Obstruction advice

expeklaha said:

Is the consensus then, with the exception of avoiding a tag, to alter the basepath as-needed to avoid contact with defensemen, regardless of whether or not they're fielding a batted ball? I have to admit i'm kind of surprised. I imagine this isn't how it would be taught at the higher levels of the game so I would expect the concept of obstruction, including using it to your advantage, could be introduced at 10U.

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If the defensive player is fielding a batted ball, the runner needs to avoid the fielder. Otherwise, there is no requirement for the runner to go around the fielder. That said, mowing over a fielder is not okay.

On our 12U TB team, if there is a fielder in the way of their running path (not fielding a batted ball), bumping into the fielder with a loud, "Hey, get out of the way!" is just fine. We see this very commonly at 1B with F3 standing on the inside corner of the bag

expeklaha said:

Is the consensus then, with the exception of avoiding a tag, to alter the basepath as-needed to avoid contact with defensemen, regardless of whether or not they're fielding a batted ball? I have to admit i'm kind of surprised. I imagine this isn't how it would be taught at the higher levels of the game so I would expect the concept of obstruction, including using it to your advantage, could be introduced at 10U.

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I would not teach your players to plow through a fielder like they're Albert Belle. The idea isn't to hurt anybody. And, since you may NOT get the obstruction call (especially if there's only one umpire), if a runner can slightly alter her path and still reach the next base, it's probably best to teach that.

That said, if you trust your players enough to make minimal contact (contact is not required for obstruction, btw, but a lone umpire will often not notice it unless there's contact), you can teach them to slightly bump/avoid the fielder. But my guess is that most 10 year olds aren't going to have a feel for the game, their bodies, etc. enough to know how much contact is enough to draw a call but not enough to result in anybody getting hurt.

Ok thank you everyone - and yes I'm very wary of creating a dangerous situation. I don't play to win at all costs and I wouldn't allow my girls to slam into anyone who dares step in their way. But our games have one umpire: behind home plate. Often they just can't tell how far outside the basepath girls forced to run. In some cases, minor contact might be warranted. I'll do some drills in practice and see if they can be trusted to ensure the contact is clear (I like the audible "out of the way"), but minimal and safe. And point taken about avoiding contact if it's faster since we can't rely on getting the obstruction call.

IME this issue is far more common, and at older ages, in girls fastpitch than in boys baseball. IMO it's because the boys are less adverse to contact and the "unprotected" defensive players learn sooner and quicker to stay out of the base runner's way. Same kind of deal with the damn safety bag at first - it creates more issues because it doesn't force coaches to teach their first basemen proper positioning and footwork.

Greenmonsters said:

IME this issue is far more common, and at older ages, in girls fastpitch than in boys baseball. IMO it's because the boys are less adverse to contact and the "unprotected" defensive players learn sooner and quicker to stay out of the base runner's way. Same kind of deal with the damn safety bag at first - it creates more issues because it doesn't force coaches to teach their first basemen proper positioning and footwork.

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I think the bigger field makes obstruction less of an issue, too. Not only is there more space out there, but the middle infielders tend to play far enough back that they're not in the baseline.

There's just less room to stand on a softball infield. That doesn't excuse the defenders, but a space cadet infielder is far more likely to wind up in the way than in baseball.

Regarding defensive players in the way of a baserunner, as others have said, a LITTLE contact with a defensive player not making a play on a batted ball can go a long way to highlight the obstruction to the umpire. The exception would be for a player blocking a base (with or without the ball). There is no problem with a hard slide into the defender in that situation, and nothing will be said unless there is a blatant "cleats up" attempt to injure.

Regarding baserunners near the play, we teach our fielders to go straight through them when making a play on a batted ball. I know what the rules say, but in some cases, that's the only way to get in an interference call. Again, unless there's an obvious attempt to injure, that kind of heavy contact is permissible and legitimate, and will result in the baserunner being called out.