|
What I have always done when I have obstruction, and what I was taught, was that when it occurs you give the delayed dead ball signal. I would usually hold the arm out until he/she got to the base I was protecting him/her to, then I would drop the arm to show that the obstuction was now off. I didn't call it all that much, but this was pretty much what I did when I called it.
Thinking back on it after this question, it would probably be best to keep it out there the whole time in case, as this play pointed out, the runner is a little faster than you thought. If you pull that arm down, and then it's bang bang at home, or announce some other way that the obstuction protection is now gone, you'll probably have to take some heat no matter what you call. But, that's umpiring.
|