Umpires should pay particular attention to the position of the batters feet if he attempts to hit the ball while he is being intentionally passed. The penalty for batters interference described in rule 63b is administered in the same way. If the batterrunner has not reached first base, runners remain at their bases held at the timeofpitch. Interference in softball covers a wide range of actions that impede, hinder or obstruct a defensive player. An example of a ground rule double is the ball getting stuck in the ivy at wrigley field. The batterrunner is also declared out and all other runners must return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch. Visit our frequently asked questions section to find solutions for your issues. The runner is declared out and batterrunner is awarded first base. The ball remains live if the catchers throw directly and immediately retires the runner. Such interference often occurs when a spectator in the first row of seats reaches onto the field to attempt to grab a fair or foul fly ball. A batter cannot jump or step out of the batters box and hit the ball. Elliot hopkins, mld, caa, editor nfhs publications to maintain the sound traditions of this sport, encourage sportsmanship and minimize the inherent risk of injury, the national federation of state high school associations writes playing rules for varsity competition among.
If a batter hits a ball fair or foul while out of the batters box, he shall be called out. Apr 02, 2018 heres the rule from the 2018 federation rule book. The umpires judgment may rule the batter out on interference and place runners where the umpire feels appropriate. Batter and runner interference in softball softball. Important notes 1 the playing rules committee, at its december 2014 meeting, voted to reorganize and recodify the official baseball rules into a more logical. We want to bring you the most uptodate, informative and exciting baseball information.
I use it to umpire little league, and it covers everything you need to know in good detail. In addition, minor revisions were made to diagrams 1 and 3. Rule 63bpenalty batters interference clarification of penalty the penalty for batters interference is enforced in the same manner as described above for backswing interference. The official scorer should not charge a batter with grounding into a double play if the batter runner is called out due to interference by a preceding runner. The following are editorial changes to the playing rules. Become a part of the largest baseball rules community in the world. In other baseball rules changes, the committee expanded the definition of interference in rule 221 to include followthrough interference and backswing interference. An automatic double is the term used to refer to a fairly hit ball leaving the field in. Interference must be willful and deliberate for a double play to be called. On such a play, then, if other runners were also stealing when the interference is waved off.
There are four ways a batter can be charged with interfering. Important notes 1 the playing rules committee, at its december 2014 meeting, voted to. Record books contain singlegame, season and career records, plus coaching records, collegiate records, conference standings, attendance. No longer could wily catchers try to get free outs. When the ball bounces over the fence is defined in the rule book. A ground rule double is a baseball rule that awards two bases from the time of pitch to all baserunners including the batterrunner, as a result of the ball leaving play after being hit fairly and leaving the field under a condition of the ground rules in effect at the field where the game is being played.
Answers to frequently asked questions baseball rules. If you see batters interference, but the catcher gets the throw off anyway and succeeds in retiring the runner, then ignore the interference. In addition to the official wording below, a link has been placed on the dizzy dean national website left hand column of every web page taking you to the sadler insurance risk management web page. The rule book also offers this additional comment on said rule. Video is tailored through the guidelines of the nfhs rule book. Offensive interference is defined in the major league rule book obr in the section definitions interference. Nfhs rule about batter interference baseball fever. In some instances, they represent official interpretations. During a senior division baseball game, with a runner on second base, the batter hits a sharp ground ball, which strikes the umpire before it reaches an infielder. If there is not an immediate tag to retire the runner, the ball is dead and interference enforced.
A notation should be made in the boxscore that batter x was. Obstruction and interference are rule violations that occur in the field of play, typically involving base runners. This years rules changes were approved by the national federation of state high school. This rule applies only where runner is on his way to the bench and the catcher would be required to chase him. If the batter interferes with the catcher, the plate umpire shall call interference. Jan 27, 2020 video is tailored through the guidelines of the nfhs rule book. If you see batter s interference, but the catcher gets the throw off anyway and succeeds in retiring the runner, then ignore the interference. Rules changes approved in high school baseball, softball nfhs. If first base was occupied at the time of the pitch, the runner who held the. But batters could still occasionally get free trips to.
