Obstruction and interference are rule violations that occur in the field of play, typically involving base runners. Obstruction is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of. Occurs when the fielder, who is not in possession of the ball. If a play is being made on the obstructed baserunner, the ball is ruled dead and the umpire can place all runners on the base he determines they would have reached without.
The wild ending to game 3 of the world series prompted plenty of questions over the obstruction call that led to the cardinals walkoff win. Baseball rule protects ballparks from lawsuits the boston. This time ive tried to refer the original rule book by mlb and found the nuance by english wording which was helpful. All portions of this particular page and the pages of the official major league rules book are sole property of major league baseball and have been reproduced without any alteration by baseball almanac who first obtained the written permission of the office of the commissioner. A distance of 320 feet or more along the foul lines, and 400 feet or more to center field is prefer able. They will be incorporated into the rules book for the 2019 and 2020 seasons. An infield fly is a fair fly ball not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, orfirst, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out. The player may take his glove, with the ball in it, and toss it to another fielder to record a force out at the base. That is, in little league a fake tag can be considered obstruction, but it is never considered such beyond high. The more you know about the obstruction rule the smarter you will be. The distance from home base to the nearest fence, stand or other obstruction on fair territory shall be 250 feet or more. What mlb rulebook says about bizarre interference call against nationals trea turner turner was ruled out on a controversial decision in the seventh inning of game 6. High school rules nfhs baseball rules book treat obstruction differently from obr. Important notes 1 the playing rules committee, at its december 2014 meeting, voted to reorganize and recodify the official baseball rules into a more logical.
Let me start with some very basic definitions to avoid confusion as you read the rest of the article. In this edition of tech talk with chris welsh, crew chief ted barrett explains how umpires evaluate different obstruction scenarios. The obstruction play provides a glimpse of the essence of baseball. Read this lesson to discover some of the basic rules for the great sport of baseball. As well, there are different rules for obstruction, and they are applied differently at different levels.
In nfhs, obstruction is always a delayed dead ball never immediate dead ball. For example in the pros according to this ump you can block the plate waiting for a ball in flight, however in college you can only block the plate with the ball in your hand. You would be best of typing into youtube how to umpire a netball game i did and it came up with a few great videos. Infield fly rule october 5, 2012 an infield fly is a fair fly ball not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, orfirst, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out. He claims there exists a big difference in the interpretation of the obstruction rule between college and the prosmbl. Major league baseball will impose stricter limits on mound visits, and commercial breaks will be shorter. The mlb obstruction rule that ended game 3 for the win. Baseball is a very popular sport, but it can seem very complicated upon first look. In the simplest of terms, interference is a penalty. It is the responsibility of the runner to avoid the fielder when the fielder is making a play on the ball. All portions of this particular page and the pages of the official major league rules book are sole property of major league baseball and have been reproduced without any alteration by baseball almanac who first obtained the. A comprehensive reorganization and interpretation, a manual and textbook by chris jaksa and rick roder, and other publications aimed at facilitating the understanding of baseball rules.
The rules are also published in book form in north america by the sporting news. Visit our frequently asked questions section to find solutions for your issues. What would the umpire do when someone obstruction in. Obstruction and interference little league umpiring. When all play stops, enforcement depends on the final play outcome. By definition, obstruction occurs when a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner. Msblmabl national league and tournament rule guidelines. Rule 1 circuits a conditions to relocation to another clubs territory. Clicking on each link will explain the correct ruling. In baseball the rules are the rules from start to finish and are not dispensed with simply because time is running out. On conclusion of action, kill the ball and award bases to nullify obstruction, but always award a minimum of one base beyond the point of the obstruction. All youd have to do is add one word to the definition of obstruction, from above, with my. Number 2 and 9 are plays that will never happen due to physics. In baseball, when a fielder illegally hinders a baserunner, the fielder is guilty of obstruction.
