Doesn't the SS have a right to make a play on the ball?
Probably covered but the SS has a right to make a play on a batted ball, it does not extend to receiving a throw from another fielder.
Doesn't the SS have a right to make a play on the ball?
THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT OF CONTACT FOR OBSTRUCTION TO BE RULED.
THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT OF CONTACT FOR OBSTRUCTION TO BE RULED.
Hey, I've got plenty of clueless coach stories to go around.
No one's denying that there are bad umpires out there. No one's denying that umpires get it wrong, and that sometimes, we can and will miss calls. It sucks, but it does happen. Those of us who care about our profession and care about the young athletes out there will do our best to make sure that doesn't happen, but we're not perfect. Nobody is.
What I'm saying is that if you ask the umpire if they saw the runner had to hit the brakes, and IF the umpire says yes, then your next question is "why was the obstruction not called?" And if they don't give a good answer, you have perfect grounds for a protest. They've admitted they've seen the runner get obstructed, and they did not apply the rule correctly.
If a Tournament Director doesn't back you on that one, then you probably don't want to play their tournaments anymore, as they're just collecting your money.
But seriously, don't have the players go through the fielder. Are you really suggesting that it's okay for a player to run into or bump an opponent, just because of where she's standing?
After the game I went to the rule book and read the crash section, which was the reason for my confusion.Softball rules (unlike some baseball rules) don't say that the fielder has to give the runner "part of the base" or "some access" to the base. The runner gets to choose her basepath, not the fielder.
The fact that the runner didn't slide is irrelevant. Runners are never required by rule to slide in any circumstance.
Did this fielder have possession of the ball? Was she in the act of fielding a batted ball? Those are the only two protections offered a fielder and those are the two things that determine whether it's obstruction or interference.
If you believe this was interference, which rule would you apply to justify calling it that?
As long as the runner was legally running the bases and the contact was from her legitimate attempt to achieve the base, then I'm calling obstruction. The runner has the right of way on this play. The only other consideration would be if the runner did something "extra" like alter her path to purposely go after the fielder, or lowered her shoulder into her, or somehow swiped or swung at the fielder. Then you might have an ejection at the end of the play.
Something similar happened to us this weekend. Our runner didn't slam into her but had to run around her (fielder was on the front side of the bag). Umpire called obstruction and awarded 3B even without contact. That's actually the first time I've seen one award it without contact though I know contact is not supposed to be required. Our girls will NOT run into fielders. They refuse despite having permission to do so if they're in the way. lol
You're not wrong, but I have literally never seen obstruction called without contact (and usually players/coaches having to scream "obstruction!" so umpires actually remember the rule exists).
No need for big RED letters but YES. That is why the rule is there...if it were not OK for a player to bump into an opponent because of where she was standing there would be no need for the rule. I am not ever suggesting to be malicious but take this example...runner is trying to stretch it to a double SS covers ball is coming into second SS puts her leg down in front of the base is the runner really supposed to slide short of the base so they don't contact the fielder then after a second the ball comes and she is tagged out. The runner can legitimately claim she was obstructed but without contact (sliding into her leg) exactly how many umpires are going to call her safe?
Again in your fantasy world obstruction is call in the real world she is called out 99 times out of 100! and even WITH contact you odds might only be 50/50 at best.
You have to teach them how to do it. Have them do it at practice one day. Teach them they do not have to level the opponent. Just bump them head enough to make sure the umpire sees it. For a lot of younger girls physical contact is not within their nature. It is a skill that needs to be learned.
You're not wrong, but I have literally never seen obstruction called without contact (and usually players/coaches having to scream "obstruction!" so umpires actually remember the rule exists).