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ASA says that the ball must reach the catcher before the runner for it NOT to be obstruction (the ball being closer to the catcher than the runner)........unless the catcher is drawn into the path of the runner by the throw.......Even if the ball is there 1/100th of a second before the runner........you have no obstruction....this is a very tough call many times and you cannot differentiate it. If the tag is made or the ball arrives at roughly the same time as the runner........I won't call obstruction.
In my case..........if the ball is obviously later than the play (catcher blocks the runner...makes catch...applies tag).......then I would call obstruction.......if not, it is probably a good defensive play by the catcher. (remember though......the runner is still responsible for legally touching the plate.....even after an obstruction call or she is liable to be called out on appeal).
I have seen either the catcher/pitcher blocking the plate a lot in 16U/18U this year.........Personally, the advantage gained is not worth the risk of injury.......
As a Dad of a daughter who catches.......I would NEVER coach my daughter to block the runner off the plate unless she clearly had the ball before the runner arrives........the chance of having a runner slide into you with your attention on the ball is too great.
Life is too short to give yourself up as a teenager to possibly legally/illegally block a player off the plate.
Joel
See ASA POE on obstruction...........1st paragraph......
[Edited by Gulf Coast Blue on Apr 19th, 2001 at 10:16 PM]
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