Onetime download with automatic updates for future seasons. Obstruction is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner. 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. 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. The terms interference and obstruction are often misunderstood and confused by managers, coaches, and umpires alike. And understanding them will help you become a true baseball expert. Obstruction is an act by which the defensive team impedes the batting team from advancing around the bases section 2. Decide at that time what base you believe the runner is likely to reach, had it not been for the obstruction. As well, there are different rules for obstruction, and they are applied differently at different levels. Obstruction lights for oil and gas platform, bridges, cooling towers, cranes, turbines, wind mill, and light houses. If a fielder is about to receive a thrown ball and if the ball is in flight directly toward and near enough to the fielder so he must occupy his position to. Lets look at the following play to determine how to rule on obstruction in all.
Thirdbase umpire jim joyce called obstruction and the rest is history. Obstruction describes an act by a fielder, who is not in possession of the ball or in the. Baseball rule suffers another blow in foul ball case. If the batterrunner has not reached first base, runners remain at their bases held at the timeofpitch. The national federation rule book specifications are. The rules of baseball differ slightly from league to league, but in general share the same basic. Aircraft warning lights are highintensity lighting devices attached to tall structures as collision avoidance measures. While umpiring at the 2014 spanish fork halloween havoc tournament 10u girls fast pitch championship game the runner rounded first and headed towards second base. The 2014 revision to the official baseball rules, in renumbering the rules, has disposed of the timehonored type a and type b obstruction. Obstruction and the related base awards and amount of protection always seem to be confusing on the field and in the classroom whenever discussing the rule.
The indians supported this final assertion with case law that applied the baseball rule to a situation in which a spectator was distracted by a mitigating circumstance nonbaseball events. These lights need to be of sufficient brightness to be visible for miles around the structure. Today, we will cover obstruction and interference and the difference between them. Such devices make structures more visible to aircraft, and are usually used at night, although they may be used during the day.
After this rules adoption, offense plummeted, strikeouts zoomed and a pitchingdominated decade was born. A coach, player, substitute, attendant or other bench personnel shall not. 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. Obstruction and interference are rule violations that occur in the field of play, typically involving base runners. Electronic scorebook must be used only in the bench area. Baseball isnt typically considered a contact sport, thanks in large part to one rule.
Answers to frequently asked questions baseball rules. In professional baseball official baseball rules or obr, obstruction is the act of any fielder who, not in possession of the ball nor in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner. Be outside the designated dugout or bench area if not a batter, runner, on deck batter, in the coachs box or one of the nine players on defense. Obstruction describes an act by a fielder, who is not in possession of the ball or in the process of fielding it, that impedes the. Playing rules little league little league baseball and. The foul strike rule 1901 and 1903 foul balls didnt count as strikes until 1901 in the national league and 1903 in the american league. It is worth noting that the latter is also incorrectly used to refer to fan obstruction for instance a spectator running onto the field and tackling a. In fact, if contact occurs before the fielder has the ball, then the fielder is probably guilty of obstruction. Baserunners are generally permitted to run from base to base without being physically blocked or hindered by a fielder. The rule applies to all levels of play varsity, jr. Defining interference and obstruction little league. Obstruction is simply defined as an act by which a fielder hinders or impedes the batter or runner, provided that the fielder is not fielding a batted ball or if he is not in possession of the ball. Use of any object in the coachs box other than a stop watch, rule book hard copy and scorebook. Observe the obstruction and allow the play to continue.
When all play stops, enforcement depends on the final play outcome. Digital rule book a game changer for baseball fans. Interference is a broad rule book term that refers to a number of illegal actions that occur during a contest to change the course of the game. Softball panel approves changes to ncaa obstruction rule. There are quirks at every level of this game, from mlb to little league. In the simplest of terms, interference is a penalty.
