Mechanic on Obstruction
 

Since all obstruction on runners in FED is delayed dead, what is the proper mechanic to use when the obstruction is on the runner a play is being made on? I had an unusual obstruction in a game Friday night where one player obstructed and another player made the swipe tag at the plate. Everything was bang bang. I signaled safe and gave the obstruction signal. I verbalized, "Safe! Runner is safe on the obstruction! Safe!"

Did I do it backwards or was my method acceptable? Is there a better method to use? This has never come up in one of our meetings that I can remember.

When the obstruction occurs point at it just as you would a balk and sell it with "That's Obstruction!". When the play is being made on the obstructed runner the ball is now dead. Call "Time", re-call the obstruction the same way as you did orginally and award the necessary base or bases.

Nothing wrong with what you did. It was all together. You made both calls together.

I learned the "proper" mechanic last fall (not applied to FED at the time), but it's pretty much what tiger said...point, "that's obstruction," play ends, "Time, that's obstruction", then award.

Point and call the obstruction. Remember in Fed there is no difference between type A or B obstruction. It is always a delayed dead ball. Let the play develop as you did, then call time, and enforce the obstruction penalty.

Always state and signal the obstruction first then make the call. Thats the way it happens, right? If you make a call that appears to be wierd (an obvious out called safr by OBS) you get that OBS point over first. If you want to reiterate the OBS after the call, no problemo.

FED does have a signal for delayed dead ball (left fist extended to side), but it's not crucial. Correct mechanic is to verbalize "that's obstruction!" and don't be shy about it!

In FED, you are required to keep the ball alive until ALL playing action has stopped. It's not like OBR where you kill it when the obstructed runner is tagged out.

When the initial obstruction occurs, yell "That's Obstruction," then give the delayed dead ball sign.

When the runner is tagged out, keep the DDB sign up, point and say "safe on obstruction" and keep the ball alive.

I've yet to hear a FED interp be released on the proper way to handle this when obstruction occurs. I'm going to ask my state interpreter at a clinic in mid-March.

Maybe Tee can shed some light on this since he's so closely involved with the NFHS...

try +POS

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

My question? Were there any other runners involved or just R3?

In FED we are supposed to wait until ALL playing action ends before enforcing the OBS penalty. We signal That's OBS and keep the ball alive. If the runner is safe/out we make the call and then when playing action ends sort everything out.

IMO if we only have one runner it makes no sense to signal that's OBS make the call (out or safe), wait until playiing is over (which when we are dealing with one runner is for all practical purposes during the tag attempt) then signal TIME and make awards. Too convuluted

In your OP if we only had the one runner and he was Obstructed by F2 my call would be

1. TIME
2. That's OBS
3. Award R3 home

IMO, this is something FED needs to clear-up. I can understand waiting until playing action is over when multiple runners are involved but not when we only have the one runner to deal with.

Pete Booth

Many a bullfight could use your red flag....think EBay.

Ahem,
 

"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 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?

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!

Well,
 

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,

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?

"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.

Of course I meant "delayed dead ball" signal in my previous post. We have a 'dead ball' signal.

the "point" is actually the NCAA and OBR mechanic...unless it's changed for this year...the point isn't part of the actual FED mechanic. I might have been posted on here earlier, I didn't read it after last night...

As they do in Wisconsin, when the FED mechanic book arrives, I toss it in the recycle bin.

What does a Fed mechanic book look like, anyway?

Same size as the rule book and casebook and it is actually called the Umpire Manual.

I've actually never seen one.

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.

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.

And,
 

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.

Please help me understand this situation. When the obstructing player made the swipe tag, was the runner out or safe (without the obstruction)?

Play: Runner was coming home. He had to do so with a head first slide. Catcher was in runner's base path. Pitcher was inside of the base line. Runner was forced to go inside to avoid collision with catcher. Pitcher caught the throw that came in on one bounce and made a smooth little nip of a swipe tag. Runner was denied full base path to avoid tag when forced to avoid catcher not being where he was supposed to be. Both fielders were up the line from home plate.

In this situation, obstructing player did not make the swipe tag. He obstructed runner's base path

but was he in position to make a play on the ball? I'd like to see a video of this...but as you describe, I don't see OBS here.

You made a good call here. I know you work FED games and this is how it's to be called now in high school games that use FED rules. No more "imminent" in the rule.

Tim.

We haven't had our FED meeting yet...but wow, this is going to make it a very interesting season. I expect my ratings to go down quite a bit if the interpretation of this FED rule is what all of you are saying...wow.

If you do NCAA games, the obstruction rule is essentially the same.

thanks bossman...i was talking to a couple of guys who are in the know regarding the changes coming to FED in MN...and they said, like you, that the rule will mirror the NCAA OBS rule...thanks for the post.

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Originally Posted by Steven Tyler
Play: Runner was coming home. He had to do so with a head first slide. Catcher was in runner's base path. Pitcher was inside of the base line. Runner was forced to go inside to avoid collision with catcher. Pitcher caught the throw that came in on one bounce and made a smooth little nip of a swipe tag. Runner was denied full base path to avoid tag when forced to avoid catcher not being where he was supposed to be. Both fielders were up the line from home plate.

In this situation, obstructing player did not make the swipe tag. He obstructed runner's base path
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Have to agree Tim, nice catch. There are distinct advantages from off the field sight lines and pressurless review.

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