Rule Question- Coaches in Coaching Box

[Simpsoj]

If judged by the official to have impeded the defender, YES you could have been called for interference. As stated a coupe time earlier, find the defender and get out of their way!

 

[CoachB25]

From my scenario, the fielder didn't see the ball either. So, I had no way of "finding the fielder and getting out of her way" when she was not running a direct line to the ball. It could be perceived as hindering her if I ran somewhere where the ball was when I didn't see the ball. Again, not even the umpire knew where the ball was. The sun was in a unique position. The reason I responded here and did not let it go is to make the point that there are times when someone who doesn't have the same angle as an umpire can't know exactly where to go. It would have been different if the fielder was taking a straight path to the ball. (As I posted, she ran around me but was not running in a way to enable her to make the play.) I could get out of her way then.

 

[backstop09]

...Still, what you are saying is that I could have been called for interference when I had no intent to block anyone and didn't know what direction to move. That's tough for the coach.

The rule doesn't say anything about intent. It states that you can't interfere. Whether active; passive; intentional or unintentional, you can't interfere.

 

[CoachB25]

The rule doesn't say anything about intent. It states that you can't interfere. Whether active; passive; intentional or unintentional, you can't interfere.

Why wouldn't a coach then teach their players to run into coaches on all foul balls? Sounds like maybe a new strategy coming up for my team. LOL

 

[backstop09]

Why wouldn't a coach then teach their players to run into coaches on all foul balls? Sounds like maybe a new strategy coming up for my team. LOL

Because that would be making a travesty of the game and any player who would initiate intentional, malicious contact would be at risk of having to sit out for two games with a future violation resulting in her being banned for the remainder of the season. No real coach would even entertain the thought of what you suggested. The rule references interference by a coach. It doesn't say if a player runs into a coach on purpose regardless of where the ball is then the batter is out.

 

[daboss]

If you have a coaching staff that is teaching kids to run into the base coach on purpose in a foul ball situation, name them now on this thread. There is such a thing as ethics and fair play in the game.

Anyone that has been a base coach long enough knows at some point there is going to be a foul ball that is "lost" in the air and can handcuff even the most honest person. Moving or doing what others perceive to be the right thing may elude you. I've had foul balls litterally chase me across foul territory. lol. I swear it had a homing device. That doesn't mean anyone was malicious nor was it intended. Still, it could be judged by the ump that I should have done something different. It is their call to make and I have to live with it. I would never intentionally keep a fielder from making a play just as I would never teach a kid to run into a coach intentionally.

 

[JoeA1010]

I have one of these it seems every game. You naturally see the ball first and I then immediately find the third baseman and go the opposite direction.

 

[Simpsoj]

I have one of these it seems every game. You naturally see the ball first and I then immediately find the third baseman and go the opposite direction.

That's the key, Joe........find the 3rd baseman and get away from where she's going! It's hard sometimes to not "revert" to a player and find the ball first and foremost but you have to remember you aren't trying to catch it!

 

[Fairman]

While we are on the subject of the coaches box ......

I'd like to see the coaches box moved further away from the plate. Right now the coach can legally stand some 45' from the plate: at 90' major league baseball coaches are wearing helmets. The front of the box should be even with the front of first and third bags and at 60'. The coaches would be able to move out of the way easier, have more reaction time and would be involved in fewer plays at the new location.

The current location is a remnant of the Little League Fields we used to play on. It wouldn't effect the play of the game and two adults would be significantly safer.

 

[CoachB25]

Because that would be making a travesty of the game and any player who would initiate intentional, malicious contact would be at risk of having to sit out for two games with a future violation resulting in her being banned for the remainder of the season. No real coach would even entertain the thought of what you suggested. The rule references interference by a coach. It doesn't say if a player runs into a coach on purpose regardless of where the ball is then the batter is out.

backstop09, I don't know if this is a shot at me or not. You did note the "LOL" at the end of the post. If your comment, "No real coach would even entertain the thought of what you suggested." was a shot at me, I can assure you I am a real coach. I'll save the resume. Had a kid who could play a little as well. BTW, a "travesty of the game" would be an Umpire's judgement just as the coach's interference call would be.

