- Feb 12, 2014
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Eric is 100% correct. However, in my experience, very few umpires will call interference without any contact. YMMV
Fly ball not caught for fear of obstruction
- Thread starter jjr
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Eric is 100% correct. However, in my experience, very few umpires will call interference without any contact. YMMV
- Jun 22, 2008
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Then you have weak umpires. Contact is never required and all rulebooks and clinics are clear on the subject. If you have people being told to not call INT without contact, you have rogue clinicians inserting their personal preferences contrary to the rules
- Nov 29, 2009
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What the rule book says and what happens on the field are two different things. Calling interference with contact is an easy call for the umpires. There is rarely any push back from the coaches. Call it because a fielder pulled up and you now have a screaming coach in their face. Unfortunately, interference has turned into a softball myth that it requires contact by the runner.
- Jun 22, 2008
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That's a load of shirt. If that is the type of umpires you have, I hope you aren't paying for them. A monkey could be trained to make the routine and "easy" calls. Any decent umpire is prepared and willing to make the tough calls. If they aren't willing, they shouldn't be on the field.
AFA the coaches are concerned, if they are that ignorant of the game and rules, I wouldn't want them near young, impressionable player. They may want to try and find a game where integrity is considered an afterthought.
- Nov 29, 2009
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Call it what you will. And I agree with you 100%. Unfortunately, it is what it is. As a coach I can't argue it because it's a judgement call.
Pure judgement is not protestable, but when a missapplication of a rule leads to flawed judgement it does become a protestable call. If you question the umpire on why they didn't call interference and they tell you there was no contact then they are missapplying the rule as contact is not at all a requirement for interference.
- Nov 29, 2009
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When I've asked about it I usually get "I didn't think the >> Position<< had a play on the ball.", "I didn't see it." or "I didn't think the runner interfered." End of discussion right there. So I've been training my players to not avoid contact with the runners. Hard to convince young players to make contact. It goes against their instincts.
- Jun 22, 2008
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So getting the call is more important than the safety of your players? This is exactly why the rule books note that contact is not necessary. You need to either find real umpires or pressure the state/metro folks to stress the proper application to those who work in your area.
- Nov 29, 2009
- 2,975
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I teach them to not be afraid of making contact. Not getting run over.
