Obstruction Mechanics
 

Hard ground ball between F5 and F6. R2 is advancing to 3B. F5 is moving to 3B as there might be a play. R2 and F5 get to the bag at the same time and there is contact. R2 rounds base and starts toward home. F7 comes up throwing and coach screams back. No play at third. Coach starts screaming "thats interference" and BU follows with "that is interference" and waves runner to home.
Aside from the fact that it should be obstruction, is there an umpires signal that indicates obstruction while the play is occurring? The BU had clear view of the play but didn't make any indication of a call until after the play completed and coach started screaming. 15U travel ball playing FED rules.

frozenrope,

The calling umpire points at the general vicinity where the obstruction occurs and says, "THAT'S OBSTRUCTION!!".

JM

1) Point with the left hand

2) In STRICT FED mechanics (often not used, even in FED games), hold the left arm out with the hand in a fist until the play is over.

3) Call time before making the award. ;)

Please do not hold out your left arm as the FED book shows - that is a softball mechanic and looks like crap on the baseball field! Just point with the left hand and say (nice and loud) "THAT"S OBSTRUCTION!". If you're lucky, everyone will stop and make it nice and easy to make the base award(s).

If you (as PU or BU) have an obstruction call where the obstructed runner is "tagged out" due to the obstruction, do you make an out signal, and then call time and indicate the obstruction?

For example, this happened to me a couple of games back (I'm PU, one umpire game):
R1 trying to advance to 3rd on a base hit. Obstructed by F5 while sliding into 3rd (contact prior to F5 catching the ball), causing R2's slide to stop about 18 inches short of the base. F5 catches the ball, tags out R1, then fires to F4 who successfully tags out BR attempting to advance to second.

I made no signal on the play on R2 (other then the delayed dead ball signal). After the tag on BR, I called time, and I put R2 on 3rd due to the obstruction call, and called BR out due to the tag.

I'm sure I got it right (although both coaches had to disagree with me, of course). But should I have made any kind of indication about the status of R2 prior to the play on BR?

It is possible that obstruction could have occured, but the runner not be awarded home. Had the plate umpire determined obstruction had occured before the runner had touched third, then the runner could have only been protected up to third base.

If I have both calls, (or the "tag" play and know there was OBS), I'll indicate *something* at the spot of the tag -- "stay there" or "safe on OBS" or something. Then, when the play is over, place teh runners and give the needed explanation.

Left hand point.

"That's obstruction" , but not really loud, unless it's Type A, and your killing it. For Type B, just a conversational tone works. You don't want to kill the action by bellowing this out.

Yeah, the floating fist went out around 20 years ago (so I've been told).

Thanks for the information. Umpire got the call right just wasn't very convincing.

If he called it interference, no, he didn't get it right.

He did in fact yell interference but I let that slide. I like to know as much about the rules and mechanics as it helps with coaching.

Same game had a no catch on third strike. Ball in the dirt. Close/tough call but PU yells "no catch" and catcher stood there waving the ball in PU face all the while PU was pointing at the ground. Catcher finally threw the ball and got the out but I was able to explain to catcher the situation and what the PU was doing so he would know what to do in the future.

"No catch!!!" Might as well just yell, "RUN!!!!" or "TAG HER!!!" Good grief.

mbc,

"No catch!" (or, "That's a catch!", as the case may be) is a proper verbal mechanic in the situation of a 3rd strike where the batter could become a runner if the pitch is not caught if there could be any uncertainty about what the umpire judged.

JM

This mechanic brought to you courtesy of the Doug Eddings Controversy.

Is that a band? ;)

Yeah, they sang Eye in the Sky and Games People Play.

I tend to point with whichever hand is most in the direction of the play vs. spinning around to use the other, and say "THAT's OBSTRUCTION" while pointing. If I am in C and see it at 2nd I am going to be pointing with right, if at 3rd I am going to be pointing with left. May not be technically correct, but never had a problem with it, and I just can't help it anyway.

The first is giving information. IT's up to the players to react accordingly.

The latter two are coaching.

I'm curious as to where the "left hand point" comes from.

I believe I usually (always?) point with my right hand when calling obstruction.

I looked it up in my mechanics books (PBUC, CCA, & Evsns "Maximizing") and the only one that addresses it (Evans) shows a "right hand point" when calling obstruction.

My personal opinion is that either is equally suitable.

JM

Surprising.

I was always taught so it wasn't confused with an out.

I agree it's minor (I can't remember the last time a partner had an OBS call, so I can't say with which hand he pointed).

You're off base here. You're letting all the participants know if the ball hit the ground or not. They're entitled to that. A trapped ball in the outfield gets the same treatment.

I give a "safe sign" and a "no catch" or a "no, no". Being silent doesn't tell F2 or the BR anything since you're behind them.

Wondering if this is a regional thing, and I apologize for my presumption that the way "we" do this is universal.

Generally (both Fed and OBR) the way this is called around here is either "Strike Three!" or "Strike Three, Batter's out", accompanied either by your strike mechanic or your strike mechanic followed by your out mechanic.

On a 3rd strike not caught I first signal the pitch is a strike and then give safe sign and say NO CATCH and then do the safe and NO CATCH again. I am not coaching.

Mike, the mechanic the others are describing has been the standard taught by PBUC and others for a few years now. It's also an approved mechanic at NCAA levels.

I *think* (based on discussions on various boards) that your region is more the exception than the rule on this mechanic.

I would generally advise against the "strike three, batter's out" mechanic in any event. Someone is going to use it when the batter isn't out.

A very good NCAA umpire did this in a game I worked this season. I was shocked it came out of his mouth (and so was he, matter of fact).

As with all swinging strikes, I say nothing about the pitch (unless it's an unsuccessfully checked swing) -- I simply will let the catcher/batter know there was no catch.

That's good to know... I will pass this along.

Not that it really matter, but it is the right arm....Of course that is what is taught at the schools

at the schools and PBUC they are teaching, that if the ball is obliviously not caught, then there is no reason to give a "no catch/safe" signal. and all you do is hold out your right hand almost like your making a 1st down signal.

If it is right down and the catcher feet then give a no catch/safe signal.. the reason is they think it looks crazy when the PU gives a strike, then a safe and then a tag signal, all right in about 3 sec... it is way too much, make it sort and sweet.

If your the calling Umpire of OBS and you know your gonna award him the base you think he would have reached had OBS not occurred, then all you do is when the tag is applied.

"time, I had Obstruction, you 2nd base"

done, easy, call me later...LOL