Interference or obstruction

Question
Last night in a Highs School level Travel tourny we had this situation: I was on the dish with runner on first.  Batter hits a dinker between F3 and F4 that was actually closer to the F3 positin but because the batter was really fast F3 mad no move to ball. R1 starts toward 2nd as F4 moves toward ball when collision occured. My partner called for 'interfence' immediately and called R1 out. That's when the bruhaw started. the offensive coach came on to field as the 3 coaches from the defensive side did also and began circling my partner. At his point I might add that the defensive team was losing handily (as they had all day since they were mostly 8th and 9th graders playing mostly 11th and 12th graders). I went out to break upthe situation and to sort out the issue. I asked my partner what his ruling was for clarification and then he asked me for mine. My response to him was that I felt there was obstruction on F4 because in my judgement she wasn't in position to field the ball or make a play on the Batter/runner going to first. We walked away from the coaches twice but they kept following and arguing.Itold my partner that it was his call since he was closer and had made the initial call when the defensive coach began hollering at me and even when I tried to explain my side and that it was my partner's call he let few a couple of curse words.I tried to calm him down by telling him I wouldn't allow that language and he kept it up so I tossed him and told one his other coaches that we would only talk with her. I once again told my partner it was his call but he overturned his ruling to 'obstructin'. Obviously this didn't sit well with the parents for the rest of the game, which of course,I had to listen to till end of game. I think that if the defensive coach had listened he would have realize the callwas in his favor but his actions caused my partner to overturn his original call. Questions: which was the correct ruling and what could I have done different that might have made things go better. We had this team in 2 of the 5 games we did that day and while there were no serious issues they did lose and were outclassed in both games which didn't help their disposition.

Answer
Jim,

Lets start with the call.  Definitely a judgement call between obstruction and interference.  If F4 had ANY chance at a play on the ball then you have interference.  It sounds like you, could make a case for either call, so the call doesn't really matter.  You have an unhappy coach either way, big deal!

Onto the situation.  Three defensive coaches on the field is a problem.  It sounds like the offensive coach handled the situation correctly by approaching your partner.  You did the correct thing by approaching the bruhaw to help your partner out.  The only thing you should have been doing at this time is directing the defensive coaches to their dugout.  No conversation about the call unless initiated by your partner.  Your partner, if he wishes can listen to the offensive coach make his case, which he did.  If your partner wants your opinion, he should ask for it.  At some point in time, it sounds like he did.  At no time do you discuss the call with your partner when the coaches can hear what is going on.  You two talk, then your partner decides what to do.

Once you and your partner discussed what the correct call should have been, it is up to your partner to stick with his call or change it to obstruction.  Once he made the change to obstruction, the next action would be to place runners on base, and call play ball.  If any other coaches come on the field, they are told to go back to their dugout.  If they fail to do so, they get tossed.

Remember who is in control of what is happening on the field, the umpires.  Coaches think they have the authority to do what they want.  They are like little kids in this respect.  Give them an inch, they take a mile.  In the future, get control of the situation and don't discuss anything until the coaches are where you want them, not where they want to be.