Obstruction Rule Clarification/explanation, PLEASE!!

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by 4Beemer

I totally understand not being able to block a bag/plate before you have the ball (to me "blocking" is like an outfielder taking a knee, but in the IN in front of a bag b4 u have the ball in your possession (from first hand experience, (a huge black-eye w/ seam marks on my face and weak eye, and no obstruction call was ever made!!??) but not letting a player, especially a SS strattle a bag, or even stand near the bag before she has the ball... It just seems like the girls are getting the game taken away from them, while the boys continue as is...

Well, Coach, this statement shows that you do not really understand. The runner owns the base path. The ONLY two things which can legally take the base path away from a runner is a fielder attempting to field a batted ball or a defender in possession of the ball. A player can stand anywhere they please as long as their presence does not impede the runner.

When you mention the "boys", I assume you are comparing the games of softball and baseball. Different field, equipment, mechanics, philosophies and rules. You are really going to need to be able to separate the two in your mind if you want to develop you skills as a softball coach.

BTW, straddling a base is a terrible mechanic for receiving a ball.