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Originally posted by BktBallRef
While I stated that she had the ball, quite honestly, without looking at a replay, I'm not sure that she had it at that he point. But the catcher was using her right leg to push the runner away from the plate, as she was on the ground behind the plate, trying to reach it.
If the call was on "first contact with the catcher's left leg," why didn't he immediately signal with his arm?
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I thought he signaled it when necessary
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Is it the correct mechanic to wait to see if a runner will safely get to the base/plate before signaling obstruction?
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Not really, but you are working the NCAA Championship game and I have no doubt that the umpires are instructed to not "over officiate". IOW, don't make unnecessary calls if there is no affect on the game. I'm not talking about ignoring rules, just not be redundant.
This is exactly what happened with a previous play when the Cal runner was obstructed at the plate. She ran through and touched the plate with no further play by the catcher, so there was no reason to make the call.
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Finally, you're saying that a defender who has the ball and isn't able to yet make a tag, can push the runner away from the base/plate until such time as she's able to make the tag? I can understand blocking but actually pushing is legal?
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Yes, sir. The runner owns the field and only one person can take that away and that is a defender with the ball.
Had a defender up the 1B line trying to outrun a player attempting to score. The defender had the ball and slid between a sliding runner and the plate. He then proceeded to tag the runner. There is no rule against impeding a runner if you have possession of the ball.