What nsitutes catcher obstruction/interference & situation

Yes, you are correct. I should have clarified, and I apologize...

If a defensive player, who is purposefully blocking/obstructing/preventing the runner from reaching the base, (whether they have the ball or not), my DDs are going to slide into that base.
With the baserunner carrying all of the momentum, the defensive player who chooses to block/prevent the runner from reaching the base, normally ends up the pancake.

But like I said how many times do our base running DDs have to receive a bodyslam/punch tag to the head before they change the rule on defensive blocking/obstruction?

I, on the other hand, do not teach my DDs to block/obstruct/prevent base runners to getting to the base. (And yes, this is just my opinion)

When the runners are rounding the bases my DDs do not impede their base path.
Make a clean tag when you have the ball, and that's it.
But while on defense, if my DDs choose to purposefully block/obstruct/prevent the base runner from getting to the base...my DDs deserve to get railroaded...

How many girls are taught by their parents and coaches to block/obstruct/prevent baserunners from running the base path?

This is not rare to see like an Illegal Pitcher, I am seeing this on a regular basis.

My advice...quit blocking/obstructing the base...but that is my opinion

slugger3 said:

Yes, you are correct. I should have clarified, and I apologize...

If a defensive player, who is purposefully blocking/obstructing/preventing the runner from reaching the base, (whether they have the ball or not), my DDs are going to slide into that base.
With the baserunner carrying all of the momentum, the defensive player who chooses to block/prevent the runner from reaching the base, normally ends up the pancake.

Click to expand...

And Comp is correct, don't slide in a manner the umpire considers legal, the player is gone without hesitation. And yes I have seen it and have done it.

But like I said how many times do our base running DDs have to receive a bodyslam/punch tag to the head before they change the rule on defensive blocking/obstruction?

Click to expand...

IMO, the "change in the rule" was minimal in what was supposed to happen especially with the ATR. But you still had many coaches thinking the "pure" game involved contact from both sides of the field. Guess what? They get ejected, too. [/quote]

I, on the other hand, do not teach my DDs to block/obstruct/prevent base runners to getting to the base. (And yes, this is just my opinion)

When the runners are rounding the bases my DDs do not impede their base path.
Make a clean tag when you have the ball, and that's it.
But while on defense, if my DDs choose to purposefully block/obstruct/prevent the base runner from getting to the base...my DDs deserve to get railroaded...[/quote]

No, they do not.

How many girls are taught by their parents and coaches to block/obstruct/prevent baserunners from running the base path?

Click to expand...

Just the ones with idiot parents and coaches

This is not rare to see like an Illegal Pitcher, I am seeing this on a regular basis.

Click to expand...

Guess we are back to poor umpiring again

Comp said:

If you had the ball in your possession you dont have to allow her to touch the plate.

Click to expand...

softbabby - This ^^^ is the simple - and correct - answer. If you have possession of the ball prior to the runner's progress being impeded, you can be anywhere you want, including blocking the path of the runner. Hell, you can lay down on top of the plate, if you choose.

Eric F said:

softbabby - This ^^^ is the simple - and correct - answer. If you have possession of the ball prior to the runner's progress being impeded, you can be anywhere you want, including blocking the path of the runner. Hell, you can lay down on top of the plate, if you choose.

Click to expand...

I kinda thought in my position I had a little more freedom and probably shouldn't have gotten an obstruction call. Heck I barely tagged her because I was worrying about her hands as she was coming in and barely got her helmet with my glove before her hands touched the plate.

softgabby said:

I kinda thought in my position I had a little more freedom and probably shouldn't have gotten an obstruction call. Heck I barely tagged her because I was worrying about her hands as she was coming in and barely got her helmet with my glove before her hands touched the plate.

Click to expand...

The rules are the same for every player on the field. If the defensive player impedes the progress of the runner before having possession of the ball, it's obstruction. Force of the tag is not a factor. The position of your body before you have the ball is a factor.

Eric F said:

The rules are the same for every player on the field. If the defensive player impedes the progress of the runner before having possession of the ball, it's obstruction. Force of the tag is not a factor. The position of your body before you have the ball is a factor.

Click to expand...

OK, I think I understand the rule. So, in my situation, since I had the ball the entire time and I was setup for the play on the first base side of home plate, I shouldn't have been called for obstruction.

softgabby said:

OK, I think I understand the rule. So, in my situation, since I had the ball the entire time and I was setup for the play on the first base side of home plate, I shouldn't have been called for obstruction.

Click to expand...

Based on your description, you are correct.

Obstruction isn't as complicated as people try to make it. Once you have possession of the ball, you can completely cover the base with your body, if you want.

softgabby said:

I kinda thought in my position I had a little more freedom and probably shouldn't have gotten an obstruction call. Heck I barely tagged her because I was worrying about her hands as she was coming in and barely got her helmet with my glove before her hands touched the plate.

Click to expand...

Another little note, when in your position here, don't reach for the runner. Protect the plate, the runner has to come to you. You reach out and touch the helmet, the runner can touch the plate with their hand(s). Keep the glove/mitt down between the runner and the plate and there is no other place for them to go to be safe other than back to 3rd.

MTR said:

Another little note, when in your position here, don't reach for the runner. Protect the plate, the runner has to come to you. You reach out and touch the helmet, the runner can touch the plate with their hand(s). Keep the glove/mitt down between the runner and the plate and there is no other place for them to go to be safe other than back to 3rd.

Click to expand...

Thank you so much for the advice. I'm going to keep this in mind the next time I'm in this situation. The thing that scares me is getting in to a situation where I get into a collision and am badly injured like in my scary scene post that I had on here in the softball discussion board on here July 21, 2017 and I have to be carted off by ambulance.

MTR said:

Another little note, when in your position here, don't reach for the runner. Protect the plate, the runner has to come to you. You reach out and touch the helmet, the runner can touch the plate with their hand(s). Keep the glove/mitt down between the runner and the plate and there is no other place for them to go to be safe other than back to 3rd.

Click to expand...

This is an important factor that we reinforce regularly with our 12U TB team. Don't reach out to make the tag. Make the runner come to you.