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C. MORTON
1051 Posts |
 Posted - 06/09/2013 : 20:26:04
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Today in Usssa tournament we were told that I'd a catcher was in the baseline or blocking the plate while trying to make a play at home he would be called for interference. The previous game a kid came out to catch a ball and make a tag at home and was run over. They called the runner safe at home and said they were told that anyone blocking the plate to call obstruction.
I thought a player had to slide at the plate or make an attempt to avoid contact. This was in a 10u game |
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jacjacatk
154 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2013 : 22:39:28
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Under HS rules, the runner is out if he, while not in the process of making a legal slide, hinders a fielder in the process of making a play. This would include basically any non-sliding contact with the catcher already in possession of the ball, and the catcher already in possession of the ball has every right to stand in the baseline/block the plate and make a tag.
If the catcher's just standing in the base line without the ball and without a play in progress where he's attempting to receive the ball, it's obstruction. |
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2013 : 10:40:32
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| I would think it all has to do with whether the catcher has possession of the ball. If the catcher has possession of the ball, he can block the plate and the runner has to slide. If the catcher is waiting for the ball to reach him, he must do so outside of the base path and the runner has a right to the plate. I would call that obstruction. |
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christheump
351 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2013 : 11:21:49
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| Is there a question in there or observations from games??? If you are asking if a catcher is blocking the plate without the ball, Obstruction. If you are asking if a kid has to slide, its that or give up, go back, or go around. If you are asking what the runners responibility is if the catcher doesnt have the ball and is blocking the plate...Slide, give up, go back, or go around. Running him over like a bowling ball is not a good idea. |
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C. MORTON
1051 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2013 : 12:07:41
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| It's more observation than a question. The catcher should never get run over on purpose for any reason. The question part if the ball is on its way to home where should the catcher be to receive it? I see kids blocking the base all the time, why would this situation be any different? |
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jacjacatk
154 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2013 : 12:40:28
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I believe HS (and pre-HS youth) catchers are generally taught to receive the ball in front of the plate and then turn back into the baseline to make a tag. If they're blocking the plate before receiving the ball, it's obstruction, though I don't recall ever seeing that called.
Note also, that the catcher is allowed to go into the baseline in an effort to catch an errant or off-line throw, and the runner must avoid contact in that case (sliding counts) as well. This applies to all bases, if the fielder is in the process of making a play on a ball, including receiving a throw. |
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ChinMusic
126 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2013 : 12:48:03
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The thing with obstruction is that it can't be called unless it happens. If the catcher is blocking the plate, and the ball arrives before the runner does, then it's fine. If the ball isn't there yet, then the runner must slide to avoid contact.
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C. MORTON
1051 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2013 : 19:01:46
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quote:
Originally posted by ChinMusic
The thing with obstruction is that it can't be called unless it happens. If the catcher is blocking the plate, and the ball arrives before the runner does, then it's fine. If the ball isn't there yet, then the runner must slide to avoid contact.
And that what the coaches were fussing With the umps about. And their argument went over into our game. Then ump behind the plate was so out of it he missed a call and told one of our coaches he would knock his A$$ out if he didn't back up. All of this because they let a catcher get bulldoged at Homeplate |
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Play at the plate
