New Coaching Trick

[Chess Ref]

In our area we're starting to see a new coaching trick. I have had happen in my games several times and it happened in a glorified scrimmage yesterday.

The basic premise is for runners to now force the OBS issue. What happened yesterday was little blooper over F6, ball lands, leftfielder picks up the ball, F6 turns back into the infield and the runner is standing there. We have the conclusion of the play. The offensive coach thens wants OBS. Saying F6 impeded the progress of the runner.

I hope I'm being clear with this but it's like the fielders now have to almost play dodgeball with the runners. The runners are actively seeking out the fielders to get an OBS call. So far only the higher end teams are doing it.

Haven't seen it called OBS yet but you know it will be eventually somewhere.

Anyone else seeing this ?

[wadeintothem]

Hmmm.. havent seen that one yet. I'll keep my eyeballs peeled fer it. The rule is the rule.. so if the runner is impeded.. ddb; if the runner impedes herself.. I got nothing.

[Scooby]

I don't really under stand the situation. F6 is in short left field or deep infield and the runner is chasing her out there? Is this correct?

[Chess Ref]

Originally Posted by Scooby

I don't really under stand the situation. F6 is in short left field or deep infield and the runner is chasing her out there? Is this correct?

The F6 is deep infield and the runner is chasing her out there. It's weird but I have seen and had the conversation several times with coaches around this....

[DaveASA/FED]

I don't see that type of issue here but I have seen runners attempt to get the OBS call trying to vere toward the fielder to get something. IMO I saw it in a college game the other day got to love the Big Ten Network lets me watch some college games...but anyway can't remember the teams (late night catching up on DVR'd games) but runner from 2nd comes in and F6 attempts to draw the INT, same concept as your post but reversed....U3 signals safe as action occurs and play continues, defense coach comes out and has a conversation. But I do see that attempt on offense to draw the OBS, just not in your way.

I did think I had that once, high school team around here leads off 2nd VERY wide to allow a quick rounding of 3rd and get home on a hit. First time I saw them do that I #1 well got scared, she was leading off right at me as BU. It did make me think about if they were trying to get F6 on OBS, but after the game played on I saw they were all running the bases that way, making the big turn at 3rd....seems wierd to me still but it worked for them scored a bunch of runs that game!!

I think it has calmed down some, and players are starting to just play....IMO anytime a governing body NFHS, ASA, makes something a POE teams try to take advantage of the heightened awareness of that point for a couple of years. IE they are telling umps to really watch OBS so I will help them out by letting them see what they want them to call sort of thing. But It kind of fades off after a while.

[NCASAUmp]

Eventually, these tactics will lead to an INT call when a runner gets too close. I think once coaches start seeing their players get called for INT, this will eventually go away.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Chess Ref

In our area we're starting to see a new coaching trick. I have had happen in my games several times and it happened in a glorified scrimmage yesterday.

The basic premise is for runners to now force the OBS issue. What happened yesterday was little blooper over F6, ball lands, leftfielder picks up the ball, F6 turns back into the infield and the runner is standing there. We have the conclusion of the play. The offensive coach thens wants OBS. Saying F6 impeded the progress of the runner.

I hope I'm being clear with this but it's like the fielders now have to almost play dodgeball with the runners. The runners are actively seeking out the fielders to get an OBS call. So far only the higher end teams are doing it.

Haven't seen it called OBS yet but you know it will be eventually somewhere.

Anyone else seeing this ?

When I first saw the subject line, I thought you were going to tell us the coaches are reading the rule book and learning how the game should be played. Silly me!

What you have described in not obstruction. OBS is when the defender impedes the runner's progress. Running anywhere, but toward a base is not progressing. Just as when a fielder voluntarily stops playing a batted ball to get interference when it is not, a runner going out of their way trying to draw an OBS call that does not exist should not receive the benefit of the rule.

When the coach comes out to argue, simply tell him/her that, in your judgment, the fielder did not impede the runner's progress. When the coach walks away mumbling that "well, the next time we'll just run them over" (and that will happen), remind the coach of the penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

[MGKBLUE]

Agreed with Irish.

I have seen where a runner has changed her basepath when running the bases to draw OBS.

IMO, the change in basepath to draw OBS, is not OBS. This did not make the offensive coach very happy.

I will not penalize the defense for the blatant action of the offense.