Is it legal to block 1st base without the ball?

You will learn never agrue with one of the best umpires in the game! See you this summer BretMan!

obbay said:

In our local LL sliding is a requirement to avoid collision. typically close plays at the plate require the runner to slide or be called out.
this eliminates the possibility of big girls (who aren't speedy)charging into the catcher to dislodge the ball. It applies at all bases but typically it's the plays at home where the runners are called out for not sliding. This gets tricky when, this time of year due to rain, Home plate projects out of the ground and catches the foot rather than allowing the foot to slide across it.

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Talk about just screaming out asking to be sued! Wow! BTW, in spite of BretMan's note about signing a waiver, that is pretty much just a deterent as there is little legal value to it as far as protecting the league, local or Williamsport.

Suggest you find a league which does not get so involved in "adjusting" the rules.

FPMark said:

I've never seen it taught before, but unless there is a base to award, there's not really anything to call. Now if 1st baseman is blocking the base, you could have your runner run into her and immediatly run to second, if she made it, you get the runner to second. If she is out, then the ump should call obstruction and award her the base she should have made it to (1st base). One bad throw and she could be on 3rd. Assuming ASA.

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Thanks for all the responses everyone. I may try what you suggest FPMark, but with my luck my runner will get called out for interference. The mean streak in me wants to tell our girls to cleat the firstbase girl in the ankle or shin, but I don't want to do something that causes a player to get injured.

Wellphyt said:

Thanks for all the responses everyone. I may try what you suggest FPMark, but with my luck my runner will get called out for interference. The mean streak in me wants to tell our girls to cleat the firstbase girl in the ankle or shin, but I don't want to do something that causes a player to get injured.

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My first reaction was a helmet to the shin would probably end that nonsense, but I reconsidered for the same reason... With my luck, my player would get a concussion.

Check your PM.

If everyone ran off to sue every time someone got injured there wouldn't be too many left around to play.

I think most courts would find that there is danger in sport that participants are aware of before they sign up and accept part of the risk by their own free choice.

Any ump calling obstruction when there is a clear path to the base should find another job.

Giving the runner a clear path to one edge of the bag does not mean the runner has not been obstructed. What if the runner decides they want the back edge of the bag? If the defenders foot is stradling the back side of the bag the runner has been obstructed. If the runner wants to come back standing up, they have been obstructed.

The offense essentially owns the base until such time as the defensive player has the ball in their posession. If the defense forces the offensive player to go to a particular spot on the bag, have they not hindered the offensive player in returning to the base?

Comp said:

Giving the runner a clear path to one edge of the bag does not mean the runner has not been obstructed. What if the runner decides they want the back edge of the bag? If the defenders foot is stradling the back side of the bag the runner has been obstructed. If the runner wants to come back standing up, they have been obstructed.

The offense essentially owns the base until such time as the defensive player has the ball in their posession. If the defense forces the offensive player to go to a particular spot on the bag, have they not hindered the offensive player in returning to the base?

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What should the defense do, go off to the side somewhere and ask the runner which part of the base they want?

As many throws as I've seen in pickoff attempts at 1st I've never seen an umpire call obstruction except where the defender actually took away any chance of a runner getting back.

Pickoffs are usually bang-bang plays pretty often resulting in contact between players. Obstruction calls are extremely rare.

I hope it never gets to the point we need a lawyer at the bases.

softballphreak said:

What should the defense do, go off to the side somewhere and ask the runner which part of the base they want?

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No, they should stay out of the way until they receive the ball. There is nothing new here. This has been a rule in ASA, NFHS and other assn. for a few years now.

As many throws as I've seen in pickoff attempts at 1st I've never seen an umpire call obstruction except where the defender actually took away any chance of a runner getting back.

Pickoffs are usually bang-bang plays pretty often resulting in contact between players. Obstruction calls are extremely rare.

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Actually, they are not. Either you haven't been paying attention, the umpires haven't been doing their job or you are watching a different game.

softballphreak said:

If everyone ran off to sue every time someone got injured there wouldn't be too many left around to play.

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Been in this country long? Of course, you are going to be sued if someone gets injured, but more often by someone other than the player's family.

I think most courts would find that there is danger in sport that participants are aware of before they sign up and accept part of the risk by their own free choice.

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Yes, there is an inherent danger, but that does not absolve all parties from responsibility to play the game in accordance with the rules in a sportsmanlike manner. Nor does it absolve those coaching from not providing the appropriate training, nor umpires from failues to invoke specific rules based on safety.

Any ump calling obstruction when there is a clear path to the base should find another job.

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Maybe you should know *** you are talking about before running at the mouth. That is the exact attitude that precipitates injuries and lawsuits.

Tell you what, you think it is the way to go, how about you straddle 3B, giving me the "clear path" to the edge and see how it feels when I dump you about 6-8 feet behind the bag because I want to run through instead of sliding. Please make sure your Medicare is up to date, I wouldn't want to risk being sued.

MTR said:

Been in this country long? Of course, you are going to be sued if someone gets injured, but more often by someone other than the player's family.



Yes, there is an inherent danger, but that does not absolve all parties from responsibility to play the game in accordance with the rules in a sportsmanlike manner. Nor does it absolve those coaching from not providing the appropriate training, nor umpires from failues to invoke specific rules based on safety.



Maybe you should know *** you are talking about before running at the mouth. That is the exact attitude that precipitates injuries and lawsuits.

Tell you what, you think it is the way to go, how about you straddle 3B, giving me the "clear path" to the edge and see how it feels when I dump you about 6-8 feet behind the bag because I want to run through instead of sliding. Please make sure your Medicare is up to date, I wouldn't want to risk being sued.

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Fear of the Network Nazi's socialist views? That sums it up somewhat.

Nothing good can come from this conversation. We're in different worlds. Hope you find peace.