Baseball zone helps you plan practices quickly, giving you a solid practice plan in no time. Official playing rules committee of major league baseball, which is. The complete rules are published as the official baseball rules at, the official web site of major league baseball in the united states and canada. For umpires to truly understand obstruction, we need to first define it and then look at how obstruction has been viewed over the history of the game of baseball. Contact does not have to be made for the umpire to rule obstruction. This is referred to as protecting the runner to a base. Jun 01, 2017 2017 official rules of major league baseball triumph books on. May 15, 2014 2014 official rules of major league baseball. The nfhs learning center has released three new officiating courses that complement the goal of the nfhs officials re. Mbl has approved a change in the bat rule for the 2018 season click here for details. Sports the act of impeding another player in violation of the rules, as when a player impedes the progress of an. In addition to the general subjective definition of offensive interference, it is also interference by specific rule when. No part of the official baseball rules may be reproduced or trandmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without permission inwriting from the office of the commissioner of baseball.
Today, we will cover obstruction and interference and the difference between them. No interference should be allowed when a fielder reaches over a fence, railing, rope or. Synonyms antonyms definitions examples parts of speech. Rule changes are underlined in this edition of the official baseball rules. Obstruction baseball jump to navigation jump to search. Baseball is an intricate game with plenty of unique characteristics, and major league baseball has many rules, regulations and standards governing its onfield practices. In baseball, blocking the plate is a technique performed by a catcher to prevent a runner from scoring. The rule against obstruction was first formalized as part of the 1856 version of the national association of base ball players rules.
The rules of baseball are the laws which govern how the game is. Official australian baseball rules 6th edition sportstg. Glossary rules rules baseball is an intricate game with plenty of unique characteristics, and major league baseball has many rules, regulations and standards governing its onfield practices. Official rules of baseball canadian content cc3 official rules of baseball canadian content 1. The infield shall be graded so that the base lines and home plate are level. Text of major league baseball s obstruction rules, cited by. Observe the obstruction and allow the play to continue. Listed below are a collection of common misbeliefs about little league baseball rules. We want to bring you the most uptodate, informative and exciting baseball information. Obstruction is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner.
Amajorleagueclub,inordertorelocatewithinthehome territory of another major league club, must comply with the following conditions. When jim joyce and dana demuth simultaneously invoked the obstruction rule to end game 3 of the 20 world series, they made the last great umpiring call of baseball. It may be that the mother in the stands had been watching baseball under mlb rules, which state. Obstruction baseball in baseball, when a fielder illegally hinders a baserunner, the fielder is guilty of obstruction. Obstruction calls almost invariably involve accidental contact. Case book material is printed in smaller type than the rule language and is labeled as comment. Obstruction describes an act by a fielder, who is not in possession of the ball or in the process of fielding it, that impedes the baserunners progress. Official rules are highlighted in a shaded box rather than being printed in smaller typeface as had been the case in prior to 2015. Louis cardinals beat the boston red sox in game 3 on a controversial play at busch stadium to take a 21 lead in the world series. The 2020 national rules committee has put together the new national tournament rules, which will apply for this years tournaments. To purchase a printed hard cover copy of the rule book please contact the australian. Detached equipment touching pitched or batted ball rule 5. All portions of this particular page and the pages of the official major league rules book are sole property of major league baseball and have been reproduced without any alteration by baseball almanac who first obtained the written. Text of major league baseballs obstruction rules, cited by.
Louis allen craig on jon jays ninthinning grounder. How to fix mlbs obstruction rule bleed cubbie blue. Top synonym for baseball another word for baseball is ball. No longer will be ball be immediately dead when a ball is lodged in a players glove. Players must adhere to these rules or else face onfield penalties imposed by the umpires and, occasionally, offfield disciplinary measures. The obstruction play provides a glimpse of the essence of. Obstruction is an act by which the defensive team impedes the batting team from advancing around the bases. Baseball zone is a fundamental but advanced approach to the game of baseball and its endless. These rules, as they relate to the msblmabl national tournaments, are definitive and supersede any other sets of rules that the msblmabl, or your local league, may have. Heres the rule book definition, found in definitions obstruction.
