OBSTRUCTION

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OBSTRUCTION
Kyle McNeely
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DEFINITION 2-22-1

• Act by a fielder or any member of defensive team
  or team personnel that hinders a runner or
  changes the pattern of play
• intentional or unintentional
• physical or verbal
• runner can be advancing or returning to base
• fielder neither has the ball nor attempting to
  make a play
• Fake Tag IS obstruction

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PENALTY

• Ball is dead at end of playing action
• Umpire shall award the obstructed runner and each
  other runner affected by the obstruction
• Award base(s) you believe the runner would have
  made had the obstruction not occurred
• Minimum of 1 base beyond position on base when
  the obstruction occurred
• Preceding runners not obstructed allowed bases
  needed to complete award
• Runners can advance at own risk
• If runner went past the base to be awarded and
  was put out, the out stands

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NOTE

• Malicious contact supersedes obstruction
• Interference and obstruction do not cancel each
  other out
• Cannot dive even after obstruction
• If obstruction causes two runners to be at same
  base, no out and award obstruction

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OBSTRUCTION ON A BATTER

• By catcher or any other defensive player
• Coach or captain has option of the penalty or the
  result of the play
• decision must be before
• Next pitch (legal or illegal)
• Intentional base on balls
• Infielders leave the diamond

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OBSTRUCTION ON A BATTER

• If a runner is attempting to advance (steal or
  squeeze) when obstruction occurred, he is awarded
  the base he was attempting
• If a runner was not attempting to advance, he is
  not entitled to next base unless forced because
  of batters award
• If obstruction enforced, other runners return to
  base occupied at time of pitch

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OBSTRUCTION ON A BATTER

• Obstruction is ignored (no option given to
  offense) if batter-runner reaches first base and
  all other runners advance at least one base.
• If obstruction is not enforced, all other runners
  advance at their own risk.

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OBSTRUCTIONNOTES

• Some forms of obstruction will also be penalized
  with a team or individual warning
• Fake tag is also a team warning
• Announcement of a foul ball to a runner when the
  ball is not foul is an individual warning
• A fake catch is NOT obstruction

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COMMENTS ON OBSTRUCTION

• Happens mostly around a base
• In a rundown, you are mostly watching for
  obstruction/interference the tag is the easy
  part
• Obstruction is delayed dead-ball no difference
  when obstruction occurs on a played upon runner
  vs. an unplayed upon runner
• Just because there is contact does not mean there
  is obstruction or interference you can rule
  nothing happened, just baseball

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COMMENTS ON OBSTRUCTION

• On a play at a base where a fielder is blocking
  the base, the question is Does the fielder have
  a right to be there? If he does, he can be as
  big or as small as he wants or has the guts.
• A fielder has the right to block a base when he
  has the ball, is attempting to make a tag, or the
  play is IMMENIENT.