OBS at home - how do you know?

[WestMichiganBlue]

So many of the advanced girls now routinely use the wide/reach-back style slide at home. It appears that they actually run from 3B to a point 3' wide of the plate. (Probably because catchers have been blocking the plate for so many years.)

So how would you know if a runner has been obstructed? Assume that R1 is going home, and F2 is blocking the plate w/o the ball. R1's path is to the foul side of home. R1 is into her slide when F2 catches ball, pivots, and tags R1 just before hand touches plate.

What is your call? OUT? Or Dead Ball, OBS, award home?

How do you know if R1 slid wide because she was obstructed, or if because she automatically does that?

WMB