Obstruction question

[Imperial SB Dad]

For obstruction to be called on a defensive player does the runner have to make an attempt to go to the next base?

Example: A runner is going to first on a slowly hit ball to third and as she goes into first the first baseman and her make contact. No attempt is made to go to second as the runner passes first and goes down the right field line. Runner was called safe since the throw was late and awarded second base on obstruction.

[Iluvblue]

The umpire can award the base he felt runner would have gotten with no obstruction.
The reality is that the umpire will hardly EVER award a base with the runner not attempting to go to the base though.

In your example, that is a pathetic call. Would the runner have gotten to second base on a ground ball to third had the 1st baseman and her had no contact???? Heck no.

Personally, id like to see obstruction result in an automatic 1 base penalty on the defense, but it will never happen.

[Bretman]

Sounds like the umpire was applying the baseball rule, where obstruction can result in a minimum one base award. (But still doesn't always, depending on which baseball rules you're using.)

And there are softball rule sets out there that automatically award a base on obstruction- though the only ones off the top of my head are slow pitch organizations.

None of those would be correct for a high school or ASA softball game. There's no minimum base award there on obstruction. The umpire protects/awards the runner to whichever base he judges she would have reached, minus the obstruction. I can't imagine that being anything more than first base on your play.

[vcblue]

Sounds like an umpire that does not understand the rule and award (speaking ASA an NFHS).

[MTR]

The reality is that the umpire will hardly EVER award a base with the runner not attempting to go to the base though.

Maybe where you are, but I've never experienced that anywhere whether local, regional, national or international level ball.

Personally, id like to see obstruction result in an automatic 1 base penalty on the defense, but it will never happen.

That is not a smart move, because umpires will stop making the call and, in turn, the possibility of injury increases. This was terribly obvious, at least in this area, when NFHS did require a one-base award. Runners would try to get back to a base on a pick-off and the defender would drop knee to block and the umpires refused to call the OBS.

[softball_rules5]

The umpire can award the base he felt runner would have gotten with no obstruction.
The reality is that the umpire will hardly EVER award a base with the runner not attempting to go to the base though.

In your example, that is a pathetic call. Would the runner have gotten to second base on a ground ball to third had the 1st baseman and her had no contact???? Heck no.

Personally, id like to see obstruction result in an automatic 1 base penalty on the defense, but it will never happen.

If they can award the base without the attempt how come many umps will have obstruction (hand held out) until the runner stops their attempt to go to the next base or will not give them the base if they do not attempt to take the next base?

I have another question on obstruction - I had an umpire tell me that if a player makes a hook slide on a bag and catches the fielder straddling the bag's leg, it is ruled obstruction. I asked since they had left their predetermined baseline, weren't they not eligible for obstruction since they left the baseline and he said no. I told the umpire the front of the bag is open and there is no obstruction there. I then proceeded to ask the umpire where the feilder should stand (and this is the real problem with the obstruction call) he really couldnt give me an answer. I have asked several umpires and none really can give me an answer either.

Any thoughts?

[Comp]

There is no set place an umpire could tell you to have the player stand because every play is different and situations change by the second. If the runner had slid directly into the bag, your player stradling it may very well not have been obstruction. But, since the runner did a hook slide and went for the side of the bag, your player impeded her access to the bag without posession of the ball and it was obstruction.

As for the base path, the runner can run anywhere on the field they like until a play is attempted on them, and then they are restricted to 3' either side of a direct line between them and the base they are trying to reach. If the runner was hook sliding into a base and could touch it, she was easily well within the 3' limit.

[softball_rules5]

I have a few main problems with the obstruction call being made in this situation:
1. Why make a double call (on the hook slide) - I probably forgot to mention, but the play ended up not coming to third, third was waiting for a play but the throw was cut - the runner is going to be safe regardless. Why award a bag for obstruction when the runner is already safe.

2. It really seems that two many times the runner gets bailed out for bad base running with an obstruction call - What I am talking about is the bang-bang play where the ball and the runner are not quite simultaneously there, and the umpire calls obstuction. IMO, in that case the defensive player has as much a right to make a play as the runner AS LONG AS there is a direct path available. According to this umpire, if she hook slides and catches the leg on the side, obstruction is in play.

It just seems like there are a lot of umpires that want to call it every play this year (its early I know), and no one can give a really good answer on how they interpret the rule.

[Comp]

Obstruction is not an automatic base award, except possibly in college when the same player is guilty of a 2nd offense of obstruction. If your umpire awarded an additional base it was not a proper award.

[Iluvblue]

If they can award the base without the attempt how come many umps will have obstruction (hand held out) until the runner stops their attempt to go to the next base or will not give them the base if they do not attempt to take the next base?


Lets say a runner is on 1st base and a base hit goes into RC field. The runner at first is now rounding 2nd and the SS is standing on the bag at 2nd, runner makes contact with her and continues on her way to third. At this time the umpire SHOULD have their arm extended showing he has obstruction.

In the meantime, the CF is throwing the ball to third base. About half way to third the runner stops (ball is in air on way to third) and the runner returns to 2nd base. I have been coaching this game for 12 years, coach HS, and watch... I cant even tell you how many games, and I have NEVER seen an umpire that would award that runner third base in my scenario. Because the runner did not continue to go to third base. That is why I instruct my players to keep on going. I dont care if they are out by 15 ft. I have also NEVER seen a runner that did continue on to the base EVER be sent back to second base if they were out at 3rd by 30 ft.

Just because the umpire has his arm out doesnt mean your runner is getting that next base. If they dont attempt to get there, the vast MAJORITY OF UMPS WILL SIMPLY leave that runner on the base she returned to.

This is why the defense (if smart) should just obstruct on a play where they know the runner is scoring the winning run. They have nothing to lose, and if the runner stops and 3rd base because of the obstruction, they just saved the game. If the blue awards home, who cares, she was going to score anyway.