Does it say any where in the rules about middle infielders screaming back with a runner on second in hopes of getting him to dive back into second base as the pitcher lifts his leg to deliver the ball home? Besides it behind a little bush league to me is it legal? Sort of like screaming at the fielder as you run by him as he attempts to catch a fly ball.
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Only in HS ball is it considered obstruction....(BTW not interference)
NFHS rule 2-22-1- verbal obstruction is treated the same as physical obstruction. Penalty: The runner is awarded one base in advance of the position on base.
In NCAA and OBR, offensive players are expected to know the difference between their own coaches and the other teams players voices..
If enforced on the play above I'd bet all heck would break loose. Nothing like one team getting under the skin of the other with dicey activity and then having the officials getting involved to fire things up.
If a team is doing it regularly and not getting called on it and all of a sudden the call gets made ....it is looks an awful lot like the poop end of the stick for the man in blue. Sounds like a great way for a game to start getting verrrry chatty on the sidelines and everywhere else.
Make that call a few innings in without a warning in a tight game...whew!
This is not an unusual rule/call in FED ball....teams know that behavior is unacceptable to NFHS.
The rule is there to do exactly what you state.....stop this dicey activity by any team and keep games from getting chippy by unsportsmanlike activities.
