Obstruction

[urgone]

The National Federation has taken out the extended left arm/closed fist signal from the umpire mechanics. Here in Iowa we recently received our first memo from our high school state association saying we would be ignoring that and still use the signal to indicate we have a delayed dead ball and that we've seen obstruction. My general feeling is OK with that as the good coaches are familiar with that signal, look for it in obstruction situations, and
would probably freak out if we adopted the NF edict and signal nothing. My question for the forum is why did the NF want that signal removed? I'm having a hard time thinking of a scenario where using that signal to communicate obstruction to the players, coaches, and my partner would be a bad mechanic that somehow gets us in some other jackpot.

[dash_riprock]

The proper 'communication' of the obstruction violation is the umpire pointing at the offense and calling: "That's obstruction!" when it happens. The ball is live (delayed dead, if you must) unless and until the umpire calls "Time."

I suspect that FED got rid of the left-turn signal after years of reading mail from umpires telling them that it was a ridiculous and wholly unnecessary mechanic.

[urgone]

I'm with you dash ripock 100%...that's the way I've always done it too.
Verbally said that's obstruction...but I have left turned signaled it and as I was mentored 35 years ago...held that out the whole play until the ball was dead and then I awarded bases accordingly. Have always done the same mechanic sequence on Batter interference with the catcher. I'd say I differ somewhat on it being "wholly unecessary"...I have the simple R1 running into a brain dead 2B on a gapper to the fence I perhaps mistakenly believe it is important that I hold out my left arm...nobody will have heard me say "that's obstruction" way
out there in the B position...it let's the coaches know, players, my partner that "Hey, I got some contact here and we'll see what happens with this runner after we get to a dead ball" That arm out stops me from being hollered at by the offense AND it stops the defense from freaking after the play that I only gave R1 a base because the offense went nuts cuz I DIDN'T signal visually I got obstruction. I'm just not seeing the "wholly unecessary" position...there had to be something else behind the BF's thinking on this change. No big deal either way...I just find it curious and good baseball umpire talk.

[RPatrino]

I never have used the 'dead ball signal', and I certainly never would have kept my left arm out for an entire play.

[ODJ]

My mechanic is to display the signal for a second or two and then drop it. Enough time for people to look at you and see the signal.
The 'half a propellor'* imitation is not necessary.


*My first obstruction, guess what I looked like? As told to me by a veteran.

[Rich]

The next time I use that signal...oh, wait, I never will.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by ODJ

My mechanic is to display the signal for a second or two and then drop it. Enough time for people to look at you and see the signal.
The 'half a propellor'* imitation is not necessary.


*My first obstruction, guess what I looked like? As told to me by a veteran.

Agreed. Running around for 10 seconds with your arm out is absurd. Hate it when partners do that.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

I never have used the 'dead ball signal', and I certainly never would have kept my left arm out for an entire play.

What "dead ball signal" are you referring to?

[RPatrino]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

What "dead ball signal" are you referring to?

Pardon my error, the delayed dead ball signal.