obs. or int?

[Andy]

You need to make an immediate determination when you see the contact. Interference is an immediate dead ball. There is no "wait and see what happens" with interference.

When the contact happens between R2 (runner on first) and F3, you need to judge right there if F3 has the best play on the ball. If so, you have an interference call, dead ball, R2 is out, R1 returns to second, and BR awarded first.

If you judge that F4 has the better play on the ball, you now have an obstruction on F3. Now you can "wait and see". Your left arm goes out with the delayed dead ball signal and you let the play finish.

The interference rule only allows us to protect one fielder in the act of fielding the ball. In cases like this, where two or more fielders could possibly have a play, you need to decide which fielder has the protection from being interfered with. Any other fielders are guilty of obstruction if they impede the runner(s) and do not have possession of the ball.