Mechanic on Obstruction

[Tim C]

"You must work in ball parks that have a silence rule. If anything is crucial, it is the dead ball signal."

I am currently working my 40th NFHS season . . . blah, blah, blah . . . and over 4,000 games . . . blah, blah, blah. . .

AND NOT ONCE have I ever seen an umpire give the NFHS "Delayed Dead Ball" signal. We teach to point, comment, and move on to the remainder of the play.

Regards,

[RPatrino]

The idea of running around with your left arm held out while play is on-going is ridiculous. I too have never seen anyone use that signal and I personally never have nor ever will.

Bossman, your statement, "When the runner is tagged out, keep the DDB sign up, point and say "safe on obstruction" and keep the ball alive" needs some clarification, at least for me. The mechanic is different depending on if you are the one making the "out or safe" call on the obstructed runner. Can I assume that in your situation YOU are the one who has the call involving the obstructed runner?

[TussAgee11]

I was taught as little as 2 or 3 years ago...

1) Point with right arm at the obstruction while verbalizing "that's obstruction"
2) Stick out left arm (don't run around with it out, but it lets your partner(s) know something is up in case they didn't hear or see your first point)

Giving the DDB signal is not only the mechanic, it seems to me to be a good communication tool with your partner(s), and lets players and coaches know (assuming they know the rules), OBS has been called.

Same goes for Balks in OBR...

My .02...

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

I was taught as little as 2 or 3 years ago...

1) Point with right arm at the obstruction while verbalizing "that's obstruction"
2) Stick out left arm (don't run around with it out, but it lets your partner(s) know something is up in case they didn't hear or see your first point)

Giving the DDB signal is not only the mechanic, it seems to me to be a good communication tool with your partner(s), and lets players and coaches know (assuming they know the rules), OBS has been called.

Same goes for Balks in OBR...

My .02...

Same what goes for balks in OBR? A "delayed deadball signal?"

Heaven forfend!

[Tim C]

If the "delayed dead ball" signal was so wonderful don't ya think the professional leagues would adopt it?

Again, it is a waste of time and not part of my game.

Regards,

[RPatrino]

FWIW, point with LEFT hand while announcing "that's a balk" or "that's obstruction". What dead ball signal are you giving on a balk in OBR? I don't recall OBR having a 'dead ball signal', maybe your hat over your heart and bow your head in mourning?

[GarthB]

"There is no such thing as a delayed dead ball in professional baseball. The ball is either live or dead." Jim Evans

IMO that should be applied to FED as well. A ball, in fact, is live or dead. We don't have "comatose ball." When obstruction occurs, the ball is live. Period. At the end of play, it is then dead. DDB signals are lame and, if the correct obstruction signal is used, worthless.

[Tim C]

In Oregon we got tired of apologizing to our umpires about the silly NFHS mechanics so we dumped them and now use the "Oregon Modified Mechanics".

These mechanics are mirrored to the CCA books and we expect umpires to umpire and not dumb down things to the Federation level.

We no longer distribute the Umpire Manual in the packets every other year. Instead all umpires in Oregon will get a copy of the "Oregon Modified Manual for a 2 Person Crew" that was co-written by a long time poster to this site.

Regards,

BTW, there is no signal for "delayed dead ball" in this new manual.

[bossman72]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

Bossman, your statement, "When the runner is tagged out, keep the DDB sign up, point and say "safe on obstruction" and keep the ball alive" needs some clarification, at least for me. The mechanic is different depending on if you are the one making the "out or safe" call on the obstructed runner. Can I assume that in your situation YOU are the one who has the call involving the obstructed runner?

You assumed correctly, this would be the BU making the OBS call and the call on the play being made on the obstructed runner. DDB signal when it happens (I probably wouldn't keep it up the whole time running around with it), then point and just say "safe on obsruction" and then call time and make the award when action is relaxed.

This was the interp I got when I asked what the mechanic is for this a LONG time ago on this board. I will ask my state interpreter in a few weeks.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by Tim C

"You must work in ball parks that have a silence rule. If anything is crucial, it is the dead ball signal."

I am currently working my 40th NFHS season . . . blah, blah, blah . . . and over 4,000 games . . . blah, blah, blah. . .

AND NOT ONCE have I ever seen an umpire give the NFHS "Delayed Dead Ball" signal. We teach to point, comment, and move on to the remainder of the play.

Regards,

The fourth and fifth hole hitters on one team batted in reverse order in the game. Too bad the defense waited until they had thrown two pitches before they realized what had happened. There was almost a first time for that ruling.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by Tim C

"You must work in ball parks that have a silence rule. If anything is crucial, it is the dead ball signal."

I am currently working my 40th NFHS season . . . blah, blah, blah . . . and over 4,000 games . . . blah, blah, blah. . .

AND NOT ONCE have I ever seen an umpire give the NFHS "Delayed Dead Ball" signal. We teach to point, comment, and move on to the remainder of the play.

Then you and your org learned somehting today, make sure you put it in soon before knowleadgeable coaches start eating your ballbags.