Quote:
Originally posted by FUBLUE
I used to coach, and always taught F3 to go to 1B on all hit balls. If there is not a play, take a step inside, away from runner rounding base.
Now, some coaches teach their runners to throw out the arm and make contact with F3 (who by now is 2-3 feet off the base) in order to get obstruction called.
Personally, I don't call this, but some do. In your opinions, is this obstruction? Contact = obstruction according to many coaches!
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Why bother? Even if it is obstruction, you're not gonna award second - the runner only gets the bases she would have reached in the umpire's judgment had there been no obstruction. It seems hard to claim she would have made second had she not stuck out her arm and whacked the fielder.
Actually, an intentional and unnecessary contact seems close to a malicious contact to me. I think I'd be inclined to warn and then call it interference on the runner if it continued. Let 'em scream - they've been warned.