Going - If you're asking for the root cause of umpires not calling IPs, my observation is that something, maybe fear, makes many umpires look for reasons NOT to call them. I see just as many ignored IPs at the college level as in youth ball and have never been instructed not to call them in...
I won't disagree but would like to point out that the quality of softball being played is getting worse every year as well. More teams = more dilution of talent. More teams = more/bigger tournaments = more games = more umpires needed. It seems the supply of quality umpiring and coaching isn't...
phreak - Suggesting I get an app is not quite a citation. It's ok, I have a NFHS book. I can't seem to find the specific rule regarding coaches being responsible for their spectators. I'm not saying it's not there, just that I can't find it. So I still need a citation.
What I did find was...
I've read a few times on this and the "calling pitches" threads that the umpire is to approach the coach about controlling spectators. This has even been stated by those who say the rules don't support an umpire removing a spectator. I'd like to see a citation please.
I'm also curious about...
Ridiculous. Both the batter and the pitcher did something they weren't supposed to do. I would simply call time and instruct them not to do it again. Resume game from that point.
In ASA and Fed, the fielder must have the ball to block a base from a runner. NCAA rules still have the "about to receive" wording in their OBS rule. I'm guessing this is what you mean by "attempting to make a play". "About to receive" is defined as the ball being closer to the fielder than...
Here's my original post with bold/underline for emphasis:
"I'm assuming no slide. The lack of a "must slide" rule doesn't matter if the runner went in standing up and contacted the fielder with force and, in the judgement of the umpire, interfered with the fielder attempting to make a play...
This is NCAA rule, but I believe ASA, Fed, and others are similar:
"12.19.6 A base runner may not remain on her feet and deliberately, with great
force, crash into a defensive player who is holding the ball and waiting to
apply a tag."
I never said anything about it always being INT. I won't...
Sweet Lou - Malicious contact is not required for INT, only ejection. "Most" umpires may use this to determine INT, but the rule book would not support them.
Hit by the Pitch - It doesn't matter if the runner slowed. Intent doesn't matter in this type of INT. What matters, by rule, is whether...
I'm assuming no slide. The lack of a "must slide" rule doesn't matter if the runner went in standing up and contacted the fielder with force and, in the judgement of the umpire, interfered with the fielder attempting to make a play. This would be INT if those conditions are met.
What philosophy? It's stated in the rules what constitutes INT. Other than the one I pointed out in my last post, the book list no examples not involving contact of some kind when talking about a runner interfering with a fielder fielding a ball.
Do you have an NCAA rule book? If so, read 12.19.1 and point out something, other than "The base runner may not at any time unnecessarily wave her arms or verbally distract the fielder" that doesn't specifically mention contact with a fielder or the ball.
Are you asking about the NCAA's...