2022 Training Video #2 (Interference)

[@glensaintjohns7337]

Another great narration for the rules of interference. Keep them coming.

[@leonmatthewsiv1699]

2:40 can be used for leaving early as well.

[@jeffhembd9471]

The music detracts from an otherwise outstanding video.

[@mrlaw711]

More terrific examples.

[@mrlaw711]

Great call. Good ump.

[@franenjem]

In this situation, because the pop up ball was near the foul line, the umpire would declare "infield fly if fair". If it's the ball is on the foul side of the line when caught, then there would not be an infield fly rule in affect and the batter would not be instantly out. The catch would need be made in foul territory for the batter to be out. The umpire has to wait to see where the the ball is in relation to the foul line to make a determination. Since this ball was in fair territory when touched or caught, then the infield fly rule would be in affect and the batter would be called out and be considered a retired runner. My question is: While the umpire waits to determine if the infield fly will be in affect (due to the ball being near the foul line), the batter is still not technically out until such determination is made. As she can still run and is a legal batter runner until the determination is made and if the determination is made to be an infield fly at the moment of contact between the batter runner and the fielder, then could that batter runner be considered as being a live legal runner at the moment of contact and only the batter runner would be called out and all other runners return to their former bases from the time of the pitch? Because the pop up ball is near the foul line, the batter runner could actually interfere with the fielder prior to the infield fly being determined. Does that timing of everything happening matter? Thanks.

[@America1st21]

Austin. I disagree with the infield fly scenario. “Infield fly IF FAIR” will not be determined until the ball drops and touched in fair or foul, so interference occurred FIRST. Immediate dead ball , no advancement. One out is called for interference.

[@MaydayAggro]

Final play. The rule says: "An offensive player, _who no longer has status_ , ... may not interfere with a defensive player _MAKING A PLAY ON AN ACTIVE RUNNER_ ." 1. Batter-runner is not retired until a. she commits interference, or b. the ball is determined to be fair. In that play, the correct call is "infield fly IF FAIR." The ball did not have a status (and the batter was not out) prior to the interference. 2. 1B was not making a play on a runner, and the runner at third did not leave third until after the ball dropped. There is no justification for saying that 1B was making a play on another runner because the ball is dead immediately, and there were no plays available at that moment. One out only. The second play was INSANE. Can't believe neither umpire made a call on this. It borders on negligence.

[@kgerman1]

Bingo...on the first comment! Excellent observations.

[@raymondistenes1604]

Once the umpire calls IFF the BR should have stopped running. At that point she is out if the ball is caught or dropped in fair territory and if dropped in foul territory it is a foul ball. The fielder has to be given the chance to make the catch (weather fair or foul) since runners can advance with the opportunity to be put out regardless if the ball is caught or not. You can also have interference on a foul ball as well (it did not happen here but can happen). Excellent examples.

[@CrimsonFlameRTR]

It's UTAH High School. They go by NFHS Rules. IN NFHS, a retired runner is "a player who has scored, or who has been put out and who is still in live-ball territory." The IFF call puts her out and she's still in live ball territory.

[@MaydayAggro]

@@CrimsonFlameRTR reread my posts. She is not out until the ball is either caught or determined to be fair. The call is "infield fly, batter is out if fair." The fair foul status is not determined until the interference happens, thus the batter runner is not out until that time.

[@CrimsonFlameRTR]

@@MaydayAggro I did. What you said is not correct. A batter is out precisely when the infield fly is called. IF it lands foul, then it's treated as a foul ball. What you said makes no sense. If the batter's not immediately out then force plays would still be in effect.

[@kamy8797]

On the first what if she’s in the running right do you still have to move out move out of the way because it’s obviously going to catch it

[@TheDjcarter1966]

A batter runner must always avoid the defensive player attempting to make the catch, it is the defense that has all the rights to make a play on the play and the offensive player MUST avoid contact or interference of any kind.

[@alfonsomonsalve6591]

Greetings from Venezuela, what would you do in this situation: runner in second base there is a roling hit by the short stop, the runner in second goes out to third base and collides with the shortstop. It`s interference or obstruction?

[@mptr1783]

if the shortstop is fielding a batted ball and the runner makes contact, thats interference on the runner(shes out) , dead ball, batter gets first base

[@ernieoliver6507]

In second video clip, runner left second base early and should have been called out.

[@Titus_Vespasianus]

I don't understand...if the fielder enters the running lane what is the runner supposed to do??? But yes it was certainly malicious but can it not be argued that it was obstruction??? Pardon me for asking I've been out of the game since COVID...

[@MaydayAggro]

The batter-runner is only required to run in the lane if there is a throw from a fielder to first. In this situation the runner is expected to run outside the lane to avoid the fielder.

[@baseballumpires6901]

The running lane is in use for a thrown ball most commonly during a bunt or uncaught third strike where one player will be throwing the ball at some angle up the foul line to first. The runner is afforded protection in this case if in the running lane if they are hit by the throw. In this case we have a batted ball. The running lane does not afford protection from a batted ball situation. The fielder has first right to field the ball. The runner must allow that right. In this case, there is mo established baseline so the runner can go right or left as far as they need to avoid interference.

[@mptr1783]

shes got to avoid a fielder fielding a batted ball, so yes, she must run around her, stop or whatever it takes to avoid interfering

[@bruce4139]

So for the first one why dont we call it obstruction as the first baseman clearly got in the way of the base path? (Genuine question I'm new and trying to learn)

[@SilentDakota]

The fielder has the right to make a play on the ball before the runner has the right to the base path. The runner is protected if the fielder does not possess the ball or making a play on a ball.

[@bruce4139]

@@SilentDakota alright makes sense what is classified as making a play on the ball?

[@SilentDakota]

This video, the infielder is the process of making the catch. She has no control on where that ball lands. The runner has control on where they run. The runner is responsible on avoiding contact with the infielder making the play. Add she extended her arms in the contact makes it electable

[@bruce4139]

@@SilentDakota alright thanks

[@SilentDakota]

I wish you all the best on your umpiring journey.

[@mptr1783]

First one, clearly malicious interference. Hope she was ejected and disciplined by her coach. 2nd one is a very tricky one. Im leaning towards saying the 3rd baseman should be protected here since they are taught to go after that ball and cut it off from the SS. Runners need to avoid fielders going after the ball, so no way Im rewarding an obstruction call to her. The last one, Ive seen this video and the final call took nearly 8 mins. Obviously we'd like the plate umpire to yell "infield fly" but the batter runner probably still wouldve done the same thing. Im in favor of eliminating the IFF in softball. Why hurt the defense with an opportunity to make a double play on a weak infield pop up? Chances are, with 60 ft bases, they wouldnt turn a double play anyway, but think about how much fun it would be to watch

[@andrewfielding1342]

No way can you eliminate IFF in softball. You have to protect the offense on most of these situations.

[@mptr1783]

@@andrewfielding1342 Not really.......in softball, if a fielder were to drop an IFF, still not likely the defense could turn a double play........in baseball, its more likely a DP could happen. But, even if a dropped IFF were to lead to a DP, why is that bad lol?

[@mrlaw711]

Many of these male umpires missing these calls, and just standing around like spectators. Only the women showed me professionalism (I'm male).

[@gatorsmld7480]

I would typically agree. I have only ran across one female umpire who took any questions I had as an affront to her gender.

[@baseballumpires6901]

What does gender pandering have to do with anything here. Shameful to go the gender route.

[@firstname6650]

No place in softball for poor sports like that.

[@Michael-el7uc]

The first batter should be ejected