High School Obstruction ??

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Palmer

It seems that most all the high school (varsity) teams we are playing have their baserunners on first base leading off or getting a big jump on stealing even before the ball is pitched. And,very seldom does the base umpire ever put themselves out on a limb and call it...

As Mike said, ASSUMING they are actually leaving the base early, not just in motion, the umpires should be calling it and if it is that common, might not be actually leaving early. The runner's body in motion or one foot stepping is not leaving early. The runner has to have lost contact with the base while the pitcher still has contact with the ball to be a violation.

About the OBS. If the fielder is hindering a runner's legal progress (runner's body in motion or one foot stepping) by the positioning you describe, then it is likely OBS.