OBSTRUCTION is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner. Rick answered: Ed, thank you for your question. When legally positioned players, through no fault of their own, are drawn into a collision, you've got nuthin' - First baseman suddenly reaches into the base path to catch a poor throw from an infielder, colliding with the batter-runner. 2. The Top 10 Misunderstood Rules in Softball Are: Left Hand Turn from First. Malicious contact supercedes obstruction. Award of Bases on Overthrow. After a lengthy review, Carroll was given first base. A lot of coaches yelling at me for various reasons. It's my understanding that obstruction on a batter-runner (BR) between home and first base is alwaysType A obstruction. An obstruction in softball is when a fielder gets in the way of a runner. Section 2:00 of the Official Rules describes obstruction as follows: . Obstruction is an act by which the defensive team impedes the batting team from advancing around the bases.. Interference is the act of an offensive player, coach, team, umpire or equipment that hampers a defensive player or a play on the ball. Check Swing. If any preceding runner is forced to advance by the awarding of a base or bases to an obstructed runner, the umpire shall award this preceding runner the necessary base or bases. If a runner is outside the lane and is hit by the ball, and in the judgment of the umpire interferes with the defensive player receiving the ball at first base, the runner will be declared out.. Implementation of the "jump pivot" is the most efficient use of time and energy. If the catcher is fielding the ball and the first baseman or pitcher obstructs a runner going to first base obstruction shall be called and the base runner awarded first base. The runner would be out, the ball would be dead at the time of interference, and the batter would be awarded first. If the baseman is simply in the way, it should be obstruction, but if they are making a play, it is not. OBSTRUCTION Obstruction is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding it, impedes the progress of any runner on the base paths. "Leaving a path to part of the base" is still obstruction. (a) If a play is being made on the obstructed runner, or if the batter-runner is obstructed before touching first base, the ball is dead and all runners shall advance without liability to be put out, to the bases they would have reached, in the umpire's judgment, if there had been no obstruction. On conclusion of action, kill the ball and award bases to nullify obstruction, but always award a minimum of one base beyond the point of the obstruction. The key to making the correct ruling is based on an understanding of the rules for interference and obstruction, which cover situations involving contact between offensive and defensive players. LL Rule 7.06 Ruling: This is interference by the umpire. Obstruction is to be identified whether there is contact with the offensive player, or not. (1) If a play is being made on an obstructed runner, or if the batter-runner is obstructed before he touches first base, the ball is dead and all runners shall advance, without liability to be put out . OBSTRUCTION is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball, impedes the progress of any runner. There are six categories of plate appearances - official times at bat, sacrifice bunts, sacrifice flies, bases on balls, and hit by pitch are the other five. The batter-runner is out providing the defense appeals prior to the batter-runner returning to first base. Type 1 obstruction Consider the situation of a runner on first base advancing to second base on a ground ball. (a) If a play is being made on the obstructed runner, or if the batter-runner is obstructed before touching first base, the ball is dead and all runners shall advance without liability to be put out, to the bases they would have reached, in the umpire's judgment, if there had been no obstruction. The obstructed runner is awarded a minimum of one base beyond his position on base when the obstruction occured. Obstruction refers to the act of a defensive player that hinders an offensive player (either the runner or batter). Related Resources Video Understanding a Runner's Lane Violation - Rule 6.05 (j) For Coaches The umpire is tasked with assessing a value to the hit, and awarding bases accordingly. Trea Turner out after review. 6. Fair ball bouncing out of play or off a defensive player. I have seen the following done by the runner. - The pitcher will take a small jump with both feet at the same time and use his right foot to pivot towards first base. Recently I had a very interesting game. Baserunners are generally permitted to run from base to base without being physically blocked or hindered by a fielder. First base umpire ruled this obstruction on the pitcher, saying Godley got in the way of the runner. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . The Nationals challenge the call that Trea Turner was out at first base, and after review, the call on the field stands. More From This Game. By definition, it is "an act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner". First base umpire ruled this obstruction on the pitcher, saying Godley got in the way of the runner. Rule 2.00 (Obstruction) Comment: If a fielder is about to . This will often cause the runner to be out. RIGHT-HANDED PICK-OFF TO FIRST BASE: By rule, the pitcher must "gain ground" toward first base. Being awarded first on interference or obstruction is by . This is interference, since the first baseman is fielding a batted ball (it does not matter if it is in the base path or not). As the catcher attempts to throw to second base contact is made with the home plate umpire, which effects the throw. A pitch that bounces as it comes in cannot be hit. Candidate for worst call of the year. After fielding the ball, the second baseman uses . If the batter does make contact with the ball, the play remains live in case she is able to move beyond first base. First, the runner is always protected to the base the umpire believes would have been attained if not obstructed. Our objective is, by the end of the second workout, that the players develop some level of mastery of the actions and have been successful in making fairly accurate, catchable throws to 'first base'. The defensive coach acknowledges the collision, but all agree that B1 was not attempting to stretch his single into a double, the defense was not making a play on B1, and B1 easily safely returned to first base -- so play . The offensive coach calls time and asks that obstruction be called on the first baseman and that B1 be awarded second base. The umpires told us that both the runner and the first baseman have equal possession of first base and out coaches have told the boys to run over the first baseman. Rule 7.06 - Obstruction. The Official Forum - Obstruction at first base todd.dicken Tue Apr 07, 2015 01:56pm Obstruction at first base I am very new at umpiring, I have about 20 games under my belt (Mainly 8U AA). 