COACH'S INTERFERENCE

RULE 6.01(F) - If a thrown ball accidentally touches a base coach, or a pitched or thrown ball touches an umpire, the ball is alive and in play. However, if the coach interferes with a thrown ball, the runner is out.

RULE 6.01(a)(8) - It is interference by a batter or a runner when... In the judgment of the umpire, the base coach at third base, or first base, by touching or holding the runner, physically assists him in returning to or leaving third base or first base.

PENALTY FOR INTERFERENCE: The runner is out and the ball is dead.

High-fiving a guy who just hit a single is not coach's interference. Grabbing his shirt as he rounds first base to make sure he doesn't go to second base is interference.

Note the third-base coach touching his runner and assisting him in getting back to third base.

The third-base coach nudging his runner while leaning in to tell him to steal home. Coach's Interference is called.

TIPS FOR UMPIRES

This happens a lot in youth baseball. If you see it, make the call.

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