I'm curious about a scenario that I saw this weekend. It was a high caliber travel game in the south,17u, with local (southern) umpires. About 15 D1/D2/D3 coaches in attendance.

A runner was trying to score from third. Thinking that there would be a play at the plate,the catcher partially blocked the plate with his left foot, while still standing.

The throw from the outfield was cut as they tried to get the guy advancing to second.

The runner going home goes into the catchers leg, shoulder first, knocking him down. The catcher retaliates and kicks out at the kid, but misses.

The umpire tosses the catcher but leaves the runner in the game. During the ensuing argument, the umpire acknowledged that the runner came in with his shoulder but that the catcher didn't have the ball. He said he tossed the catcher for retaliating.

The question:
How much contact is permitted at the plate if the catcher doesn't have the ball and is attempting to block? Is the slide or avoid rule an absolute rule? Since a shoulder to the knee was permissible, is an outright barreling over also permissible? Can the runner run right over the catcher with full force? With an elbow to the face? Remember the scenario, the catcher is trying to block the plate without the ball.

IMHO, once the umpire acknowledged that the runner went into the catcher "because he didn't have the ball", he lost his argument and should have tossed both players. He should have lied and said he didn't see the runner run into the catcher.

Just curious. Any umpires please respond.

And NO, my kid isn't the catcher or runner and I'm not the coach.

As a former catcher I understand that if I'm going to partially or fully block the plate I am leaving myself open for contact. That is part of the game. The catcher was wrong to retaliate by kicking the runner after there was contact. Don't ask Piazza because he wasn't man enough to take a collision. He always stayed in front of the plate and swiped at the runners

Depends on which rules you were playing - MLB there is no slide or avoid so this sounds like nothing.
If playing HS (federation rules) the catcher can not block the plate if he isn't in the process of making a play. Runner has to slide or avoid IF he is making a play. That said malicious contact is not permitted. Your play sounds like the contact was malicious so runner should have been ejected but that is a judgment call by the umpire.

Anytime a runner barrels in shoulder first it is considered malicious contact and should be tossed. Shoulder first is neither a slide or avoidance it is intent to barrel.

There was a play at the plate so the catcher had a right to be there - he was expecting a throw, not his fault it was cut.

IMHO

When the throw was cut there was no play for the catcher at the plate.

I am not aware of a written standard/rule for mailicous contact - other than sliding with feet above the knee caps of the fielder but

To paraphrase Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart on pornography, "I know it when I see it . . ."

Rule slide avoid contact i doubt plate was fully blocked and being lowered his shoulder he is gone he could have avoided contact if wanted to throw runner out of game toss catcher for kicking and probaly gone for rest of tournament warn coaches that if don't have ball do not block plate this goes on all the time plate ump must constantly remind catchers do not block runners have wright to base also.

run on sentence

The only thing missing was the Deliverance banjo music.

You make the call

One out, runners on first and second base. Batter hits a ground ball to the shortstop who throws the ball to the second baseman who is standing in front of second base (first base side in the baseline), the runner from first attempts to slide into second base and slides into the second basemen (with both feet down)who is in front of the base. The collision happens just as the ball arrives and the second basemen drop the ball. The second basemen then gets ups and throws home in an attempt to throw out the other runner.

You make the call.

I think 10u baseball needs instant replay......get a life.