Obstruction advice

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Apr 28, 2017
13
0
When you're teaching the kids about obstruction (as it relates to them as a baserunner) - what do you teach and how do you teach it?

I coach a 10u rec team. Last game I had a girl on 1b, two outs, and the batter hit a pop fly that drew the pitcher, SS, second baseman, and right fielder into my runner's basepath (running from first to second). My runner ran around the crowd of girls in the base path. The ball was dropped but because of my runner's long path they were still able to get her out at second.

Do you teach your runners to take the fastest route to the next base and expect, in some cases, minor collisions? It's my understanding the baserunner is supposed to make a reasonable attempt to avoid a collision, but I'm not really sure what that means. A defensive player can wander into the basepath and if you are able avoid her you're required to?
 
Jun 11, 2013
2,619
113
If you run into someone fielding a batted ball you will be called out. Every time in every game. Teach them to do do the best they can to avoid. Sometimes on offense you just get put into a bad situation. If you have a runner on 1st < 2 outs and hit a popup to the infield it's going to likely be an out.
 
Apr 28, 2017
13
0
Thanks but don't get too hung up on the example. Nearly every game a different version of this comes up. Even in the above example it wasn't the RF she was trying to avoid. It was the SS, 2b and Pitcher who were all clustered in the base path. Other times it's a 3b or SS casually watching a ball hit into RF, casually standing in the basepath as my runner is heading for third. As you can imagine there are many scenarios where defensive player who is not fielding the ball - perhaps not directly involved in the play at all - causes problems for the baserunner.

I don't want to create psycho-baserunners who are slamming into anyone in their paths. That is a recipe for someone getting hurt. But I definitely want to teach them how the game is played, including teaching them when they have a right to a particular path, even when someone is obstructing them.

Does that change your previous advice? Or do you still recommend telling them to run around anyone who is in their way?
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
If you run into someone fielding a batted ball you will be called out. Every time in every game. Teach them to do do the best they can to avoid. Sometimes on offense you just get put into a bad situation. If you have a runner on 1st < 2 outs and hit a popup to the infield it's going to likely be an out.

Yep. Fielder has the right of way on a batted ball. Runner has the right of way on a thrown ball. This is the basics of what to teach your players. Both runners and fielders need to understand this. I see a lot of young fielders hold up making a play on a batted ball because they are avoiding the runner.

In further detail, only one defensive player is protected by the interference rule. If more than one player is moving towards a batted ball, only the one who has the best opportunity to make the play (in the umpire's judgement) is protected. If another defensive player impedes the runner's progress - even if they are attempting to make a play on the batted ball - it is obstruction.
 
Apr 17, 2012
806
18
Wi
The rule states only one fielder can be protected from obs. That fielder would be in the umps judgement who was most likely going to make the play. So your runner would have to determine that and hope her judgement is the same as the umps
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
Not sure I am right but players need to avoid contact, even avoiding it there are crashes.

DD stopped running to home, very politely stepped around catch to touch home. She was called out.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Not sure I am right but players need to avoid contact, even avoiding it there are crashes.

DD stopped running to home, very politely stepped around catch to touch home. She was called out.

Better advice...know the rules.
 
Apr 28, 2017
13
0
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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