Obstruction asa ruling does the runner automatically. Order the lights turned on whenever he believes darkness could make. Specifically, the indians relied on an ohio case harting v. This is referred to as protecting the runner to a base. Baseball rules news newspapers books scholar jstor october 2015 learn how and when to remove this template message. Little league has made this abundantly clear in make the right call, a little league publication with commentary on how the rules should be applied. Ncaa adds pitch clock for paceofplay obstruction rule altered 2011 notes from gene mcartor differences, requirements of baserunning appeals background check info runner hit by batted ball in foul ground appeals and batter interference rules clarified keep em in the dugout pitchers glove and rosin bag pause in windup rules quiz collision rule half swings catches. Obstruction and interference little league umpiring. An obstruction may also be called against a catcher if he obstructs the batter who attempts to. Ncaa softball rules book, including a complete reorganization only those. Digital rule book a game changer for baseball fans kane. When the obstruction occurs, the umpire shall call or signal obstruction.
Baseballs unwritten rules and its ignoreatyourownrisk code of conduct, author ross bernstein has pulled back the curtain on baseballs tacit rules regarding retaliation, sportsmanship, and intimidation. The result of dozens of interviews with some of the biggest names in the game, this work is a systematic description of every major unwritten rule in the game todayfrom. 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. Part dto include additional situations when spectator interference may be.
A game which is stopped after the 4th inning, but not in a complete. Back in the late 19th century, when baseball was still a relatively young game, collisions on the basepaths were becoming a problem, so major league baseball established the modern obstruction rule to give baserunners the right of way, preventing fielders from blocking their path source. Completely updated for 1999, this is the official rule book used by major league umpires as well as other professional and amateur baseball organizations. Baseball rules academy the rules of baseball, explained. The only time that a fielder is not obligated to get out of the way of a baserunner is when the fielder is fielding a hit ball or in possession of the ball. Searchable highlight areas of interest make notes desktop laptop. Both programs shall use official baseball rules with a few. Requests for baseball rule interpretations or explanations should be directed to the state. The casebook of little league baseball and softball, examples of interference and obstruction illustrate and help to define the difference between these two judgment calls. The rule change clarifies the rule and seeks to remove any gray area for plays of that nature. Obstruction refers to a fielder who hinders a runner. Official rule and does not require a reader to refer to different sections of the official baseball rules book in considering the application of a particular rule. The pitch count is based on pitches thrown to the batters during their time at bat. In baseball, obstruction is when a fielder illegally hinders a baserunner running within the basepath.
In such cases, the umpires shall award the runner the base because of the obstruction by the fans. Position players cannot block a base including home plate without the ball or an obstruction. Site glossary definitions from the little league rule book and terms used on this site. Refer to the official pony rule book for specific approved bats.
The distance from home base to the nearest fence, stand or other obstruction on. Highlights from the little league rule book little league baseball rule highlights. Runners lane the panel approved a rule requiring that the runners lane be drawn on the field down the first base line, reverting to the rule that was in place in 2014 and 2015. Except as may be specifically noted in this rules book, the nfhs. Official baseball rules sporting news, sporting news.
When a spectator or other person not associated with one of the teams including such staff as bat boys or ball girls alters play in progress, it is spectator interference, colloquially called fan interference. Baseball rules academy exists to simplify this crazy game. Let me start with some very basic definitions to avoid confusion as you read the rest of the article. Obstruction occurs when fielder does not have possession of the ball or is not in the act of fielding a ball but impedes the runner who is legally running between bases. That is, in little league a fake tag can be considered obstruction, but it is never considered such beyond high.
Elliot hopkins, mld, caa director of sports, sanctioning and student services. Official regulations, playing rules, and operating policies for all divisions of baseball, softball, and challenger all in one app. When the ball is not dead on obstruction and an obstructed runner advances beyond the base which. When the lights are restored, runners are allowed to run bases in. What does the rule book say about the upper part o. If youve ever seen an umpire rule book, youll appreciate the convenience of this baseball resource. When an arbiter is needed to settle disputes regarding baseball rules, this is the book to consult. A distance of 320 feet or more along the foul lines, and 400 feet or more to center. If the umpire declares the batter, batterrunner, or a runner out for interference, all other runners shall return to the last base that was in the judgment of the umpire, legally touched at.
Ncaa softball rules book, including a complete reorganization only those changes that. Infield fly rule october 5, 2012 an infield fly is a fair fly ball not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, orfirst, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out. Previously, curfews and the absence of adequate lighting caused more ties. The first baseman was in the base path obstructing the runners easy return.
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