interferance vs. obstruction

[fatump]

Whats the difference between interferance and obstruction. Is it as simple as offense and defense.
plz help

[mt 73]

Obstruction is what the defense does to the offense.
Interference is what the offense does to the defense.
One exception is catcher's interference, which is actually catcher's obstruction and is called that in softball and FED baseball.
So--if a runner runs down a fielder who is making a play on a batted ball that is interference.
If the fielder is just standing in the base path and the runner crashes into him that is obstruction.
In OBR some obstruction is an automatic dead ball and some obstruction is delayed dead ball.

[fatump]

Obstruction is what the defense does to the offense.
Interference is what the offense does to the defense.
One exception is catcher's interference, which is actually catcher's obstruction and is called that in softball and FED baseball.
So--if a runner runs down a fielder who is making a play on a batted ball that is interference.
If the fielder is just standing in the base path and the runner crashes into him that is obstruction.
In OBR some obstruction is an automatic dead ball and some obstruction is delayed dead ball.

Thanks

[OzUmp]

come on! This is not a flame as this is the newbie site and I would not want to hurt your widdle feelings. They print rulebooks by the thousand. Buy one and become acquainted with it. Don't leave it to other people to do your work for you. and Richard called me lazy. Jeeeeez!

[heyblue26]

Obstruction: Can occur during a batted or thrown ball. Contact is not necessary. When obstruction occurs , and umpire should call "thats obstruction" and point at the location of the infraction. {7.06} OBR.

Interference:

Offensive interference is an act by the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders, or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play.

Defensive interference is an act by a fielder which hinders or prevents a batter from hitting a pitch.

Umpires interference occurs (1) When a umpire hinders, impedes or prevents a catcher's throw attempting to prevent a stolen base. (2) When a fair ball touches and umpire on fair territory before passing a fielder. Note; The interference shall be disreguarded if the catcher's throw retires the runner.

Spectator interference occurs when a spectator reaches out of the stands, or goes on the playing field, and touches a live ball.

On any interference the ball is dead. hope that this helps you.

[britinmuc]

an instructor once said to me (eselbrücke):

"helmets interfere with the play"

i.e. those players that wear helmets (even the catcher) cause inteference - the others obstruction :)

[mt 73]

come on! This is not a flame as this is the newbie site and I would not want to hurt your widdle feelings. They print rulebooks by the thousand. Buy one and become acquainted with it. Don't leave it to other people to do your work for you. and Richard called me lazy. Jeeeeez!
Perhaps I am stupid, but one of the reasons that I love this site is because others with far more experience than I can break the rule book down and make things understandable for even a dunce like me.
I have gained quite a lot of insight here and would hate to have some one respond to one of my questions with a "look it up" retort.
In other words, there is no such thing as a stupid/lazy question.

"helmets interfere with the play"

i.e. those players that wear helmets (even the catcher) cause inteference - the others obstruction

Thank you--I am stealing that one for use in my classes.

[heyblue26]

Don't leave it to other people to do your work for you. and Richard called me lazy. Jeeeeez!

We are all here to help one another and so if we state something then thats ok it helps them and you said richard called Lazy Wow!!!!!!

But as it has been said there is no such thing as a stupid question. I have also been told the only stupid question is the one that is never asked.

[bobjenkins]

But as it has been said there is no such thing as a stupid question.

Yes, but the person who first said that had never read any of the internet forums.

To the OP (and at the risk of making it seem as if I agree with OzUmp) -- the question is way too vague /open ended for a good discussion here. A little bit of reading and asking specific question will get you more useful answers, imo. I'd start with the definitions in rule 2.

[heyblue26]

Yes, but the person who first said that had never read any of the internet forums.

-- the question is way too vague /open ended for a good discussion here. A little bit of reading and asking specific question will get you more useful answers, imo. I'd start with the definitions in rule 2.

Yes going back and reading what was being asked was kind of vague since you mention it. good point I missed that one too. It could of been much clearer.

[KenGibes]

But as it has been said there is no such thing as a stupid question. I have also been told the only stupid question is the one that is never asked.

I have been told, "There's no such thing as a stupid question... only stupid people who ask them."

[OzUmp]

To the OP (and at the risk of making it seem as if I agree with OzUmp)

Why would agreeing with me be risky? I realize I am not popular. People who have the guts to say what is on their minds typically are not. I am often right however.

[cajunyankee]

Why would agreeing with me be risky? I realize I am not popular. People who have the guts to say what is on their minds typically are not. I am often right however.

Amen Oz....Amen.

I'm often right too, even though nobody agrees.....:D

[Wags]

An old Boss used to say to me..............

