Rules

   Umpire Interference

Despite its having six rules references, umpire interference is pretty straightforward, having just three scenarios:

You handle each of these cases differently.

1. Umpire touched by batted ball before passing infielder

In the case where an umpire is touched by a batted ball before the ball touches or passes an infielder, call interference on yourself immediately. Call "Time! That's interference!"

• Award the batter-runner first base.
• Other runners advance if forced. (Your partner is laughing by now. Do what you can to recover your dignity and move on.)

Important: If the ball touches the pitcher before touching the umpire in this scenario, then you do not have umpire interference. Live ball. Play on.

2. Umpire touched by batted ball after passing infielder

In the second case, where an umpire is touched by a batted ball after it has passed or was touched by an infielder (again, not the pitcher), do nothing. This is a live ball. Play on.

3. Plate umpire impedes catcher's throw

If you are the plate umpire and, on a steal, you inadvertently bump the catcher or otherwise impede his ability to make a play on the runner, call "Time! That's interference."

• The ball is dead.
• Any runners moving on the play must return to their original base. (Your partner is laughing on this one, too.)

In all other situations where an umpire inadvertently contacts a base runner, a defensive player, or the ball itself, you have nothing. Live ball. Do what you can to minimize your impact and let play continue.

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Last Updated: 07 March 2020

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   Defensive Interference

We've learned that interference is an infraction that is committed by the offense (base runners and batters, primarily). However, there is one special case where it's the defense that commits the interference – defensive interference, commonly known as "catcher's interference." All other infractions by the defense that impede offensive players fall under the rules for obstruction.

We're going to look closely at two related forms of defensive interference and call them by their familiar names:

Catcher's interference

The definition of defensive interference is very simple – just 18 words: "Defensive interference is an act by a fielder which hinders or prevents a batter from hitting a pitch."

The rule specifies "fielder" but in reality the catcher is the culprit in 99.9% of cases, which is why it's known as catcher's interference. That said, there is one edge case in which another fielder could possibly "hinder or prevent" a batter from hitting a pitch – that's when an infielder charges on a bunt attempt, but charges so aggressively that he somehow contacts the bat during the attempt, or conceivably the pitched ball before it arrives at the bat. But it's hard to picture this.

By far the most common scenario in which you have catcher's interference is the catcher placing his mitt such that it touches the bat during a batter's offer at a pitch. Sometimes the bat only glances the mitt and the batter puts the ball in play. Sometimes the bat hits the mitt solidly (sometimes injuring the catcher).

If the ball is put in play, you have a delayed dead ball. Let the play continue, then call time when the play is complete. We explain in the next section how to handle this. If, on the other hand, the ball is not put in play (either swing and miss, or foul ball), just call time and enforce the penalty. We'll look at both of these scenarios, plus a wrinkle in the rule that comes into play if there's a base runner stealing when the interference occurs.
 

Ball put in play: delayed dead ball

If you see catcher's interference and yet the ball is put in play, don't kill the ball. Allow action to continue. Once all action on the play has concluded, call time. At this point the team manager has the option of accepting the result of the play, OR, accepting the penalty. If the batter was put out on the play, he's probably going to accept the penalty. But not necessarily.

Take this scenario, for example. Say there are no outs and a non-forced runner on third (R3) scores on the play. The manager might want to overlook the interference and accept the out at first in order to get the run. Otherwise, if the manager decides to accept the penalty instead of the play, then R3 would have to return to third base and the run would come off the board. Again, this is manager's option.
 

Ball not in play: dead ball (slightly delayed)

If the ball was not put in play, there are no options. Just kill the ball, vocalize the infraction, and send the batter to first base. Other runners advance if forced. However, there's one big exception, so pause for a moment before you kill the ball to ensure you're not stepping on the exception.
 

A wrinkle: Base runner stealing when the interference occurs

Rule 5.06(b)(3)(D) adds a wrinkle to catcher's interference. If a runner is attempting to steal on a play in which catcher's interference occurs, the runner gets the base to which they stealing and the batter is awarded first base on the interference. Note that if the batter has put the ball in play and reaches first base safely, and all base runner advance at least one base safely, the interference is waved off.
 

