NFHS Rules - Jumping over (Hurdling) a tag

[Kyle Flanagan]

NFHS Rules

I know a base-runner can not hurdle a player, but can they hurdle a tag?  For example, R1 is heading to second base.  The 2nd Baseman receives the throw from outfielder on the outfield side on 2nd base bag and reaches to tag and R1 jumps over the tag ( especially jumping over the fielders glove).  Is this allowed?  

[noumpere]

Yes -- it's legal to hurdle (but not to dive ) over the outstretched arm of a fielder.

 

There's a specific case on it:

8.2.1 SITUATION D : R1 is on third with no outs. R1 attempts to score on a fly ball to F8. F8's throw to F2
is near perfect. R1 sees that the play is going to be close. As F2 stretches for the ball to tag R1, R1
attempts to hurdle F2's outstretched arms as the ball bounces in front of the plate and skips into deadball
territory. As R1 is in the air, F2's glove catches R1's foot and both lose their balance and tumble to
the ground. (a) R1 gets up and proceeds to the dugout or (b) R1 crawls back and touches the plate.
RULING: Hurdling the outstretched arms of a fielder is legal. Hurdling or jumping over a fielder who is
not lying on the ground is illegal. In (a), the umpire shall call R1 out for missing the plate upon a proper
defensive appeal. In (b), R1's run would count.

[Kyle Flanagan]

1 hour ago, noumpere said:

Yes -- it's legal to hurdle (but not to dive ) over the outstretched arm of a fielder.

 

There's a specific case on it:

8.2.1 SITUATION D : R1 is on third with no outs. R1 attempts to score on a fly ball to F8. F8's throw to F2
is near perfect. R1 sees that the play is going to be close. As F2 stretches for the ball to tag R1, R1
attempts to hurdle F2's outstretched arms as the ball bounces in front of the plate and skips into deadball
territory. As R1 is in the air, F2's glove catches R1's foot and both lose their balance and tumble to
the ground. (a) R1 gets up and proceeds to the dugout or (b) R1 crawls back and touches the plate.
RULING: Hurdling the outstretched arms of a fielder is legal. Hurdling or jumping over a fielder who is
not lying on the ground is illegal. In (a), the umpire shall call R1 out for missing the plate upon a proper
defensive appeal. In (b), R1's run would count.

If the runner hurdles the runner hurdles the player and is declared out for doing so... is it an immediate dead ball or delayed dead and ball still in play?  

[flyingron]

Diving over the fielder:   Penalty:

The runner is out and the ball remains live unless interference occurs and is declared.

[noumpere]

17 hours ago, Kyle Flanagan said:

If the runner hurdles the runner hurdles the player and is declared out for doing so... is it an immediate dead ball or delayed dead and ball still in play?  

 

16 hours ago, flyingron said:

Diving over the fielder:   Penalty:

The runner is out and the ball remains live unless interference occurs and is declared.

Same for hurdling.

[flyingron]

1 hour ago, noumpere said:

 

Same for hurdling.

I think they mean the same thing.   The current fed doesn't mention hurdles except when the fielder is lying on the ground.

 

[maven]

26 minutes ago, flyingron said:

I think they mean the same thing.   The current fed doesn't mention hurdles except when the fielder is lying on the ground.

'Diving' and 'hurdling' do not mean the same. 'Jumping' is ambiguous.

Hurdling is knee/foot first, (ideally) landing on feet.

 

Diving is head first, landing on hands.

26 minutes ago, flyingron said:

The current fed doesn't mention hurdles except when the fielder is lying on the ground.

Hurdling is illegal except when the fielder is lying on the ground (butt and shoulders all touching ground, prone or supine). So yes, FED mentions hurdling other than the 1 instance it allows, when it prohibits hurdling.

[flyingron]

But it is not mentioned elsewhere.    Neither the 2020 or 2021/2022 rulebooks mention hurdles other than in that exception (which is actually part of the slide rules).

[maven]

I don't have my books here. I thought it was in 8-4-2.

[noumpere]

38 minutes ago, maven said:

I don't have my books here. I thought it was in 8-4-2.

Yes -- that's the only mention of "hurdle" in the rule book.  The case book as ha few case plays that have it listed.

 

The rule itself (and case plays) are somewhat contradictory -- hurdling is listed under interference, but it can be an out with no interference as well, and you can have contact / hindrance (over an outstretched glove, for example) without it being either an out or interference.

8-4-2 ART. 2 . . . Any runner is out when he:

a. runs more than three feet away from a direct line between bases to avoid being tagged or to hinder a fielder while the runner is advancing or returning to a base;

    1. This is not an infraction if a fielder attempting to field a batted ball is in the runner's proper path and if the runner runs behind the fielder to avoid interfering with him.

    2. When a play is being made on a runner or batter-runner, he establishes his baseline as directly between his position and the base toward which he is moving.

b. does not legally slide and causes illegal contact and/or illegally alters the actions of a fielder in the immediate act of making a play, or on a force play, does not slide in a direct line between the bases; or

     1. A runner may slide in a direction away from the fielder to avoid making contact or altering the play of the fielder.

     2. Runners are never required to slide, but if a runner elects to slide, the slide must be legal. (2-32-1, 2) Jumping, hurdling, and leaping are all legal attempts to avoid a fielder as long as the fielder is lying on the ground. Diving over a fielder is illegal.

PENALTY: The runner is out. Interference is called and the ball is dead immediately. On a force-play slide with less than two outs, the runner is declared out, as well as the batter-runner. Runners shall return to the bases occupied at the time of the pitch. With two outs, the runner is declared out. The batter is credited with a fielder's choice.

c. does not legally attempt to avoid a fielder in the immediate act of making a play on him; or

PENALTY: The runner is out, the ball remains live unless interference is called.

d. dives over a fielder; or

PENALTY: The runner is out and the ball remains live unless interference occurs and is declared.