[MD Longhorn]

Let me first say that the length of time you hold your arm in the air is completely immaterial. You are supposed to show the call for a second or two and verbalize, "Obstruction". Far too many umpires feel like they must run around the bases with their arm in the air until the runner reaches her protected base. A) They look stupid, and B) there is no requirement to inform or direct any runners as to how far they are protected.

The idea of obstruction is not to allow a baserunner a free attempt at a base - although it does sometimes work out that way (as in the OP). The idea of calling obstruction is to "undo" the negative effects of being obstructed.

In the OP, you have a runner obstructed between first and second base. She cannot be called out between first and second (unless she commits some other violation). Other than an intervening play on another runner, there is no "waiving off" of this protection. The runner "giving up" and beginning to return to first has ZERO effect on her protection.

Sounds to me like the coach knew the rule better than either umpire in this case. He knew A) she was protected between first and second and B) she was not going to be awarded 2nd. Despite the fact that this was not the INTENT of the rule, it is one of the effects and coach did EXACTLY what he should have done when he told his runner to try for 2nd.

You guys did boot this one. Shame on the coach for not protesting, but we don't see nearly enough of that. Runner should have been placed on first base.