The catcher's balk

I'm adding this information about the catcher's balk because it seems logical to group all of these infractions by a catcher together. There are two ways that a catcher's actions can cause you to call a balk (or illegal pitch with no runners on base).

Rule 6.01(g). If a runner on third base (R3) is trying to score by means of a squeeze play or steal, and the catcher or any other fielder steps in front of home base without possession of the ball, or touches the batter or the bat, the catcher is cited for the defensive interference, and the pitcher is charged with a balk ("catcher's balk"). The batter is awarded first base on the interference ("catcher's interference") and the ball is dead.

Note that this ruling applies only in this special case of a runner attempting to steal home. You see this now and then. The pitcher starts his delivery, but the catcher becomes aware that R3 is attempting to steal home, so the catcher tries to rush and in doing so steps in front of the batter to more quickly get the ball. That's interference.

The upshot here is that if the catcher commits defensive interference when a runner from third is stealing home, you don't have any manager options. Instead, you have this:

When giving intentional base on balls

And finally, Rule 5.02(a). If a catcher leaves the catcher's box before the pitcher delivers the pitch (as when giving an intentional walk), the pitcher shall be charged with a balk (with runners on base), or with no runners on, an illegal pitch (ball to the batter). (As leagues, including MLB, increasingly move to not requiring the throwing of four pitches to intentionally walk a batter, this rule is slowly becoming archaic.)

The truth is, I've never seen this enforced. Umpires (even in pro ball) appear to give a lot of leeway. In youth ball you sometimes see a catcher set up way outside the catcher's box for an intentional walk; in that case, just instruct the catcher to get back where he belongs.

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Last Updated: 14 July 2020

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   Offensive Interference

Interference is a large subject, so for convenience we've broken the topic into sections. The article you're reading now covers the basics of offensive interference. In separate articles, we cover the subjects of Batter's Interference, Defensive Interference (also called "catcher's interference"), Spectator Interference, and Umpire Interference.

Offensive interference is defined in the Major League rule book (OBR) in the section Definitions (interference):

Notice that the rule says interference is "an act by the team at bat." This is important, because it means that in addition to players on the field, you can also call interference on players in the dugout, as well as on coaches.

In this article we cover these topics:

1. Important concept: The protected fielder
2. Seeing interference
3. Is it interference or just a train wreck
4. Weak interference
5. Interference with a thrown ball
6. Mechanic for calling interference

Important Concept: The Protected Fielder

A fielder who is making a play on a batted ball is "protected" from interference by a base runner. In other words, the fielder gets the right-of-way in cases where a base runner converges on a fielder who is making a play on a batted ball. The fielder's protection begins the moment the ball is put in play and the fielder goes in motion to make a play on the ball. The protection continues until the fielder makes a play or makes a throw after fielding the ball. From beginning to end of this sequence, the fielder has the right of way and runners must avoid impeding the fielder.

Here's the rub. The rules protect only one fielder. Just one. In cases where two or more fielders are in motion on a batted ball, you have to decide which fielder is best able to make the play. That's the protected fielder. If a base runner impedes this fielder, you have interference. However, if a base runner collides with any fielder other than the protected fielder, then you have obstruction on the fielder, not interference on the funner.

Here's an example: Say you have a batter who hits a slow-roller up the first base line. Both the pitcher and the first baseman are closing on the ball. Let's say the pitcher has the best chance at the ball, so in your mind the pitcher is your protected fielder. The batter-runner moves off the baseline to avoid the pitcher fielding the ball, but in the process collides with the first baseman. What do we have? Interference? Train wreck (nothing)? Obstruction?

Probably obstruction, because the player who collided with the base runner is not the protected fielder. Here's the bottom line:

• If the protected fielder and base runner come together in such a way that the fielder is hindered or impeded, you probably have interference on the base runner.
• If an un-protected fielder and base runner come together in such a way that the base runner is hindered or impeded, you probably have obstruction on the fielder.

