Verbal Interference

It's also called bush league.

With a tender tone....

If that is what it takes for players from the opposing dugout to stop yelling instructions to fielders from the dugout in an attempt to confuse them then I am all for verbal interference. I bet the players in the dugout learned a lesson and think twice before they do that next time around.

I know the umps take a lot of heat on this website but I applaud this one....I have seen umps ignore this from little league through select so if that it what it takes for these young men to learn good sportsmanship then I am all for it.

I am not trying to point fingers at Collikar's team or any other team but this has always been one of my personal pet peeves even when I have heard my son or his teammates yell from the dugout.....the first thought that comes to my head and unfortunately sometimes out of my mouth is "that is bush league"....

quote:

Originally posted by Andy Postema:
It's also called bush league.

Unfortunately one of the few leagues left in amatuer baseball is the bush league.

We played a team last week and you would have thought it was 10U girls softball game with all the yelling that was going on during the entire game. I love it when guys encourage their teammates, but this was far from encouragement. One of our players made 3 errors and half the team threw their hats out in front of the dugout(hat trick). I will have to say that the head coach did tell them to shut up after that.

Years ago while umpiring a game the batter hit a pop up by the offense's dugout. Fielder went over and the offensive players held out their hats and were shaking them and hollering. Partner called "Verbal interference; batter's out", and then the ball hit on top of the dugout. FUNNY.

By the way, we had no further problems from either team.

quote:

Originally posted by Old Pitcher:
We played a team last week and you would have thought it was 10U girls softball game with all the yelling that was going on during the entire game. I love it when guys encourage their teammates, but this was far from encouragement. One of our players made 3 errors and half the team threw their hats out in front of the dugout(hat trick). I will have to say that the head coach did tell them to shut up after that.

The Rock has always had too much class for that sort of thing. Was it a district game, Or maybe an 11-5a team? (they are known for that sort of thing)

I think this type of behavior in dugouts is a relatively "new" thing - I can tell you 25 years ago my HS baseball coach would have never tolerated some of the crapp that I hear coming from these dugouts today.

I have told my boys that I had better not EVER be able to recognize their voices coming from the dugout ragging an opposing player. Unfortunately you have alot of parents yelling insults at the opposing players and coaches from the stands so I guess you can't expect their kids to be any better in the dugout.

true crawdad. i have seen dads on our team standing behind home plate heckling the opposing catcher. i can see why some of the kids think its ok to do it from the dugout.

i think funnel brought this up once before, but i noticed at a few of our last games the PA guy using "humorous" sound clips when an opposing player makes an error or strikes out. am i wrong to think that is not appropriate? i can't help but think that its some adult that could not play when he was in school making fun of kids that are trying their best. call me naive.

My 2 cents on this, Senior leadership has some control of this behavior. Not saying the other don't chime in. But, once they start the others follow. If they don't, most likely the other don't.

Personally, I like seeing a dugout fired up. Not to the point of ragging a player on the field, but cheering on their team-mates.

The two biggest loudmouths from the dugout on my son's HS team are the manager and a seldom used pitcher. They are constantly heckling the opposing team and acting like horses a ss's.

One of them makes a sound that I can only descriped as a goat in severe pain.

It is truly embarrassing sometimes to me as a parent.

quote:

Originally posted by crawdad:

One of them makes a sound that I can only described as a goat in severe pain.

I'm not sure I'm familiar with this sound, but that has to be one of the most humorist descriptions I've read.

quote:

Originally posted by Mickey Mantle World Series:
Years ago while umpiring a game the batter hit a pop up by the offense's dugout. Fielder went over and the offensive players held out their hats and were shaking them and hollering. Partner called "Verbal interference; batter's out", and then the ball hit on top of the dugout. FUNNY.

By the way, we had no further problems from either team.

Just curious...did your partner reverse his call and call it a foul ball or did he call the batter out? I bet you had a hard time keeping a straight face on that one!

quote:

The Rock has always had too much class for that sort of thing. Was it a district game, Or maybe an 11-5a team? (they are known for that sort of thing)

CoolArrow,

Yes, it was a district game! When we played a team from 11 5-A earlier in the year they were just as bad!

Cheapseats........

Nope. We had an out, players were stunned, coach blistered his players, and I had a hard time calling the plate without laughing too much. But like I said, we had no more problems.

This particular field didn't have too much room on the apron and the dugouts weren't big enough for the number of players they had. It was just a matter of time before we had to make a call someone wasn't going to like. You can warn them all day long, but they usually ignore you. Once you make a call like this, they get the message. Now this school has one of the nicest fields around with plenty of room.

quote:

Originally posted by Mickey Mantle World Series:


Nope. We had an out, players were stunned, coach blistered his players, and I had a hard time calling the plate without laughing too much. But like I said, we had no more problems.

