View Single Post
  #10 (permalink)  
Old Mon May 04, 2009, 12:07pm
rwest rwest is offline
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Suwanee Georgia
Posts: 1,050
To answer your first question....

Quote:
Originally Posted by ronald View Post
Could you have a play where obstruction is ruled in ASA but not in Federation?

Was the point of emphasis for Federation's obstruction emphasized at your state meeting? Did your interpreter show two slides on this that were shown to the state reps at the National meeting concerning obstruction?

The reason I bring this up was a play from a game I had the other day.

I was the PU. R1 at first, on the pitch F4 covers first base as the runner takes a big lead on the pitch. On the throw to 1b, F4 is in the base path as the runner is returning (standing in front of 1b) and catches the ball facing the runner. The runner is tagged out.

If you are the base umpire and determine that R1 never slowed up, hesitated or deviated, what are you calling in Fed and ASA?

Thanks
Yes, you can have obstruction in ASA but not in FED. FED has the concept of "initial play" that ASA does not have. It gives the fielder a step and a reach on a deflected ball as long as the ball is not deflected by another fielder other than the pitcher. So in the case of a ground ball to F4, if the ball is deflected behind them and is within a step and a reach when R1 runs into either F4 or kicks the ball, in FED we have an out. In ASA this could be an out if you judged into to be intentional. Otherwise, it would be obstruction in ASA. This is because they are no longer fielding a batted ball but a deflected ball and in this case ASA gives the offensive a little more leeway than FED does.
__________________
Gwinnett Umpires Association
Multicounty Softball Association
Multicounty Basketball Officials Association
Reply With Quote