Dead ball after fist bump?

Happened this past summer at a USSSA tournament, 10U, I'm coaching 1B.

No on, 0 outs, single to left, runner rounds first, comes back to bag - I give her first bump for nice hit as the ball is being thrown in to the SS - I know now this was dumb, we both should have been paying attention to the ball, and I haven't done it since. Anyway, with the fist bump complete, and runner on bag, the SS throws the ball to the P, and it gets away (rolls out of the circle, not too far). I yell to runner "live ball - be aware".

Ump immediately yells to me "she's not going anywhere, you already touched her". P retrieves ball, no harm, no foul. But the umps instruction gave the impression that had she attempted to run to 2b would have been called back. (also, my bad for not asking the ump to clarify after the game or between innings).

I haven't found a rule anywhere that makes the ball dead upon a congratulatory touch. Am I missing something?

I do not think so. You are not allowed to help players on field but you are allowed to make contact .

Physically assisting the runner is construed as interference. USSSA rulebook here. See pg. 22-23 and rule Z on pg. 51.
No one should interpret a fist bump as assisting the runner.

Crabby_Bob said:

Physically assisting the runner is construed as interference. USSSA rulebook here. See pg. 22-23 and rule Z on pg. 51.
No one should interpret a fist bump as assisting the runner.

Click to expand...

Yes, I agree, and if he thought I assisted he would have called her out. I just thought it weird that he essentially called the play dead.

unfortunately another official that needs to learn the rules.