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NFHS - Rule 8-4 Article 2, b, 2 states "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." I don't have any question about the first sentence of the rule. My question is when a runner is on second, a ball is hit to the shortstop as the runner is running to third, the shortstop goes to his knees and the runner leaps over the outstretched glove of the fielder to avoid a tag. Is the runner out because the fielder is not lying on the ground? The same type of plays can occur around the plate in a crucial situation with the catcher on his knees or on all fours.
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This case play should clear it up for you.

8.4.2.A: On a play at the plate, F2, who is on his knees, is about to receive the throw. R1 decides to hurdle F2 or jump over him feet first.

RULING: The runner is out. A runner is entitled to slide legally or legally attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball waiting to make the tag. Going over the top of the fielder who is not lying on the ground by hurdling, jumping over or diving over the fielder is dangerous and, therefore, illegal. A runner may jump or hurdle a fielder, who is lying on the ground, but diving over a fielder is always illegal.

BTW: The way this play is worded, F2 may be guilty of obstruction, but that is beside the point.
quote:
Originally posted by dash_riprock:
This case play should clear it up for you.

8.4.2.A: On a play at the plate, F2, who is on his knees, is about to receive the throw. R1 decides to hurdle F2 or jump over him feet first.

RULING: The runner is out. A runner is entitled to slide legally or legally attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball waiting to make the tag. Going over the top of the fielder who is not lying on the ground by hurdling, jumping over or diving over the fielder is dangerous and, therefore, illegal. A runner may jump or hurdle a fielder, who is lying on the ground, but diving over a fielder is always illegal.

BTW: The way this play is worded, F2 may be guilty of obstruction, but that is beside the point.


No, because the glove is not the fielder. The OP is not committing an illegal act.
quote:
Originally posted by Matt13:

No, because the glove is not the fielder. The OP is not committing an illegal act.


That is a bit misleading, Matt.

The glove is not part of the fielder but the hand inside the glove is. Granted, the OP is borderline. But the obvious spirit of the rule is, FED doesn't want the runner's spikes in the air over the fielder unless the fielder is lying on the ground.

The OP is difficult to call by looking at words on a screen, but not so difficult on the field. A runner trying to avoid the outstretched glove of a kneeling fielder is going to go around the glove, not over it. If he's close enough that he must jump over it to avoid the tag, I'm calling him out.
quote:
Originally posted by dash_riprock:
quote:
Originally posted by Matt13:

No, because the glove is not the fielder. The OP is not committing an illegal act.


That is a bit misleading, Matt.

The glove is not part of the fielder but the hand inside the glove is. Granted, the OP is borderline. But the obvious spirit of the rule is, FED doesn't want the runner's spikes in the air over the fielder unless the fielder is lying on the ground.

The OP is difficult to call by looking at words on a screen, but not so difficult on the field. A runner trying to avoid the outstretched glove of a kneeling fielder is going to go around the glove, not over it. If he's close enough that he must jump over it to avoid the tag, I'm calling him out.


Okay, the hand/arm are not the fielder, and you would be incorrect. "Over the fielder" means over the main body--or at least it did two years ago when I got the interpretation from FED on this very question.

Plus, 8.2.1D has the OP as legal, if you want a casebook reference.
Last edited by Matt13

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