Big HS tournament past three days....

Runner on 1B, one out. Runner attempts to steal 2B, throw
brings F6 covering, up the line, contact made...I signal OBS
Ball goes off F6's glove goes about 8 feet behind bad where F8
is backing up the play. Coach hollars for runner to
continue to 3rd. She makes a very poor effort,(unimportant) and
is thrown out little over halfway to 3rd. I call the out. Coach
requests time, enters field, "Blue, your call was OBS." "Yes,
coach there was OBS." "Now you are calling the runner out?" "Again
you are correct coach." "Blue she is protected!" "Coach, only if she
is put out between the two bases she was obstructed." "Coach,
the play was a steal of second, runner was protected only between 1st and
2nd. She is out, beyond my protection."
Coach shaking her head, "I hate this rule." "Coach, that portion of the
rule was not effected by the revision/new obstruction." In the three
days of games from 8:00a.m. until 8:00p.m., there were probably 15
obstruction calls. I had 15 games and 5 obstruction calls, six IP's,
1 BOO, 1 running lane violation and a coach that could not understand how
a batter hit by a pitch that she swung at was called out because it was
3rd strike.

It is very easy to hate a rule that you never take the time to read and understand. I think I am beginning to understand how it can be very frustrating when dealing with coaches that don't bother to understand the rules they are playing under. Some of you(umpires)put in many extra hours and your own money to learn all you can . I for one would like to thank you all ! Coach Brian

Well, Thank You Coach Brian.

I wish we had more coaches thinking as you do.

We all know we make mistakes, however, we do our best
to make sure they are not the call that loses the game
for a team.

OBS
 

Also did a HS Tourny this weekend and all weekend long nothing but confusion from coaches and umpires on the OBS change. Had a coach want a OBS call when bases loaded and ball hit back to the pitcher which threw to home for the FORCE easily putting out the runner but because the catcher was standing on HP the coach wanted OBS. Saw an umpire call OBS on a catcher that was standing at HP and the runner was just turning 3rd, the ball beat the runner, the runner was tag out but the ump awarded the runner home on OBS call. It going to be a fun season if some clarification doesnt come out quickly for the coaches and the umps to get all on the same page on this

JMO

Don

It is NOT all that complex...the Players who play ASA and the umpires who work it can be used to get clarification. it is NOT a tough rule to enforce.

Re: OBS
 

Now, there is an umpire who is not too smart, a GAGA or someone who needs to attend a clinic every now and then.

AZ,

I agree, but the coachs don't agree. Like Don stated,
they think now with base blocked anytime during a play
that we should be calling OBS. In this area IP's on
the increase. Pitchers are putting the heel on plate,
and then sliding foward and raising heel. Several out-
side of the 24" violations also.

Not to hijack the post, but I was told by a HS coach last week when I called this:

"But, Blue, how is she supposed to throw a screwball, then?"

Then later:

"Are you sure that is in the rule book?"

Were your answers, "better coaching" and "yes"?