- Jun 22, 2008
- 3,438
- 48
Ack forgot this was here!
Jumping over the ball comes with the confuses part. I've seen it called out every time it occurs.
And so can a coach screaming at his runner to go back, or a runner coming off of 2B and falling down. A runner can confuse a runner by going behind them to avoid interference, is that INT? You are reaching to the level of over-officiating in an attempt to justify a terrible interpretation.
The runner's job is to advance, the defender's job is to make a play on the ball. The runner is supposed to avoid INT, not open the door for the defense to get as many outs as possible.
No particular action is interference unless there is interference with a play. Rules in ISF, ASA, NCAA & NFHS specifically note that a runner may run in front of or behind avoid interfering with a fielder attempting to field a batted ball.
Interference requires an act of interference. A runner doing what they are supposed to do is not an ACT meant to confuse the fielder.
I can tell you in ISF, ASA, NCAA & NFHS, that umpires are directed to not call interference unless a runner does anything other than making every effort to progress in the direction they were moving. IOW, unless the runner waited for the ball and then jumped over or studder-stepped just as the ball was reaching the fielder, an act meant to interfere, it is nothing.
I'm not going to give you a resume, but I am more than qualified, not just as an ISF & ASA umpire, but clinician and instructor.