QUICK GUIDE INTERFERENCE EXPLANATIONS (refer to the latest Babe Ruth League, Inc. Rules & Regulations and the Official Rules for detailed explanations and approved rulings)

OFFENSIVE INTERFERENCE – an act by the team which “interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders, or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play”. (OBR 2.00a)

DEFENSIVE (’s) INTERFERENCE – an act by the catcher which prevents the batter from hitting the ball. (OBR 2.00b)

Any interference called relies strictly on the ’s judgment. Examples of INTERFERENCE in simplified form: • Being by a fair (5.09f) (6.08d) (7.08f) (7.09m) • Hitting a ball for a second time (6.05h) (7.09b) • Deflecting a intentionally (6.05i) (7.09c) • Interfering with a fielder attempting to a thrown ball, or to throw a ball (6.05m) • With two , while attempting to steal home, the ball touches the runner (6.05a) • The batter interferes with the catcher’s fielding or throwing in a play attempt on a runner (6.06c) • Interfering with a thrown ball (7.08b) or the fielder (7.09l) • Interfering with a fielder attempting to make a play on a batted ball (7.08b) (7.09l) • Interfering with fielder making a play at home base (7.09d) • The runner attempts to score on a play in which the batter interferes with the play at home (7.08g) • On strike three the runner interferes with a catcher’s attempt to field the ball (7.09a) • Attempting to break up a play (7.09g) (7.09h) • The third base coach physically assists the runner (7.09i) or creates confusion (7.09j) • Failing to in the 3-foot lane when required (7.09k) • Failure to vacate any space (including a ) needed by a field attempting to field a batted or thrown ball (7.11) On every interference mentioned above the ball is dead – immediately.

PENALTIES - Rule 2.00 (Interference (a)): 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.

Rule 2.00 (Interference (a)) Comment: In the event the batter-runner has not reached 1st base, all runners shall return to the base last occupied at the time of the ; provided however, if during an intervening play at the plate with less than two outs a runner scores, and then the batter-runner is called out for interference outside the three-foot lane, the runner is and the run shall .

7.11 penalty phrase – Interference shall be called and the batter or runner on whom the play is being made shall be declared out. If this is not the third out the runners are going back to their original bases.