default
Member
The situation had no impact on the final outcome of the game. What is the ruling when the ball hits a news photographer that is on the field?
default
Member
A photographer on the field should be restricted to what is called a "media area". This area can be placed anywhere on the field and should be agreed upon and noted to the coaches prior to the game. Ideally, the media area should be chalked off, something like a coach's box.
A live pitched, thrown or batted ball touching anywhere within the media area, or touching anything within it (photographer, camera equipment, chair, etc.) immediately becomes a dead ball.
The base award is the same as any other play where a ball goes into a dead ball area. If it's a pitch, all runners are awarded one base. If it's a thrown or batted ball, all runners get two bases.
A live pitched, thrown or batted ball touching anywhere within the media area, or touching anything within it (photographer, camera equipment, chair, etc.) immediately becomes a dead ball.
The base award is the same as any other play where a ball goes into a dead ball area. If it's a pitch, all runners are awarded one base. If it's a thrown or batted ball, all runners get two bases.
default
Member
Blue was right. I guess if we wanted to get picky he was roaming all over but they called dead ball on a overthrow.
default
Member
Now there's one we don't get to hear often enough!
But they really should have been more "picky" about this. Establishing a designated media area should be covered before the game, as part of the ground rules, and it should not be a "floating area" that flucuates during the game.
Photographers are allowed on the field as a courtesy and really need to stay in a designated area. Letting them move around can potentially create an unfair situation for one team or the other. For example, if one team throws the ball into a given area, hits the photographer and it's a dead ball with bases awarded, then the other team throws a ball into the exact same spot and it's not a base award because the photographer moved.
The best practice is to follow the rule exactly as it's laid out in the rule book (and the rule book is explicit about this).
default
Member
I am wandering if this might have been somebody from yearbook, or club related, as these people will roam to get pictures for the school. Normally reporters stay to a area.
default
Member
Could be. Still, they shouldn't be roaming around out there!
Keeping non-participants either off the field or in one designated area is a game management responsibility of the umpires. I know that I've asked a few to move or stay in one spot over the years and usually they act like you're being "the mean old umpire" for doing that. But, it is a rule and if it's not enforced you could unintentionally give one team an advantage over the other one or have it affect the game in a way not intended by the rules.
Keeping non-participants either off the field or in one designated area is a game management responsibility of the umpires. I know that I've asked a few to move or stay in one spot over the years and usually they act like you're being "the mean old umpire" for doing that. But, it is a rule and if it's not enforced you could unintentionally give one team an advantage over the other one or have it affect the game in a way not intended by the rules.
default
Member
Not at the game this post was referring to. It is the local newspaper photographer. Like I said it had no impact was just curious.
