules would know it isn't interference.
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
Yes, everyone can read the rule book, but that does not include the case plays, clarifications, clinics etc etc etc that go along with each individual rule and its nuances in how they are to be applied to different situations. The interference rule has statements about impeding, hindering or confusing the defender. If you take that statement literally running in front of the defender should probably be interference just as faking running to the next base in order to draw the defenses attention away from making a play on another runner would also be interference under the strict definition. But, that is not at all how the rule is interpreted or applied under any case play or clarification as was posted by eddieq.
 

obbay

Banned
Aug 21, 2008
2,199
0
Boston, MA
I have had kids in LL for quite awhile.
a) the league president isn't much more than a social director. typically the entire board except for one are all baseball guys who don't really care about what happens in softball. It sounds like the coach who called the president is friends with him. maybe he's a former LL baseball coach. many coaches that I have seen don't concern themselves with the actual rules so much as their old-wives-tales- rules that have been passed on by word of mouth but don't exist in the rulebook.

b) as has been clearly stated previously, the baserunner is fine doing what she did unless the fielder has to charge the ball and she gets in the way of that, causing the fielder to hesitate or alter path.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
Yes, everyone can read the rule book, but that does not include the case plays, clarifications, clinics etc etc etc that go along with each individual rule and its nuances in how they are to be applied to different situations. The interference rule has statements about impeding, hindering or confusing the defender. If you take that statement literally running in front of the defender should probably be interference just as faking running to the next base in order to draw the defenses attention away from making a play on another runner would also be interference under the strict definition. But, that is not at all how the rule is interpreted or applied under any case play or clarification as was posted by eddieq.

In a perfect scenario League Presidents would be highly trained umpires who know the nuances of the rules, but reality is something much different.....
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
In LL parents are conscripted to officiate games so everyone is an umpire. There is no required training, usually a 1 hour "umpire clinic" and then you are told where to pick up the gear when it is your turn behind the plate. As expected there are some very unique interpretations of the rules. Making matters worse LL will not publish their rule book online or sell tit on the open market. You can only get one through your local association.

Little League® E-Rules are available to subscribers only, and is an exclusive offer solely for District Administrators.
 
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