Originally Posted by DaveASA/FED

Had an association meeting lastnight for FED ball. Mechanics question was brought up and there were two answers, mine and everyone elses. I wanted to see who was right.

Question was about OBS call, there is OBS between R1 on 2nd and SS when girl is going to 3rd, player is tagged out prior to reaching 3rd base. Question is do you:

a) Call the runner out, then signal dead ball and award the runner 3rd base due to the OBS.

b) Call Dead ball, there was OBS runner is awarded 3rd base.

Awaiting your votes!

Originally Posted by DaveASA/FED

Had an association meeting lastnight for FED ball. Mechanics question was brought up and there were two answers, mine and everyone elses. I wanted to see who was right.

Question was about OBS call, there is OBS between R1 on 2nd and SS when girl is going to 3rd, player is tagged out prior to reaching 3rd base. Question is do you:

a) Call the runner out, then signal dead ball and award the runner 3rd base due to the OBS.

b) Call Dead ball, there was OBS runner is awarded 3rd base.

Awaiting your votes!

Originally Posted by MidMadness

I would say the proper mechanics is "A"..Call the runner out, folllowed by dead ball, runner safe on obstruction.

Originally Posted by DaveASA/FED

Well there it is. I agree b is my answer, but EVERY other official agreed that A was the correct answer. They said "you have to call the play" then award the base. I disagree. To me once they are put out then I kill the play and award the base. Everyone should know they were out, or else I wouldn't have invoked the OBS call!!!

Originally Posted by JefferMC

Why confuse the spectators (who largely have a hard time with the concept of obstruction in the first place, including the coaches :cool: ) by audibly calling the runner out, then proceeding to put her on a base?

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

Well...you should tell them that they need to go and read the umpire's manual then. Assuming NFHS, the 2006/2007 Umpire's Manual states:

"All obstruction calls require a delayed dead ball signal. This allows all runners the ability to advance, whether they are played on or not. The umpire will protect the runner only to the base they feel the obstructed batter-runner or runner would have made had there not been obstruction. If the runner is put out prior to this base, a dead ball is called and award base(s)."

So, the prescribed mechanic, by this reading, is to immediately call a dead ball and place the runner on the base you feel that she would have reached. Note that it doesn't say, "If the runner is put out prior to this base, call the out, then call time/dead ball, and award base(s)."

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Dead ball ONLY if you were the umpire which ruled OBS.

We cannot expect our partner(s) to know what is in our mind. However, if you ruled the OBS on a player which is your responsibility, simply kill the play, announce the OBS and applicable award.