Baserunning/Coach Interference

Question
We had a situation that arose last week in a county softball league game.

Basically, the runner was at first base, the ball was hit to the outfield.  The baserunner ran to second and kept coming to third.  I was coaching 3rd, threw up my hands as a stop sign and the runner came into me as he was rounding third.  The ball was bobbled in the outfield and I directed him home.  Upon touching home, he was called out by the home plate umpire.  I admit making contact with runner, but not aiding him in any way.  What is the rule there?

Answer
Hello Adam

This is a judgment call that can't be appealed however you probably could have appealed the rule definition.

Basically the rule states that a coach may not physically assist (e.g., touch, hold, push) a base runner while the ball is in play. However it is a myth if the base coach touches the runner, he is automatically out. This simply isn't true.  

The key word is "assist".  If the coach obviously and intentionally physically stops the runner from advancing, or pushes him off to the next base, or assists him to his feet after falling, he must be ruled out. However a nonchalant or incidental touch is not grounds for ruling the runner out.