"Everyone in the whole world is a bit strange except for you and me......and even you have your funny days"

[johnnyg08]

On any interference the ball is dead. hope that this helps you.

Did I take this out of context? I'm not sure I agree...on batter interference, the ball is not immediately dead.

I know you know that, but maybe a newbie would misinterpret your statement.

Your thoughts?

[ukce1861]

Did I take this out of context? I'm not sure I agree...on batter interference, the ball is not immediately dead.

I know you know that, but maybe a newbie would misinterpret your statement.

Your thoughts?
Yeah, it's another one of those, that's what the rulebook says, but it's not actually true...

That's straight from rule 2.0 and it's true; except when it's not.:rolleyes:

[richo_aust]

I'll throw this one from left field OK.
I am pretty sure that our Rule book is pretty close to everyone's.
Is the ball always automatically DEAD when there is interference?

Catcher's interference: If the batter and all runners advance one base safely, (the book says 90ft), then there is no reference to the interference. (ball is alive and in play)

Batter's interference: If the catcher retires the runner, then there is no reference to the interference. (ball is alive and in play)

Just a thought.

[OzUmp]

I'll throw this one from left field OK.
I am pretty sure that our Rule book is pretty close to everyone's.
Is the ball always automatically DEAD when there is interference?

Yes- perhaps not immediately but it becomes dead at some point

Catcher's interference: If the batter and all runners advance one base safely, (the book says 90ft), then there is no reference to the interference. (ball is alive and in play)


Batter's interference: If the catcher retires the runner, then there is no reference to the interference. (ball is alive and in play)

Just a thought.

In these situations interference did not occur so no reason for the ball to become dead.

[richo_aust]

To true Ozump, it was not exactly asking a question, I will have to watch how I post, especially in the newbies forum.
We are big one mechanics, call the interference when you see it, in those cases, do not kill the ball until we see what has happened.
The way I posted it was more towards how I answer managers with their questions on the interference play or call.

Hope that cleared it up some what.

[fatump]

come on! This is not a flame as this is the newbie site and I would not want to hurt your widdle feelings. They print rulebooks by the thousand. Buy one and become acquainted with it. Don't leave it to other people to do your work for you. and Richard called me lazy. Jeeeeez!

I have plenty of rule books if you dont want to coverse the dont, i dont need your help theres plenty out there

[OzUmp]

I have plenty of rule books if you dont want to coverse the dont, i dont need your help theres plenty out there

Nope. Still have not seen or read anything to change my mind.

[mt 73]

What the rule book calls catchers interference is actually obstruction, and it is called just that in FED baseball--not to mention ASA and FED softball.
Hence the delayed dead ball call.
In batters interference the ball could be killed immediately, such as if the catcher's throw bounces off the batter.

[CoachJM]

mt_73,

No, what the FED rule book call's "catcher's obstruction" is actually interference.

It's just that some (though not all) of the people who write the FED rules have never even SEEN a baseball game, let alone played or officiated in one.

Who cares what the girls call it?

I have no idea what you're trying to say with your last sentence, because there is no difference in enforcement between the FED and OBR rules.

Yes, I'm sure.

JM

[mt 73]

mt_73,

No, what the FED rule book call's "catcher's obstruction" is actually interference.

It's just that some (though not all) of the people who write the FED rules have never even SEEN a baseball game, let alone played or officiated in one.

Who cares what the girls call it?

I have no idea what you're trying to say with your last sentence, because there is no difference in enforcement between the FED and OBR rules.

Yes, I'm sure.

JM
So--then catchers interference should result in an immediate dead ball, right?
I mean, after all, does the rule book not state that any interference results in a dead ball?

[Rich_Ives]

I mean, after all, does the rule book not state that any interference results in a dead ball?

But it doesn't say when it becomes dead. Sometimes it's immediately, sometimes you wait, sometimes you wave it off.

[mt 73]

But it doesn't say when it becomes dead. Sometimes it's immediately, sometimes you wait, sometimes you wave it off.
Yes, I was just thinking that after I posted the above.
It is a bit hard to explain to a rookie umpire that interference is what the offense does to the defense and then to have to explain CI as the exception.
Which is why I use the Catcher's Obstruction reference as in FED and ASA/FED softball.
Which is why I love the, "If it's wearing a helmet call INT as opposed to OBS" statement.
Then again, neither fans, umpires or most coaches wear helmets.
Oh well, the search for simplicity continues....

[bobjenkins]

Oh well, the search for simplicity continues....

How about "runners get obstructed. Everything else is interference."

Or, just "RTFM." That seems simple enough to me.

Or, get the ruling right and no one will care what you call it.