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| Volunteer Umpire Tip of the Month – November 2004
The interference rule came into play recently in the Major League Baseball playoffs. So now is a good time to talk about a type of interference you don’t see very often. It’s when a base coach reaches out to physically assist the runner. The rule is: Rule 7.09 – It is interference by a batter or runner when, in the judgment of the umpire, the base coach at third base or first base, by touching or holding the runner, physically assists that runner in returning to or leaving third base or first base; Question: How can a base coach at third base or first base physically assist the runner at that base? Answer: A base coach at first or third base could grab a runner to stop them from running passed the base; a base coach at first or third base could place his/her hand on the back of a base runner and give a push when a fly ball is caught to get the runner started in a tag up and advance attempt; a base coach at first or third base could step in front of a runner to get them to stop. These are just a few of the ways coaches could physically assist runners. Penalty: The runner that is assisted is called out immediately and the ball is dead if there is a play being made on that runner. Otherwise, the runner that is assisted is called out and the ball is dead after all other action is completed (delayed dead ball). However, “high-fiving” a runner during a home run trot, for example, would not be interference. Umpires can get rule updates, interpretations and much more by signing up for the Little League Umpire Registry. Click here for more details: http://www.littleleague.org/umpires/index.asp Resources
For more information contact Little League International |
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