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Still waiting for the umps to catch up
In our region, I still haven't seen an obstruction call this year in those situations where the fielder (C or 3B most often) sets up in front of the plate/base without the ball. Not one. This despite the fact that the umpire trainings and clinics have emphasized the "catch then block" guidelines for obstruction. Until the calls are made regularly, the ill-positioned fielders are rewarded. Meanwhile, those coaches who are teaching proper techniques for the rules as written grow increasingly more frustrated by their counterproductive results.
In friendly pick-up games, we have been told by opposing coaches that blocking the bases is within the rules (in response to our comments that their C or 3B, for example, can't do what she just did without the ball). Other coaches have said that they'll keep having their fielders do it as they've been taught so long as the umpires let them get away with it.
Let's hope that the word gets out on this issue so that by next season most umpires and coaches know the rule and call and teach accordingly.
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