Seeing Interference

Understanding interference means really understanding the words "… obstructs, impedes, hinders, or confuses …." These words cover a lot of lot of ground, so let's look at some example scenarios:
 

1. Base runner is hit by a batted ball

This is an easy one. If a runner is touched by a batted ball, the ball is dead and the runner is out. This applies to the batter, too, once he's out of the batter's box. So if a base runner is hit by a batted ball, you have interference. No intent is required. The ball is dead, the offender is called out, and other runners return to their last touched base.

Note: There's an exception to the rule that a base runner is out for interference if hit by a batted ball. We discuss the exception at length in Runner Touched by Live Ball. But in a nutshell, a base runner that is hit by a batted ball is not out if the ball has just passed an infielder, or was touched by an infielder and deflected. We're talking about a ball that goes through the legs or off the glove of an infielder and then hits the base runner.
 

2. Base runner impedes a defensive player fielding a batted ball

If a base runner impedes a fielder in the act of fielding a batted ball, or who is making a throw in continuation of fielding a batted ball, you have interference (5.09(b)(3)). Call the runner out. Award the batter first base (unless he is the one who interfered). Other runners may only advance on this play if forced by the batter going to first.

If the interference is on a base runner (i.e., not the batter-runner), and the interference prevents the defense from completing a double play, you can have two outs – one on the runner for interference, and the second on the batter-runner. The most common scenario is when a runner coming into second base interferes on the pivot, either with an illegal slide, or by other means hindering or impeding the opportunity to complete the double play (6.01(a)(6)). Call Time, announce the interference and call the base runner out; then, turn and point to the batter-runner and call him out as well.

3. Interference in the running lane

There is a three-foot-wide running lane the last half (the last 45 feet) between home plate and first base. If you run outside this running lane while a play is being made from the vicinity of home plate (on a bunt, for example) you can be called out for interference. I said you "can" be called out for interference if running outside the lane. But not necessarily. We'll explain.

5.09(a)(11) is our rules reference, which reads in part:

"In running the last half of the distance from home base to first base, while the ball is being fielded to first base, he runs outside (to the right of) the three-foot line, or inside (to the left of) the foul line, and in the umpire's judgment in so doing interferes with the fielder taking the throw at first base ...."

When we said that you're not necessarily out for interference when running outside the running lane, we're calling attention to a few wrinkles in the rule. Here are the important points to remember when judging interference on a running lane violation:

1. First, let's define the running lane: A three-foot-wide lane occupying the last half of the distance to first base. The lines marking the running lane are part of the running lane.
2. When is a runner out of the running lane?The batter-runner is out of the running lane when, during the last half of the distance to first base, one of the runner's feet (or both, for that matter) is entirely outside the running lane at the time that the interference potentially (but again, not necessarily) occurs.
3. A throw must be made. If the catcher, for example, comes up with a bunted ball and sets up to throw to first, but then stops and doesn't throw because the runner (in his view) is in the way, you cannot have interference.
4. The throw must be a catchable throw. Using the same example, if the catcher comes up with a bunted ball and then throws wild to first base because (in his view) the runner was in the way, you cannot have interference.
5. Note the language of the rule: "… interferes with the fielder taking the throw at first base." Points #3 and #4, above, rest on this most important point: that is, if there is interference, the interference is on the fielder receiving the ball at first base and not on the fielder throwing the ball from the vicinity of home plate. This is very important when applying the rule. You're going to get managers arguing that the runner caused a fielder to throw wild, or not throw at all, but these are not valid arguments.
6. Two exceptions. There are two exceptions (wrinkles, really) in 5.09(a)(11). First, the runner is permitted to leave the running lane to avoid a fielder attempting to field a batted ball. We know this already from what we've learned thus far about interference – that the fielder has the right of way in fielding a batted ball. Second, noticing that first base itself (the bag) is outside the running lane, the runner is permitted by rule to step out of the running lane for the purpose of touching first base.

So all of this rather begs the question: when do you have interference on a running lane violation? Well, the most common scenario is when you have the runner outside the running lane and the fielder's throw to first base is on line, but the throw hits the runner in the back (or head) causing the ball to drop uncaught. This is not the only scenario, of course, but it's probably the most common one. Kill the ball, call the batter-runner out for interference, and return all runners (if any) to their last obtained base.

