obstruction Fed vs ASA

[Andy]

I'm with Tom and Steve....if the runner was not impeded, there is no obstruction.

Prior to this HS season, I presented a clinic with focus on obstruction and interference. One of the things I stressed about Obstruction was that two things have to happen for obstruction to be ruled.

1. The defender does not have the ball
2. The presence of the defender impedes the baserunner

I have often times seen a defender blocking a base without the ball, but the baserunner keeps heading straight for the base. In most of these plays, the baserunner is not impeded until s/he makes contact with the fielder. Sometimes the fielder has the ball by that time and there is no obstruction.

This interpretation is the same for ASA and FED.