Catching question???????

Just Missed This One Too!

Maybe there is something to leaving the mask on. But I could never get her to do it!

 

As a former catcher and current coach, these catchers are doing their job(being up in front of the plate making the runner choose which way they want to go, around or under them). The ball is on the way in both photos, so the catcher has the right to catch the ball, and they are not blocking the plate. Once they catch the ball and sit or squat to give the runner NO WHERE to run, then they are blocking the plate. I don't think there are any umpires who will call intereference on these two plays.
You would want your team's catcher doing exactly what these girls are doing...hate it as a runner, but love it defensively.
GREAT PHOTOS!!

 

Oh but there you are wrong! I have had many a layout catches WITH MY MASK ON... besides... would you really have had to lay out if the mask was left on?

 

positioning of the helmet is sooo wrong... if the mask comes off.. it isn't in the base path!

 

this is a legit placement of the catcher! This is where I want my catchers to be.... intimidation factor as well as fielding tech. There is nothing wrong because the play will be at home.. just not at the plate!

 

These pics prove my point of too much time wasted in removing the mask!

 

In Fastpitch.....

.....NO player can impede a runner to a base without the ball! Rule is 100% opposite of how I learned the game but its for safety. E. G. Beleive this or not, run down between 3B and home, pitcher falls into the proper rotation, tags out the runner coming home, SAFE! WHAT!!! Yep, thats the rule, but can someone explain it to us? As for the college catcher, she is allowing the path of the runner open, but the TB player is not in the right position to avoid an umpires discretion on the call. Devils advocate here folks, I'm not for the rule myself.

 

Marlinfan1 is right

According to the current rules for most sanctioning bodies, a defensive player is not allowed to impede the progress of a runner unless in possession of the ball; doing so is called obstruction. It no longer matters that the "ball is on the way;" it has to be in the defensive player's possession (ASA and the other codes changed this several years ago).

This is inconsistently enforced, but the rule is to prevent collisions and the better umpires do enforce it this way. If the defensive player has the ball, it then becomes the runner's responsibility to avoid contact.

I would have to see video, or be there, to be sure, but it sure looks like #9 for the Falcons should be getting a call for obstruction. The Girl in Green and white is in better shape: She's not stradling the foul line.

Now, I'm sure that there are plenty of coaches who think that this is fine. But this is only in ignorance or disprect for the rules.

 

Tough call, obstruction.....

.....is one of those rules that might be enforced by one ump, and then not seen in the same manner by another blue in the next game. I'm not calling anyone ignorant, but ignorance of a rule is not uncommon. My suggestion would be, ask the umps at the pregame cointoss gig, in front of ALL just what their interpretation of a rule is for that game. Especially rules that lend theirselves to being subjective in nature and will always bite you in the butt when a call doesn't go your way! Atleast, at the plate, both teams understand what might be called.