Obstruction Revisited

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by fastpitch

I think if there is a clear path to the base and the runner deviates no obstruction should be called which really is not in one of my examples. It being bball season we all know the differences in officiating regarding letting them play. As a coach, I always hated the block at 1B on the pickoffs and initially liked the new definition on obstruction but coaches will start teaching the BR to break stride, etc to get OBS call when it is called too strictly.

As a new umpire, you need to throw out all those other hats.

You always call OBS when it happens. While your (generic umpire) judgment is required, your opinion isn't.

There are a few rules for which umpires do not care, but that doesn't give us the right to ignore them or enforce them in the manner we prefer.

In all of your plays, OBS could be the ruling unless I, as the umpire, believed the runner was initiating the contact with the intent of drawing an OBS call.

[fastpitch]

Yes, am new to umpiring, lots of mistakes yet to make but loving it so far. We covered obstruction in our clinic and it was taught the way the posts here describe. Thanks for the good advice.