[greymule]

Some lowdown coaches may teach fielders to get in the way of runners. But virtually all the obstruction I see derives from lack of baseball instinct. Infielders not directly involved in a play often simply stand nailed to a spot, so obstruction is a major topic these days. It was not even on the table when LL was made up mostly of kids who played sandlot baseball all day every day during the summer. I have seen more instances of obstruction in one JV softball game than I did in my entire playing career.