ASA Umpire interference

Question
QUESTION: "ASA Interference rule:Interference: The act of any offensive player or team member, UMPIRE or spectator that IMPEDES, HINDERS OR CONFUSES a defensive player attempting to execute a play. Applying the definition of interference to all the situations above will lead you to the correct application of the Rule."
http://downloads.asasoftball.com/umpires/pdf/2007InterferenceAndObstruction.pdf

Dear Dr. Ambrose,
Is there any explanation why the ASA rule includes the UMPIRE in the above Interference rule?  http://downloads.asasoftball.com/umpires/pdf/2007InterferenceAndObstruction.pdf
If a spectator can interfere or offensive team member or whomever is listed, Why not an umpire?  I'm sure they mean this in a context that I do not fully understand.  Any help or example of an umpire interference in the context they mention (IMPEDES, HINDERS OR CONFUSES a defensive player attempting to execute a play)would be would be vastly appreciated.
Thanks
Eugene

Answer
Hi Eugene,

I did cut and paste the address and saw what probably was some type of clinic ppp.  I don't know how you found it, it's nowhere I can find on the ASA website, although it does have ASA as part of it's address.  I also have no idea who authored it.

Ok let's get to the heart of the matter, the opening slide is wrong and whoever made it made a mistake.  Nowhere in our rule book is there such a sentence as is quoted.  Our rules supplement  under "interference" does state and has stated for years the following....."Interference is the act of an offensive player or team member that impedes, hinders or confuses.....". It has never included "umpire or spectator" in that sentence.

If you go through the rule book there are only 2 instances of umpire interference, 1) is getting hit by a batted ball before it passes an infielder, dead ball, b-r awarded 1st base, all other runners advance only if forced and 2) the PU interfering with a throw by F2 on an attempted pick off or steal and that's a ddb and we'll protect the defense.  The book makes it very clear and in fact it states "umpire interference may not be called in any other case." Just as a sn, I might also mention here that if the pitch gets by the catcher and the umpire is hit by the throw that is NOT umpire interference.

In the normal course of events an umpire is part of the field, both for offense and defense and whatever happens the teams have to live with it.

Hope this helps,

Mark