Obstruction question from the NFHS board

[David Emerling]

Originally Posted by 3afan

strictly from that pic, at that instant - no OBS

I wouldn't use the word "strictly."

Strictly speaking, it is obstruction.

Is the fielder's foot in front of the base? YES!

Does the fielder have the ball? NO!

And the runner is just inches from the bag, so she is clearly in close enough proximity for these to be factors.

And yet, from a practical point of view, I would not call obstruction on this play. But I don't think I'd be having a long discussion about it. And I certainly wouldn't say "strictly speaking" ... more like "practically speaking."

David Emerling
Memphis, TN