While I agree with your premise alaskaump, the difference is the orange base is a safety issue. The ASA has determined that player collisions should be avoided , hence the modification to the obstruction rule, no crashing in to a fielder with the ball, etc... The doublebase at first base is another rule that is suppose to make the game a little less riskier to play. Hence the wording the fielder must use the white base.... I agree with you mike, they should not be standing ON the base, they should be touchng the side of the base, but 12,14U are still learning the proper mechanics, thus my point, should F3 be penalized for having contact with the orange base? The rule does not say that a collision has to occur, it just says she must use the white base. There are several situations already that relieve the fielder of that requirement, IE from foul territory. But the rule says "the defense must use the white portion of the base" which means not having contact with the orange part. Yes-No??
