Offense's dugout yells "Runner!" during the pitch

[sdix00]

With

R1 at first and no outs, B1 swings and misses for strike one. While the pitch is in flight, someone in the offensive team’s dugout yells “runner.†F2 catches the pitch and immediately throws to second base. No fielder is in position to catch the throw and it goes into center field. R1, who was not running on the pitch, advances to second.

Ruling for each code?

[johnnyg08]

Legal in all sets except probably FED

[sdix00]

If illegal in FED (or elsewhere), how would one enforce this?

[Rich Ives]

If illegal in FED (or elsewhere), how would one enforce this?

Interference.

[mstaylor]

I thhink they kicked that one. That would mean you call UI if you don't open the gate fast enough. I just can't believe they mean that. I can only assume they are still talking about the throw but it isn't worded well. I haven't read the Preseason Guide yet but I will try today.

[ukce1861]

To have interference, you must interfere with a play. Since the pitch is in flight, that's the play. The catcher fields the pitch cleanly, thus there's no interference with that play. What the catcher does after that is at his own risk. We discussed this in our association meeting the other day.

Now, you might warn the coach for unsportsmanlike conduct from the bench.

[johnnyg08]

With

R1 at first and no outs, B1 swings and misses for strike one. While the pitch is in flight, someone in the offensive team’s dugout yells “runner.†F2 catches the pitch and immediately throws to second base. No fielder is in position to catch the throw and it goes into center field. R1, who was not running on the pitch, advances to second.

Ruling for each code?

If the action had no impact on the play, you could probably use preventative officiating to work around it by warning with coaches that if it happens again that you could have interference (which I have not looked up yet, so I don't even know if its illegal), then so they quit doing it in other games just to see if we call it, I'd file an incident report with the state office just as a matter of information so there is a paper trail. (Assuming FED, and assuming that action is illegal)

[sdix00]

Ruling (Referee Magazine): NFHS and NCAA definitions of interference both state that someone must interfere with the play that is being made. Because the pitch is fielded cleanly, the play was made. Any further action taken by F2 is at his own risk. Pro rules make no reference to verbal interference (NFHS 2-21- 1; NCAA 2-interference; pro 2.00 Interference).

[johnnyg08]

So assuming Referee is correct, this would not be a violation under FED? Simply bush league?

[JaxRolo]

So assuming Referee is correct, this would not be a violation under <acronym title='Federation Rules (High School)'>FED</acronym>? Simply bush league?

Sure sounds like it.

[mstaylor]

I thought about it being nothing in FED but knowing their penchant for penalizing unsportmanlike behavior I would enforce it.

[Rich Ives]

FED has verbal obstruction so apply that concept to interference.

[HugoTafurst]

1 pitch walk to the next batter? :FIRE:

[Rich Ives]

So assuming Referee is correct,

Given their track record this may not be a good assumption.

[johnnyg08]

So assuming Referee is correct,

Given their track record this may not be a good assumption.

I know, and it frustrates me to no end. It's supposed to be authoritative and there have been multiple times where I have had to correct a myth only to fight through, "well, I saw it in Referee..." similar to..."the announcers said it in the game last night."

[Don]

The catcher is able to see if a runner is running, it's right in front of him, and he has spent his entire career learning to throw in this situation if he sees a runner running. Why would he throw because someone yelled "runner" from the dugout. Does not make any sense.

I don't see this as verbal intereference since no one was interfered with, and I don't see it as verbal obstruction since no one was verbally obstructed.

Borderline unsportsmanlike, so I might tell the dugout to cut it out.

[Rich Ives]

So in your games NO ONE yells when a runner is going? Really?

[BT_Blue]

So wait... what have we come up with here? Im going with a verbal INT and sending R1 back along with a bench warning for unsportsmanlike acts. Does this sound right?

Now from an old catchers standpoint... I expect the catcher to understand what the situation is and to know what side of the damn field his team is on! Much like IFF I expect the players to know the situation without me telling them. However in FED we can have verbal obstruction like Rich says... so why not verbal interference?

[johnnyg08]

Never seen it...I see this as no different than the defense clanking the bats when a runner is stealing.

If this is FED, this is unsportsmanlike behavior which is addressed at the plate meeting.

The state league office will be receiving an incident report from me about that behavior.

[mstaylor]

FED is a stickler for promoting sportsmanship. This is unsporting so I would ding them. It may not be black letter illegal but it is certainly in the spirit of FED rules. I assure you if you if they try to protest it to the state they will be on the losing end of things.

[alex7]

FED says eject the offender of unsportsmanlike conduct. Nice.

[johnnyg08]

That ought to be easy from the dugout. I suppose we issue a team warning, if it happens again, I'm picking somebody from the dugout and they're done for the day.

[Replacematt]

That ought to be easy from the dugout. I suppose we issue a team warning, if it happens again, I'm picking somebody from the dugout and they're done for the day.

It should just happen to be the guy listed fourth on your card.