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1-24-22 Questions 31 - 40

1-31-22 Questions 41 - 50

INTERFERENCE vs OBSTRUCTION

2-21 INTERFERENCE: Offensive, Umpire, Spectator

ART. 1 

Offensive interference is an act (physical or verbal) by the team at bat: 

1. Which interferes with, obstructs, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play: or

2. When a runner creates malicious contact with any fielder, with or without the ball, in or out of the baseline.

ART. 2

 It is umpire interference when the umpire inadvertently moves as to hinder a catcher’s attempt to throw, or when a fair batted ball touches an umpire (5-1-1F) or thrown ball (5-1-1G).

ART. 3

Spectator interference is an act by a spectator which impedes the progress of the game.

ART. 4

Follow-through interference is when the bat hits the catcher after the batter has swung at a pitch and hinders action at home plate or the catcher’s attempt to play on a runner.

ART. 5

Backswing interference is when a batter contacts the catcher or his equipment prior to the time of pitch.

Umpire Interference https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C6iLgU6_5M

Batters Interference https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_lYaRAphMM

Runners Interference https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4Svc5J7sUs

OBSTRUCTION and FAKE TAG:

ART. 1

Obstruction is an act (intentional or unintentional, as well as physical or verbal) by a fielder, any member of the defensive team or its team personnel that hinders  a runner or changes the pattern of play. 

ART. 2

A fake tag is an act by a defensive player without the ball that simulates a tag. A fake tag is considered Obstruction.

ART. 3 

The fielder without possession of the ball denies access to the base the runner is attempting to achieve. 

In NFHS, obstruction is always a delayed dead ball (never immediate dead ball). On conclusion of action, kill the ball and award bases to nullify obstruction, but always award a minimum of one base beyond the point of the obstruction. See rules 5-1-2b, 5-1-3,  8-1-1e, 8-03-1c, and 8-3-2, (exceptions 8-4-2c and 8-4-2d).

Obstruction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DzGL9jwDvs

                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6TaGbhk3nk

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RUNNING LANE INTERFERENCE

NFHS Rule 8-4-1g (page 53)

The Batter runner is out when:

*he runs outside the three-foot running lane (last half of the distance from home plate to first base), while the ball is being fielded or thrown to first base: or 

1: This infraction is ignored if it is to avoid a fielder who is attempting to field the batted ball or if the act does not interfere with a fielder or a throw.

2: The batter runner is considered outside the running lane lines if either foot is outside either line. 

The purpose of the three-foot wide lane (aka 45’ lane) along the last half of the distance between home and first base in foul territory is widely misunderstood. When the running lane rule applies, the batter-runner is required to run the last half of the distance from home to first within the three foot lane. If the runner does not do so, there is no penalty unless, in the umpire's judgement, he interferes with the fielder taking the throw at first base. Another misconception is the batter-runner is always out if he interferes with the throw itself. 

The lines are part of the lane, so stepping on the line is not a violation. Also one foot in or on the line and the other foot in the air is permitted. If interference is called, the ball is immediately dead and the batter-runner is out: any other runners return to the base occupied at the time of the interference. 

The throw does not have to strike the batter-runner for interference to be called but lacking such contact makes for a very contentious call. If the runner interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses the defensive player who is taking the throw at first base, it is interference. 

There must be a throw for this rule to apply. If there’s no throw, it’s impossible to interfere with a fielder taking a throw. The quality of the throw is also a factor. It is not interference if a fielder is not covering first or if the throw had no realistic chance of retiring the batter-runner, unless in the umpire’s judgement, the bad throw is a direct result of the batter-runner’s improper position. The batter-runner is permitted to exit the three-foot lane by means of a step, stride, reach or slide in the immediate vicinity of first base for the sole purpose of touching first base.

