Missed Obstruction Call

Recently our 1st year 12UB team was playing a tournament where we showed a bunt and at the same time our player on first attempted to steal second. The opposing teams second baseman stepped into the base line and our runner slowed up; she was thrown out at second where the SS had taken the throw.

I know this is technically obstruction on the second baseman but they didn't call it because the umpire said he didn't see it. They're humans, mistakes happen.

My question is how do you coach your girls to handle this. Go around and yell Obstruction, or run straight line and let the chips fall where they may, even knowing there's going to be a collision? Not wanting girls to become bullies but at the same time don't want them being too timid....

Thanks
Dave

As a coach (new close, I've umpired youth softball longer than I've coach), my players are told NEVER to disrespect an umpire's call, right or wrong. What I would've told them was to remain on the base while the call was being argued, and when the FINAL decision was made, then either signal them to stay or signal them to return straight to the dugout. As they return, I would stop them and say to them, "Sometimes the calls go our way, sometimes they don't. Just work on a better jump next time and get there faster." (said mostly to help them with something to improve on).

As for avoiding the obstruction, having them yell it as they go by will NEVER work (and may end up becoming interference in the eyes of some umpires if it's blatantly obvious). I would have them just run a straight path to the base and try to avoid a collision. If contact is made, it has to be obvious enough to see the fielder was in the path without the ball and the runner had the right to the path. Any umpire that can't see THAT either a.) Didn't have any vision of the play or b.) Saw it and ignored it, and they should be removed from the remainder of the tournament.

I sort of have a knack for drawing obstruction calls. I'm not a big guy at all, but I will always ensure there's contact (while usually trying to "avoid contact"). It's never forcible, and I'm never, ever trying to hurt anybody. There's a way to do that, but I'm not sure you can really teach it. You just have to see the play coming ahead of time and you can't be afraid to get dirty. Never hurts to take a bump (from my experience, if you're running, there's contact, and you go down, they're gonna call obstruction...as long as they're not looking the other way and miss it completely).

All that said, there's no point in doing it if you can just go around and be safe. But I wouldn't teach them to alter their path significantly either. They have a right to the baseline. Don't help out the defense by letting them take it from you when they have no right to it.

CoachJD said:

I sort of have a knack for drawing obstruction calls. I'm not a big guy at all, but I will always ensure there's contact (while usually trying to "avoid contact"). It's never forcible, and I'm never, ever trying to hurt anybody. There's a way to do that, but I'm not sure you can really teach it. You just have to see the play coming ahead of time and you can't be afraid to get dirty. Never hurts to take a bump (from my experience, if you're running, there's contact, and you go down, they're gonna call obstruction...as long as they're not looking the other way and miss it completely).

All that said, there's no point in doing it if you can just go around and be safe. But I wouldn't teach them to alter their path significantly either. They have a right to the baseline. Don't help out the defense by letting them take it from you when they have no right to it.

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I agree with this. I teach players to maintain their path to the base as much as possible, bump shoulders while passing to help the case, but don't run over anyone. Crashing into someone intentionally will override the obstruction call, and the runner risks not only being called out, but also being ejected.

The flip side to this is interference. The fielder has the right to the ball on the initial play, regardless of where they are in the infield. I teach them to go for the ball and ignore the runner, no matter what. If they get hit, the case is usually clear. If they hold up to avoid contact, the ump may not call it.

Every coach DD has worked with that I can think of has said if they're in your way, run into them. Not hard, not trying to hurt anyone, not on purpose (avoid if you can, but do not swerve way out of the way to avoid them).

The fielder has the right to the ball on the initial play, regardless of where they are in the infield.

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this is true on a batted ball, but I cannot say the same for a throwdown on a steal.

I teach all my IF that when making the play, they have to leave a clear path to the base until they have the ball in their glove. If they are the baserunner, they have an obligation to avoid collision on a close play, but if the defense is blocking their path, they need to do whatever to get to the bag.. To avoid interference, they are allowed to run out of the baseline.
Unfortunately, most umps I have seen at U18 and under won't call Obstruction unless there is a collision (some think that is a requirement). even then they are reluctant to call it. they can always say they didn't see it.

Obstruction that wasn't called- runner on 3B takes a lead, catcher throws to 3B who was standing behind the runner, (between the BR and 3B). BR runs back stops just short of collision,, 3B receives throw and tags runner. BR was called Out.

Interference that didn't happen: Runner on 2B, infield hit deflects off pitcher to right and 2B makes play at 1B, BR on 2 collides with SS (both were looking at where the ball went) BR was called out for interference, even though the defensive player had no play on the ball. (My thought is that with that umpire, every time you have a runner on 2B, if the ball isn't hit to SS, she should run into the runner)

I agree with obbay. Without some sort of contact, most umpires that we see will not call obstruction. Also, keep in mind, that even when obstruction is called, it's a total judgement call on what the award is and there is no award unless the runner gets thrown out at some point. I've had a situation where a ball was hit in the gap and 1B obstructed BR rounding 1st (which seems the most common obstruction that I see) and the BR was thrown out at 3rd. Ump let the out stand saying that the obstruction only applied to 2nd base. I disagreed but it becomes his judgement. It's not just a free trip around the bases.

I have always told my girls you run a straight line even, even running a few steps around can mean the difference between safe and out. Yes there will be instances where the umpire misses it but you will be save by a few steps more than the umpire will miss the obstruction call.

This specific situation is one that I cover when I am instructing umpires.

This (the steal) and F3 parking themselves on first base when there is no play are, in my opinion, the most common obstruction scenarios that don't get called.
It is sometimes tough to pick up the OBS on the steal as the BU is moving to be in position at second base and may not catch the obstruction by F4.

As advice to a coach, if your runner is called out, at least go speak to the umpire and let him/her know what you saw. You may not get the call you want then, but at least you have hopefully made the umpire aware of the situation and to look for it in the future. Another piece of advice.....Don't come out of the dugout and tell your runner to stay at second base while you go talk to the umpire. It could be perceived as attempting to show up the umpire. After the discussion, if the call is reversed, the umpire will bring the runner back and put her on second base.

gdc03120 said:

As a coach (new close, I've umpired youth softball longer than I've coach), my players are told NEVER to disrespect an umpire's call, right or wrong. What I would've told them was to remain on the base while the call was being argued, and when the FINAL decision was made, then either signal them to stay or signal them to return straight to the dugout. As they return, I would stop them and say to them, "Sometimes the calls go our way, sometimes they don't. Just work on a better jump next time and get there faster." (said mostly to help them with something to improve on).

As for avoiding the obstruction, having them yell it as they go by will NEVER work (and may end up becoming interference in the eyes of some umpires if it's blatantly obvious). I would have them just run a straight path to the base and try to avoid a collision. If contact is made, it has to be obvious enough to see the fielder was in the path without the ball and the runner had the right to the path. Any umpire that can't see THAT either a.) Didn't have any vision of the play or b.) Saw it and ignored it, and they should be removed from the remainder of the tournament.

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and this is the problem. the suggestion that IF contact is made you will make a determination. Unfortunately this is the default for 90%+ of umpire out there. The default is contact has to be made...as the umpire you are supposed to make the judgement REGARDLESS of contact.

As others have stated simply coach your girls to run a straight line (which is the base path they are entitled to) and not to break stride (assuming fielder is not attempting to field ball), I know it's hard but it it will ensure they get to the base as fast as possible and that way they don't have to think about it, if another player is in the way it is not her fault.