12.4.13 (A batter/runner is out) When she interferes with a fielder attempting to field a batted ball, interferes with a fielder attempting to throw the ball, intentionally interferes with a thrown ball while out of the batter?s box, makes contact with a fair batted ball before reaching first base or . The first baseman is in the way of the runner on a close play. Most were judgement calls safe/out. The first base umpire called obstruction on the play, meaning he thought Godley entered Diaz's running path and prevented him from getting to first before making the play. That means immediate dead ball, of course, and awarding the batter-runner first. Contact is not necessary. Brewers bench coach Pat Murphy (middle) is restrained by manager Craig Counsell (left) while arguing with first base umpire Marty Foster in the fourth inning during the game against the Miami. If . When the obstruction occurs, the umpire shall call or signal obstruction. The offensive team's manager argues that the pitcher forced the runner out of the basepath and that the runner is safe and, since the runners who started at First and Second we off on contact,. Obstruction describes an act by a fielder, who is not in possession of the ball or in the process of fielding it, that impedes the baserunner's progress. A runner cannot be called out if hit by a batted ball while standing on a base. In 1983 Dale Berra of the Pirates set a major league record by being awarded first base on interference seven times in one season. The umpire will award any outs or bases depending on what he believes had the interference not occurred. Obstruction (baseball) In baseball, obstruction is when a fielder illegally hinders a baserunner running within the basepath. Washington Nationals. When the batter-runner is obstructed before reaching first base, it is not always the case that the batter-runner will be awarded first base on this type of obstruction. If the defense touches only the colored portion, it is treated the same as being off the base. Quite simply, the obstruction rule states a fielder not in possession of the ball or not in the act of fielding a batted ball may not impede the offense. In NFHS, obstruction is always a delayed dead ball (never immediate dead ball). When obstruction occurs, the umpire shall call or signal "obstruction". A batter cannot change from the left-handed to the right-handed batter's box after two strikes. D-backs @ Nationals. Three batters later, Wildcats catcher Sharlize Palacios lifted a sacrifice fly into center field to tie the score at 2-2 and lead to extra . Official Baseball Rule 6.01(h)(1) governs Obstruction Type 1/A, and states, "If a play is being made on the obstructed runner, or if the batter-runner is obstructed before they touch first base, the ball is dead and all runners shall advance, without liability to be put out, to the bases they would have reached, in the umpire's judgment, if there had been no obstruction. Call was confirmed after the umpires gathered and the runner is safe at first. A fake tag is considered obstruction. Batted Ball hitting Home Plate, First Base, Second Base or Third Base. April 16, 2021 | 00:02:23. For example, if the batter-runner is obstructed before reaching first base on a fly ball or line drive that is caught, the batter-runner is out. . When Defenders Can Make the Play In this play, you need to give the runner the benefit of any reasonable chance she would have made 2nd on the original play; if so, if put out before reaching it, it should be awarded. Batter stepping on home plate or mat or directly in front of home plate or mat. 1) Slows down so a collision doesn't happen. Example - defensive obstruction - Typically at first base and home, but possible at all bases, the fielder without possession of the ball is in the way of a runner attempting to "round" the base or run through home plate. (a) If a play is being made on the obstructed runner, or if the batter-runner is obstructed before he touches first base, the ball is dead and all runners shall advance, without liability to be put out, to the bases they would have reached, in the umpire's judgment, if there had been no obstruction. The first baseman is not allowed to stand right infront of first base unless he is in the act of fielding the batted ball or the throw. If a play is being made on the obstructed baserunner, the ball is ruled dead and the umpire can place all runners on the base he determines they would have reached without the obstruction. Obstruction is the act of a fielder who is (A) not in possession of the ball; or (B) not in the act of fielding a batted ball, which hinders or impedes the progress of a runner who is legally running the bases. Now let's go deep on OBR Types 1 and 2 obstruction. Apr 20, 2015 #3 D djcarter1966 Sep 29, 2014 In order to make a proper appeal play, the pitcher must first take the ball back to the mound. The rule is designed to keep the game fair. pic.twitter.com . If the runner is out at first, the umpire awards the runner first base. Well, if that's the case, what if the BR hit a deep shot to the gap a clear double (at least). During a Junior Division baseball game, a runner on first base attempts to steal second base. If the throw retires the runner, the out will stand. 12.2.2 The batter-runner shall not interfere with a fielder attempting to field a batted ball. See NFHS Rules 2-22-1 and 8-3-2. EDIT: It's possible Moss could be judged to have "attempted to field the ball and missed", but that's only the letter of the rule and not the spirit. Once the runner returns to the white or colored portion, no appeal can be made. A runner at first runs into the first baseman, who is fielding a ground ball. If obstruction occurs with a hindered batter and the batter doesn't make contact with the ball, the batter is given first base. The two most common ways that playing action will be completed during a play which involved obstruction are: When the ball is in possession of the pitcher while in the circle at the end of the play The obstructed runner is called out or may apparently be out If F3 is standing on top of 1st base and batter/runners are having to check up to avoid contact with her, it certainly sounds like an obstruction issue. OBSTRUCTION is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner. This article will examine Obstruction. 5. If obstruction occurs, the play is immediately called dead and all runners advance one base, or "to the bases they would have reached, in the umpire's judgment, if there had been no obstruction."As with several other calls in baseball, the ruling is a judgment call made by the umpire, and opinions can vary on whether or not obstruction should or shouldn't be called in different situations . To make it simple; the fielder SHOULD set up outside the runner's path while he is waiting for the ball. On subsequent days of work, based on our observations, we direct the players to increase the speed of their actions bit by bit. (NOTE: Obstruction shall be called on a defensive player who blocks off a base, base line or home plate from a base runner while not in possession of the ball.)