 

[JoeA1010]

While we are on the subject of the coaches box ......

I'd like to see the coaches box moved further away from the plate. Right now the coach can legally stand some 45' from the plate: at 90' major league baseball coaches are wearing helmets. The front of the box should be even with the front of first and third bags and at 60'. The coaches would be able to move out of the way easier, have more reaction time and would be involved in fewer plays at the new location.

The current location is a remnant of the Little League Fields we used to play on. It wouldn't effect the play of the game and two adults would be significantly safer.

When we have a runner on second, I move probably another 5 feet closer to the plate from the end of the coaches' box, which is 45 feet from home at its closest point. It scares the heck out of me and if we have a righty up who often pulls the ball hard I will just stay closer to third base, but it's a dilemma. I've had a few shots hit at me in the past week. I thought about getting a helmet like the baseball guys wear, but I haven't done it yet.

 

[Simpsoj]

Why move closer?? Defeats the purpose of moving, IMO. Move toward LF and the fence makes more sense if you want yo avoid the 3rd baseman and the batted ball.

 

[JoeA1010]

I need to be up the line so that the runner at second can immediately see me on a base hit and so that I stay in front of that runner in case I need to change my mind at the last second and send her back after she rounds third. If I am even with third, I have to move up toward home quickly for the runner to pick me up.

 

[Simpsoj]

I need to be up the line so that the runner at second can immediately see me on a base hit and so that I stay in front of that runner in case I need to change my mind at the last second and send her back after she rounds third. If I am even with third, I have to move up toward home quickly for the runner to pick me up.

Not bein an a$$ here but if you move back, behind 3rd & toward the fence, wouldn't they still be able to pick you up quickly? And would that extra 2-3steps put you behind where you want to be/get too? Might require a little more pep in YOUR step but it gives you a little extra time on a ball hit at you AND gives you an extra second or two to find the 3rd baseman and get out of her way....and that's where this all started, trying to eliminate Interference on a coach. So, I would think you would do whatever is necessary to limit that possibility....as its a judgement call by the official.

 

[CoachB25]

We had this called tonight. We had two umpires that are the best in my area and are a team. Here is how they explained it to the coach. They said that they don't even watch the coach. They watch the player and if the player deviates from a straight path to the ball due to the coach, they prepare to make the call. If they deem the ball catchable (judgement) they call/signal it BEFORE THE BALL HITS THE GROUND. I talked to the base umpire about this and mentioned this thread. He said this to me. It really isn't that hard and intend has noting to do with it. However, a catchable ball does. He said that if that ball has hit the ground and you have to think on it, it is not interference. In his opinion, interference is the obvious part but the kicker is where the ball is and if it could have been caught. I know I repeated that but he repeated it to me.

 

[Fairman]

Here's what happened last night.....

Two outs
Runner on second
Ball hit to left center.
Third baseman goes to bag and stands on the corner.
The runner avoids the third basemen and goes wide of the bag.
As she turns the corner wide she almost runs over the base coach.
She does score on the play so no call was necessary.

I asked the umpire why he didn't call obstruction on the third basemen? He told me he was watching the ball. (Both of them were watching the ball)
I assume that since neither umpire was watching the baserunner..... that if my runner had run over the base coach she would have been called out.

What happens when the runner contacts the base coach in the box or when he is trying to get out of her way?

 

[BretMan2]

If both of them were watching the ball, then one of them wasn't doing his job. All touches and tags at third base belong to the plate umpire. Sure, you need to have some idea of where the ball is and where it's going. But you aren't supposed to just ignore the runners. Your responsibility is to see them touch the base and to watch for obstruction.

As far as the runner running into the base coach, coaches cannot assist a runner in running the bases. Assisting usually means doing something that helps the runner, like grabbing her if she overruns the base, holding her to stop her from advancing, helping her up if she falls, or pushing her toward the next base. Mere contact may or may not be interference, depending on how the umpire judges it. It could be judged as incidental contacts it's no penalty.