In summary, two things must occur for running lane interference to be called:

1. The batter-runner must be running with one or both feet entirely out of the box; and

2. The batter-runner must interfere with the catch of the throw at first base.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBkrtGP_dQ0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCXaKfBgbYk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WZYyTHKs0M

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BATTERS INTERFERENCE

5-1-2A (NFHS Rule Book Page 38 & 39)

*It is a delayed dead ball when: there is interference by a batter

 (exception is 7-3-5 penalty).

When the batter interferes with the catcher attempting to play on a runner, if an out does not result at the end of the catcher's throw, the ball shall become dead immediately.

7-3-5 (page 45) 

Interference with the catcher’s fielding or throwing by:

A: leaning over home plate

B: stepping out of the batter’s box

C: making any other movement, including follow-through interference, which           hinders actions at home plate or the catcher’s attempt to play on a runner; or

D: Failing to make a reasonable effort to vacate a congested area when there is a throw to home plate and there is time for the batter to move away. 

PENALTY: When there are two outs, the batter is out. When there are not two outs and the runner is advancing to home plate, if the runner is tagged out, the ball remains live and interference is ignored. Otherwise, the ball is dead and the runner is called out. When an attempt to put out a runner at any other base is unsuccessful, the batter is out and all runners must return to bases occupied at the time of the pitch. If the pitch is a third strike and in the umpire’s judgement interference prevents a possible double play (additional outs), two may be ruled out. 

7-4-6 (page 45)

Art 6:   If the bat breaks and is hit by the ball or hits a runner or a fielder, no interference shall be called. If a whole bat is thrown and interferes with a defensive player attempting a play, interference will be called.

Penalty: The batter is out and runners return. If, in the umpire's judgement, interference prevented a possible double play, two players may be ruled out.

Art 7: Commit backswing interference.

Penalty: The Ball is immediately dead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGfuiiER3L0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BZ4VprJiBo 

(Compilation of batter's interference scenarios, stop at 58 Sec mark)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbCygstJ-Og

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhefsiQTzJg

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CATCHER'S INTERFERENCE

As umpires we call Catcher's Interference, however NFHS Rules do not recognize Catcher’s Interference, it is actually described as Catcher’s Obstruction in the NFHS Rule Book.

8-1-1e 

*When the batter becomes a runner if the catcher or any other defensive player obstructs him the Coach or Captain of the team at bat, after being informed by the umpire-in-chief of the obstruction, shall indicate whether or not he elects to decline the obstruction penalty and accept the resulting play. Such election shall be made before the next pitch (legal or illegal), before the award of an international base on balls, or before the infielders leave the diamond. Obstruction of the batter is ignored if the batter-runner reaches first and all other runners advance at least one base.

8-3-1c

*each runner other than the batter-runner is awarded one base when: he is attempting to steal or he is forced from the base he occupies by a batter-runner or runner who must advance because the catcher or any fielder obstructs the batter, such as stepping on or across home or p[ushing the batter to reach the pitch or touching the bat. Instances may occur when the infraction mast be ignored.

5-1-2b

It is a delayed dead ball when:

*a catcher or any infielder obstructs a batter or runner; 

Additional notes on Catcher’s Interference:

The catcher can interfere with the batter in different ways. Most common is when the batter’s bat makes contact with the catcher’s mitt. When this occurs, the ball remains alive and in play unless:

1. The ball settles in foul territory:

2. The batter misses the pitch: or

3. Continuous action stops if the ball is hit in fair territory.

The rule allows the batter to be awarded first base and runners on base advance only if forced. 

Example: if there were runners on first and third, the runner on third would remain on third because he was not forced on the play. The runner on first would be awarded second base because he was forced to that base.

The interference is nullified if the batter and all runners advance one base on the play. 

When Catcher’s Interference is called with no runners on base, if the batter advances at least one base, the interference is nullified. If the batter is thrown out at second or any other base, he is out. If the batter-runner rounds first base and the fielder throws behind him and he is tagged out, the out remains. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HcXR76eUvY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI-PEG1wwxA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAB3zPBb_ic&t=134s

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