What nsitutes catcher obstruction/interference & situation

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

softgabby

Gear Empress
Mar 10, 2016
1,073
83
Just behind home plate
I'm wondering what constitutes obstruction/interference on a catcher? Heres what happened.

We were playing in a non tournament game earlier today. My team was the home team. Were winning 9-0, top of the 3rd, 2 out, runners on first and third. The other team had their most dangerous hitter at bat and their fastest runner on third. Pitcher delivers a 1-1 pitch and I block the ball in the dirt. Runners attempt to steal. I saw the runner break for second. I put my left knee on the first base side of home and I tag the runner with my glove on the helmet. I get called for interference and the run counts.

Does this counts as obstuction or interference on my part?
 
Nov 29, 2009
2,975
83
If the umpire called interference they were wrong. Defense obstructs. Did they call the runner safe because of the obstruction or was the runner safe on the slide? I'm having a hard time picturing a runner no being safe if you tagged her in the helmet. On a straight slide I can see the foot touching the plate before the tag. On dive I can see the hand touching the plate before the tag. On a slide by I can see the hand touching the plate before being tagged. Especially if you were set up on the first base side of the plate. I'm seeing you trying to reach back and tag a sliding player.
 

softgabby

Gear Empress
Mar 10, 2016
1,073
83
Just behind home plate
If the umpire called interference they were wrong. Defense obstructs. Did they call the runner safe because of the obstruction or was the runner safe on the slide? I'm having a hard time picturing a runner no being safe if you tagged her in the helmet. On a straight slide I can see the foot touching the plate before the tag. On dive I can see the hand touching the plate before the tag. On a slide by I can see the hand touching the plate before being tagged. Especially if you were set up on the first base side of the plate. I'm seeing you trying to reach back and tag a sliding player.

They called her safe because I somehow kept her from touching home plate. When I had setup on the first base side, it was out of instinct and positioning. I came around the front of my body to apply the tag and only the upper rim of my mitt was what touched the brim of her helmet. She didn't touch home until I was applying the tag. We did end up winning the game in the bottom of the inning via run rule.
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
If you had the ball in your possession you dont have to allow her to touch the plate.
 
Oct 2, 2015
615
18
If you had the ball in your possession you dont have to allow her to touch the plate.

And that's when you get turned into a Catcher Pancake...

Trust me...my DDs are touching the plate...
 
Last edited:
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
And that's when you get turned into a Catcher Pancake...

Trust me...my DDs are touching the plate...

And if the runner plows the catcher who has possession of the ball then the runner is going to be headed to the parking lot.
 
Oct 2, 2015
615
18
And if the runner plows the catcher who has possession of the ball then the runner is going to be headed to the parking lot.

If the runner tries to touch the plate...Not once have I ever seen a runner ejected from a game attempting to touch a bag or home plate, while sliding, when the defender has the ball... Not once...

As long as they are not flying through the air like Pete Rose...

Trust me Comp, I know exactly what you are getting at.

Coaches and parents have been teaching their DDs the art of NOT ALLOWING a runner to touch the plate or base. And more and more these days, it seems that it's by any way or means.

I'm a parent who teaches their base running DDs to touch the plate/base.
 
Last edited:
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
And the rules require a runner to give themselves up, stop, reverse or slide to not be called out for crashing a defensive player waiting to make a tag on a runner. If the contact is determined to be unsportsmanlike an ejection is also warranted, but you can go ahead and keep teaching your players to run through the catcher if you like.
 
Oct 2, 2015
615
18
And the rules require a runner to give themselves up, stop, reverse or slide to not be called out for crashing a defensive player waiting to make a tag on a runner. If the contact is determined to be unsportsmanlike an ejection is also warranted, but you can go ahead and keep teaching your players to run through the catcher if you like.


My DDs are definately sliding

And yes unsportsmanlike is subjective...as is the about to receive rule...or how about the body slam/punch tag to the head or upper body from these catchers that levels our DDs are they sliding into the base? Is that unsportsmanlike?
All of these are subjective

Like I said, my DDs are sliding... No Pete Rose action here
 
Last edited:
Mar 26, 2013
1,934
0
My DDs are definately sliding

And yes unsportsmanlike is subjective...as is the about to receive rule...or how about the body slam/punch tag to the head or upper body from these catchers that levels our DDs are they sliding into the base? Is that unsportsmanlike?
All of these are subjective

Like I said, my DDs are sliding... No Pete Rose action here
Your initial comment, "turned into a Catcher Pancake", indicated they're doing more than sliding. Perhaps you can clarify.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
42,830
Messages
679,472
Members
21,443
Latest member
sstop28
Top