[nzumpire]

What a most interesting play!

NZ umpires have been dealing with the obstruction modification rules since 2002 where no longer does the umpire require to judge whether the ball is between the fielder and the runner before deciding whether obstruction occurs.

At the beginning of our season (October) All umpires attend a regional clinic to discuss rule modifications, mechanics and rule interpretations. Of specific topic is interference and obstruction as the rules most umpires have the most difficulty in getting their heads around.

You may like to consider the interpretation of the rule application we have been using since 2002.

1 Any player obstructed is protected between the two bases which they are obstructed. The umpire is required to make a judgement as to whether the runner would have made the BASE to which they are attempting (or returning to) had there been no obstruction.

2 Once a player has made the decision to advance PAST the base to which they were obstructed, once again make the decision as to whether the runner would have made that base had there been no obstruction.

EG a runner obstructed by F4 (by say 3-steps) is tagged out by 3 steps sliding into 2nd. Dead Ball, award runner 2nd base on the F4 obstruction.

Same play, however the runner is tagged out 1/2 way between 2nd & 3rd. (Even given the extra 3 steps, the runner would not have made 3rd) THe runner is declared out.

However, if the runner was tagged out 3-steps off 3rd, then Dead ball safe at 3rd base on the obstruction by F4.

The same would apply if the runner was tagged out 3 steps off Home plate, Dead ball safe on the F4 obstruction.

Using this interpretation it now becomes very easy for the umpires to adjudge where to allow the runner to be.

Once your players start to see this application of the rule being applied regularly, you will see the smart players start to push for the extra bases by agressively running the bases. A fine example of this is the NZ Black Sox who all run the bases very agressively constantly looking to see the umpire has picked up any obstruction.

In the scenario depicted, there is no longer a requirement to attempt to decide how many bases a runner would have made, only by what extra distance they would have made had no obstruction occurred, and to thereby protect the runneres adance by the same.