Note: High school (FED) rules differ somewhat. Whereas OBR requires that the throw from the vicinity of home plate be a "catchable throw" in order to have interference, FED rules do not have this requirement. Any throw to first base from the vicinity of home plate to retire a runner who is outside the running lane create legitimate grounds for calling running lane interference. (See FED Rule 8-4-1-g.)

4. Bat hits the ball a second time

Our rules reference is 5.09(a)(8), and the rule (and its commentary) covers several scenarios. Following are the key points:

1. Bat hits the ball in fair territory. If you hit or bunt a fair ball and then the bat strikes the ball a second time in fair territory, this is interference and the batter is out, the ball is dead, and runners (if any) return to their last touched base. This applies whether the bat is still in the batter's hand or if the bat was dropped in fair territory and strikes the ball on the ground. This is tricky, though; see #2.
2. Ball hits bat. If you hit or bunt a fair ball, drop your bat, and then the ball rolls into and strikes the bat, you have nothing so long as there was not an intentional attempt to interfere with the course of the ball. Live ball; play on. (Comparing #1 and #2, note that you have to judge whether the bat hit the ball, or the ball hit the bat.)
3. Ball hits bat in batter's box. If you hit or bunt a ball and the ball immediately bounces back and strikes the bat while the batter is still in the batter's box, this is a foul ball (just as if the ball struck the batter). Of course, the ball is dead and runners, if in motion, must return to their last touched base.
4. Part of broken bat hits ball. If you break your bat on a fair batted ball and the ball strikes part of the bat, or if part of the bat strikes a fielder, you have nothing. Play on.
5. Batter-runner intentionally .... If batter or base runner intentionally deflects the course of a batted ball (or thrown ball, for that matter), this is interference and the batter or runner is out, ball is dead, and runners return. This applies whether the ball was over fair territory or foul.

5. Base runner "confuses" the fielder

What-the-what? Confuses the fielder? Sounds strange, but this is actually a very important part of the interference rule. Members of the "team at bat" (that means coaches and players in the dugout as well as players on the field) cannot scream, yell or shout in an attempt to impede a fielder's play on a batted ball (or thrown ball, for that matter).

You can think up lots of scenarios. For example, let's say the batter hits a towering fly ball to the infield. Third baseman (F6) is moving to his left, settling under the ball. Two outs, so the runner on second (R2) is moving on the hit and as he passes near F6 (who is focused on the ball, of course), he shouts "I've got it, I've got it," pretending he's the shortstop (F5) calling F6 off. So the ball drops to the ground untouched on the trickery. "Time. That's interference!"

As a side note, you can also have verbal obstruction; and, as with verbal interference, the infraction can be caused by players in the dugout as well as by players on the field.

6. Base coach interferes

Here's the scenario: Batter hits a monster to the gap in right-center field and he's busting to make it a triple. It's going to be close but the batter-runner should make it. Base coach is signalling to slide. The runner slides, but makes a bad slide and tumbles over third base and lands two steps beyond the base. Ball is arriving so the base coach grabs the runners arm and pushes him back toward the base, which the runner just reaches with an outstretched hand. He's safe, right?

Wrong. Check Rule 6.01(a)(8): The runner is out if "In the judgment of the umpire, the base coach at third base, or first base, by touching or holding the runner, physically assists that runner in returning to or leaving third base or first base." 

Another example, again at third base, has a runner start for home on a passed ball, but seeing that the ball did not get very far, the third base coach yells "Back, back!" and grabs the runner's jersey to pull him back toward the base. That's interference. The runner is out.

Note that the rule calls for the coach to actually "assist" the runner. Simply giving a runner rounding third a high-five, for example, is not an infraction.

Important: The mechanic for calling coach's interference is unusual. It is one of the uncommon interference calls that is a delayed dead ball; however, the runner is called out immediately, but play is allowed to continue. The reason you call the runner out, but don't kill the ball, is that you don't want to penalize the defense by preventing them from retiring other runners. Note that your calling the runner out but allowing play to continue may cause other runners, or even the defense, to become confused. That's not your problem. Players are responsible for situational awareness (including knowledge of the rules), so just watch the action, read and react.

