Automatic Obstruction?

[DaveASA/FED]

I agree with your call based on your description. Not to argue with mcrowder, as I don't think he meant it in all cases just in reaction to your exact post, but the defensive player doesn't have to be in the basepath, just somewhere where they impede the runner. Normally that is in the base path, but no always. But he is absolutely correct in order to have OBS you MUST have a reaction from the runner, the fielder being there means nothing until the offense reacts to their position. This was brought up at all three clinics I have been at this year, and the same message was given (Fed, and two ASA clinics), fielder not in possession of the ball must cause the runner to react to their presence to have OBS.

One additional item, just a personal thing, I would not reccommend telling a coach that there was no collision so there is no OBS. I know what you meant adn agree with you, but to me I don't want to plant any idea in the coaches head to think there has to be contact to get an OBS call, could lead to coaching his team to make sure you collide with the fielder to "guarentee" you get the OBS call. I would just tell the coach "In my judgement your runner was not impeded by the fielders presence so there was no obstruction" judgement---a non protestable thing. More follow up if required, "your runner never slowed down, never broke stride or altered her path in any way so there was no OBS"