As is often the case in baseballs rules, the comment under the rule shows the broad scope of the umpires power. Ruling 1 if the fielder blocks the path of the base runner to the base plate, the runner may make contact, slide into or collide. No offensive team personnel, other than the base coach, shall be near a base for which a runner is trying so that a fielder may be confused, nor be. Rule 2214 will state that followthrough interference is when the ball hits the catcher after the batter has swung at a pitch and hinders action at home plate or the catcher. Everyone who coaches or umpires should have this book and read it every year that theyre involved with baseball. If the interference is intentional, the ball shall be dead at the moment of the interference and the umpire shall impose such penalties as in his opinion will nullify the act of interference. A runner who is adjudged to have hindered a fielder who is attempting to make a play on a batted ball is out whether it was intentional or not. On such a play, then, if other runners were also stealing when the interference is waved off, they get to remain at the base they stole. Baseball rules committee addresses batter interference with catcher. Although the editorial changes are minor, it is the rules committees intent to inform umpires, coaches. An american legion baseball authenticating logo is recommended on all baseballs used in regular season and required for all postseason competition. Offensive interference is defined in the major league rule book.
The official scorer should not charge a batter with grounding into a double play if the batterrunner is called out due to interference by a preceding runner. While the batter is charged with a plate appearance according to rule 10. Baseball s many unwritten rules are an arcane and everchanging palimpsest of customs and selfpolicing actions not always obvious to fans. Each book contains diagrams of playing areas, official signals, and official interpretations and rulings. No player may advance on such interference offensive interference and all runners must return to the last base that was, in the judgment of. The batter shall keep at least one foot in the batters box throughout. No player may advance on such interference offensive interference and all runners must return to the last base that was, in the judgment of the umpire, legally touched at the time of the. Baseball rules committee addresses batter interference.
Its possible, marazzi said, that players are confusing this rule with the coachinterference rule, which is sometimes invoked against the third base coach for assisting a runner. If the interference occurs but the catcher is able to. Ncaa baseball interpretationsclarifications january 16, 2019. A current list of authentic products is online at emblem. A batter might interfere with a catcher when his swing followthrough carries around to make contact with the catcher or the ball. A ground rule double is a double that is awarded due to a unique to a particular park or grounds hence the term. Rules changes approved in high school baseball, softball. Baseball rules committee addresses batter interference with. In every case of spectator interference with a batted or thrown ball, the ball shall be declared dead and the baserunners can be placed. The lines marking the threefoot lane are a part of that lane and a batterrunner is required to have both feet within the three. If the umpire declares the batter, batterrunner, or a runner out for interference, all other runners shall return to the. The ball is dead, and the batter runner is awarded first. The lines marking the threefoot lane are a part of that lane and a batter runner is required to have both feet within the three.
No other runners may advance beyond the base they last held at the time of the interference. If the umpire judges that the fielder could have caught the ball over the field i. Baseball indianapolis, in july 2, 20 changes to high school baseball rules will include an additional example of how a batter can interfere with the catchers ability to field or throw. A batter might interfere with a catchers throw to a base. The batter runner is also declared out and all other runners must return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch. Four additional requirements for 2016 on takeout slides. On a force play, the runner is also guilty of interference. It does not apply to the ordinary play where the runner misses the plate and then immediately makes an effort to touch the plate before being tagged.
Jun 25, 2008 runner interference with a batted or thrown ball. All portions of this particular page and the pages of the official major league rules book are sole property of major league baseball and have been reproduced without any alteration by baseball almanac who first obtained the written permission of the office of the commissioner. For a similar reason, the infield fly rule was enacted eight years later. The runner is declared out and batter runner is awarded first base. Offensive interference is an act by the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders, or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play. Obstruction and interference little league umpiring. There is no rule about the ball getting stuck in the ivy. Get free access to baseball forums, rules analysis and exclusive email content from current and former major league baseball players and umpires. Defining interference and obstruction little league.
Oct 30, 2019 the rule book also offers this additional comment on said rule. A ground rule double is a baseball rule that awards two bases from the time of pitch to all baserunners including the batter runner, as a result of the ball leaving play after being hit fairly and leaving the field under a condition of the ground rules in effect at the field where the game is being played. If interference is on the first play, runners return to base occupied at time of pitch. Case book material in this edition are in shaded boxes and are labeled as comment. Get free access to baseball forums, rules analysis and exclusive email content from current. There is no delayed dead ball definition in the rule book, but it is implied on some rules. However the rule book remains the authority should there be a conflict between this document and the rule book.
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