Is it Interference or Just a Train Wreck?

There are occasionally situations that appear to be interference (or obstruction, for that matter), when the runner and the fielder are both doing exactly what they should be doing, but a developing play brings them together in such a way that you might (just might) have interference, or you might (just might) have obstruction, but in fact have nothing – just a train wreck.

You need three ingredients for a train wreck. First, you need a close play. You get these at first base all the time, and at home plate as well. Second, you need a lot of speed, which you normally have at first base, and frequently on a scoring play at home. Third, you need an off-line throw that pulls the fielder toward the advancing runner.

These off-line throws cause a lot of headaches. When judging this (Interference on the runner? Obstruction on the fielder? Nothing?), there are a lot of moving pieces and the action happens fast, and you just have to slow your brain down and process everything and make a call. Here are some of the details that you need to sort out:

• Where is the fielder before he has the ball. Could he be obstructing the runner? That is, did the fielder impede the runner before he had the ball? That's probably obstruction.
• If the fielder strays into the runner's path, is it in a legitimate attempt to catch an off-line throw? If so, that's probably a train wreck. If, on the other hand, the fielder moves into the runner's path and is calling for a throw from that position, then you probably have obstruction.
• Where is the runner's path? Has he altered his path in a way that seems deliberately intended to impede the fielder's opportunity to make the play? If so, that could be interference.

These are tough calls and they have to be made quickly. If you make a call, but then you immediately start second-guessing yourself, this is when you call time and conference with your partner. This gives you an opportunity to slow down and think about what happen, as well as to listen to your partner describe what he saw. If you need to, you can change your call.

Weak Interference

Let's start by pointing out that the term "weak interference" does not appear in the Official Baseball Rules. Don't bother looking. You won't find it. That said, the concept of weak interference is valid and applied regularly on the baseball field.

The rules reference most commonly aligned with weak interference is in paragraph 3 of 6.03(a)(4) Comment – backswing interference – where the batter's follow-through comes around and strikes the catcher unintentionally. When this happens, you kill the ball but you don't call anyone out (unless the swing is strike three, of course). If any runners advanced on the play, they must return to their time-of-pitch base.

Weak interference is the only interference where nobody is called out. It's a "no-harm, no-foul" situation in which neither team gains an advantage. But remember, you must call "time" to kill the ball and you must not allow any runners to advance.

Note: NFHS (high school) rules handle this (they call it "follow-through interference") differently by calling the batter out if, in the umpire's judgment, the action impedes the catcher's ability to make a play on a runner. See Rules 2-21-4 and 5-1-1-n.

Another example of weak interference is when a player, like the on-deck batter, or a spectator, touches a live ball (but not a batted ball), when there are no runners on base. Just call "time" and get the ball back to the pitcher.

Interference With a Thrown Ball

Everything thus far pertains to a batted ball; what about when a runner is touched by a thrown ball? Again, we discuss this at length in the article Runner Touched by Live Ball. Here's the short version.

A base runner hit by a thrown ball is guilty of interference only if the runner intentionally touches the ball, or otherwise alters or deflects the course of the thrown ball. This doesn't happen very often, but be alert for it. There is one exception to the intentionality issue on a thrown ball, and that is when the batter-runner commits a running-lane violation and is hit by a ball throw from the vicinity of home plate. We discussed this scenario in #3, above.

So the bottom line is, runner hit by batted ball: interference, runner is out. Runner hit by thrown ball: nothing, play on. However, there are exceptions and wrinkles, so learn your interference rules well.

The Mechanic for Calling Interference

When you see interference, call it immediately. There's often a lot of action going on when interference takes place, so you have to come up big, with a really loud voice, and call "TIME, That's interference." Then, pointing to the runner, You, you're out!" If there are runners on base, send them back to their last base legally touched before the interference.

Note: There are two cases where the interference is a delayed: catcher's interference (defensive interference) and coach's interference (see item #6, above). In both cases do not call time to kill the ball! Instead, note the interference by pointing in the direction of the infraction and verbalizing ("That's interference"), but allow play to continue. Once action has concluded, call time and enforce penalties, as appropriate.

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Last Updated: 05 April 2020

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