Interference can be committed by the team at the plate or the team in the field, as well as by players not even in the game at the time, an umpire, a fan, or another individual not associated with the team. Nolan ryans nohit record and joe dimaggios hitting streak record will be broken before i see any of those plays. Tackling obstruction the concept of obstruction in baseball has been part of the game since near its inception. According to the official rule book, obstruction is defined as the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner. The act of blocking the plate accounted for most of the physical contact in major league baseball prior to the 2014 season, when it was outlawed except when the catcher already has possession of the ball by the rules of baseball, a runner has the right to an unobstructed path to a base.
Many misunderstandings on the field are the result of everybody knows that. This i fault major league baseball for ignoring many areas in the baseball rulebook that lack definition, thus putting umpires in a precarious position to make a difficult judgment as to when a play commences on a runner. Heres the rulebook definition, found in definitions obstruction. Nov 04, 2015 well, that kinda depends on which rulebook youre looking at, and more importantly, how you count rules as an example of what i mean. Obstruction in high school baseball nfhs baseball umpires. Obstruction describes an act by a fielder, who is not in possession of the ball or in the. Many amateur and youth leagues use the obr with only a few modifications for safety. Obstruction in high school baseball nfhs obstruction and the related base awards and amount of protection always seem to be confusing on the field and in the classroom whenever discussing the rule. World series umpires, mlb step back into spotlight after. Obstruction definition of obstruction by the free dictionary. If the word directly was added and defined, it would help. To know the rules, such as stepping, obstruction and other things like that. Oct 27, 20 the wild ending to game 3 of the world series prompted plenty of questions over the obstruction call that led to the cardinals walkoff win. The umpire shall then call time and impose such penalties, if any, as in his judgment will nullify the act of obstruction.
The nationals forced a game 7 in the 2019 world series by beating the astros 72 on tuesday night. Obstruction is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball. In no event shall bases be run because of such interference see rule 6. The obstruction rule bans unsanctioned collisions on the basepaths by preventing defensive players from blocking the passage of the baserunners. Baserunners are generally permitted the free privilege to run from base to base without being physically blocked or hindered by a fielder. Apr 27, 2008 obstruction in high school baseball nfhs obstruction and the related base awards and amount of protection always seem to be confusing on the field and in the classroom whenever discussing the rule. These are some of the same drills we used at the major league level. Text of mlb obstruction rule cited in world series fox sports. Rich marazzi also deciphers an obstruction call that was made during the may, 2016 white soxrangers game in arlington. The complete rules are published as the official baseball rules at mlb. Feb 20, 2018 mlb sets new rules to speed up the game.
Relief from an obstruction is provided for in rule 31. Offensive interference is the most common infraction and refers, according to the official rules of major league baseball, to an act by the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play. Note the emphasis on the words while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball. Obstruction describes an act by a fielder, who is not in possession of the ball or in the process of fielding it, that impedes the. Official rule and does not require a reader to refer to different sections of the official baseball rules book in considering the application of a particular rule. This is in reference to nfhs playing rules and is meant for instructional purposes only. Louis cardinals yadier molina reacts as allen craig lays on home plate after getting tangled with boston red soxs will middlebrooks during. I spoke with an umpire yesterday about the obstruction rule. Decide at that time what base you believe the runner is likely to reach, had it not been for the obstruction. Oct 27, 20 text of mlb obstruction rule cited in world series st.
Text of mlb obstruction rule cited in world series fox. Any defensive player deliberately touching a batted ball over foul territory that, in the umpires judgment, has an opportunity to become a fair ball with detached equipment will entitle all runnersincluding the batterrunnerto advance three bases from the time the ball was. Obstruction asa ruling does the runner automatically get. Occurs when a fielder who is not in possession of the ball and is not fielding the ball blocks the progress of a runner. Thirdbase umpire jim joyce called obstruction and the rest is history.
The current language of the official rules was introduced in 1962. All portions of this particular page and the pages of the official major league rules book are sole property of major league baseball and have. Obstruction is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and. In baseball, obstruction is when a fielder illegally hinders a baserunner running within the. Baserunners are generally permitted to run from base to base without being physically blocked or hindered by a fielder. Mike macfarlane former catcher kansas city royals owner, macnseitz baseball academy. In baseball, obstruction is when a fielder illegally hinders a baserunner running within the basepath. An umpire can call a batter, batterrunner or runner out for offensive interference when.
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