Some funny stories and yes it is in the rule book. Most kids know they can’t physically interfere, obstruct, impede, or hinder the other player while they are both on the field. What they don’t always know is “an act by the team” covers everybody in the dugout too and “confuses any player” means they can’t run their mouth either.

(Yikes! Did I really just write that sentence to an English teacher? Oh well, Collikar always gave my son passing grades. Maybe I’ll get some credit by association.)

Official Rules: 2.00 Definition of Terms
INTERFERENCE
(a) Offensive interference is an act by the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play. If the umpire declares the batter, batter runner, or a runner out for interference, all other runners shall return to the last base that was in the judgment of the umpire, legally touched at the time of the interference, unless otherwise provided by these rules. In the event the batter runner has not reached first base, all runners shall return to the base last occupied at the time of the pitch.
(b) Defensive interference is an act by a fielder which hinders or prevents a batter from hitting a pitch.
(c) Umpire's interference occurs (1) When an umpire hinders, impedes or prevents a catcher's throw attempting to prevent a stolen base, or (2) When a fair ball touches an umpire on fair territory before passing a fielder.
(d) Spectator interference occurs when a spectator reaches out of the stands, or goes on the playing field, and touches a live ball. On any interference the ball is dead.

Verbal interference....isn't that what these teenage boys do when they are talking back to Mom and Dad with a bit of an attitude? I got a lot of verbal interference going on at my house...

quote:

Originally posted by collikar:

Is that a real rule?

Line Drive

Thanks for answering the question. I must say that I finally looked it up after the first day of not getting the answer.

This happened in a JV game Tuesday night, and my friend asked me if I knew anything about it. I laughed and said I knew where to find out.

...and I gave your son nothing! He was brilliant of his own accord...or maybe his mom's.

I see/hear kids yelling at fielders all the time. I never see that rule enforced, however, it is a rule, so I guess there should be no complaint by the team that lost the out.

sky, in my mind it doesn't matter whether it was the JV or the varsity players...they play for the same program. By pointing the finger at one group, you create a separation and I don't see how that is helpful.

Didn"t mean to "point a finger" just pointing out
that the interference doesn't have to come from
the dugout. Sorry wasn't trying to start anything.

Nothing started and no need to remove the post. Just pointing out that the varsity kids were trying to throw off the other team. Most of them don't know the rule or have never seen enforced.

I talking to one player, they were just trying to help their brethren.

sky,

you have a PM.

T-Bird Dad

Go to BED!!!!!

No use at this point. Just heading to make up a pot of coffee...

quote:

Originally posted by Vanlandingham:
T-Bird Dad

Go to BED!!!!!

I try, but there is so much I need to share...

Right back at you T-Bird Dad

And good luck today

GO NORTHWEST!!!

quote:

Originally posted by collikar:

...and I gave your son nothing! He was brilliant of his own accord...or maybe his mom's.

I'm sure that is true and wouldn't even think of suggesting that you didn’t make him earn it. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. On the other hand you might be willing to admit that his brilliance is a bit of an acquired taste. As for his mom, many people have questioned even her basic intelligence after seeing her taste in men.

wow this is kinda funny.... im the 1st baseman that went for the ball lol and it wasnt the dugout that was yelling, it was the varsity players that were walking up...

quote:

Originally posted by CTR:
... it wasnt the dugout that was yelling, it was the varsity players that were walking up...

This new info changes things. The varsity guys are spectators at that point and spectator interference is much more limited.

(d) Spectator interference occurs when a spectator reaches out of the stands, or goes on the playing field, and touches a live ball.

If spectators could commit verbal interference you would never complete an inning, much less a whole game.

I wasn’t there and it may have been hard to tell who was yelling but I think he got it wrong if he knowingly called interference on the varsity spectators.

That's a very subjective rule. I wonder how the umpires are really trained to interpret this. Any umpires out there? How do you implement an offensive interference call based on an act that "confuses any fielder." Teams are yelling and screaming all of the time in big games. Oftentimes, the words just drown each other out anyway. I know this is defensive team oriendted and not offensive but you can watch instructional videos on line of UT coaches telling fielders to yell "back" constantly behind runners so that they won't listen to their coaches when there is a real pick-off attempt. The game is full of one time trying to confuse the other team. I would think umpires would be very reluctant to call this. Umpires, what do you say?

In Federation rules you tell the defensive team to knock it off. If they continue, and you have warned them, then you can penalize them for doing it. Not something that you really want to do, but you can. If you do, then be prepared to listen to the defensive coach. If I've told players several times and they keep doing it, the coach and I will have a discreet discussion and let the coach take care of it. Better to prevent something than the fireworks that can happen after it happens.

There are written rules, the intent of the rules, and the application of the rules. You have to know when to use each.

quote:

There are written rules, the intent of the rules, and the application of the rules. You have to know when to use each.

Lawd, help me Jesus.