Missed base

[Dakota]

Rich, notice this: I signaled obstruction, apparently no one knew what the signal meant

Note that this umpire did not declare obstruction, he only signaled it. In softball, he would have signaled delayed dead ball. This can be a non-verbal signal, but many times the umpire will declare obstruction as well. This way the runner will know what has been called without having to keep looking at the umpire.

Also note that none of the players knew what the signal meant.

A knowledgable runner would have known that:

a) she missed the base and was subject to being put out on appeal, and

b) she was protected, in most cases, from the liability to be put out between the two bases since obstruction had been called. She can turn back, touch the base, and then proceed to the next base. If she is tagged out before reaching the base she is protected to, she will be awarded that base.

So, in your scenario, that defensive technique would work as long as you are playing against clueless players.