So, in your 1st scenario, there will be 2 calls. After PU calls "out" at the plate, BU (probably in shallow C position after following the sole runner around) immediately calls "dead ball". Does he call his partner together to discuss what he has, or make a general announcement, "I have her obstructed rounding 1st, and protected to home"

Both, but I never "have" anything. "Obstruction, (insert some indication of whom caused the OBS), runner awarded ......"

Thank you!

Here's a play I had last night...

ASA Slowpitch. Hit to OF and runners are moving on hit. Trail runner going into 3rd on close tag play. Defense is at bag waiting for throw. I don't have obstruction cuz they aren't in front of bag. Runner slides and defense misses ball and a cluster scramble at base with both players being momentarily tangled up.

Runner sees ball is not caught and tries to get up but defense is hindering that effort. I've now got obstruction. Play continues with a continuous obstruction and the runner eventually get up and is heading for home with defense still contacting him for about 3 feet. Defense, while still tangled up in the obstruction, is going after ball now but trying to go thru runner so they are now bumping each other for another 4 or 5 feet past 3rd....each of them trying to get free of the other.

Any thoughts?

Was the OBS, particularly the final part, before or after 3rd?

OBS, protected between 3rd & home

Protected to home. Award possibly determined

No further thoughts until the play ends or the obstructed runner is tagged out.

So the way I'm reading the runner just ran nonstop around the bases while the defense chased down the ball then threw it home? The defense didn't throw the ball anywhere else around the field which may have allowed the batter-runner to advance?

What I'm getting at is that just because there is a close play somewhere after the runner was obstructed does not mean that OBS was still in play. You sold be able to determine where you are protecting the runner prior to the play at home not basing it on how close the play at home is.

In the many OBS discussions here, it's always been stressed that the award basically has to be determined at the time of the OBS itself. Fortunately I've never had to project out 3 bases for an award. If this situation (OBS runner full bore around the bases and a bang-bang at the plate) I guess we have to judge whether they were going nonstop due to the gapper to the fence or the OBS.

The play was the runner slid into 3rd and ball got away from defense. Both players were tangled up because of the slide and missed ball. Runner got up after struggle with defense and the bumping continued for about 5 to 8 feet between 3rd and home.

Offense argrued obstruction.
Defense argued interference because they were going after the ball.

I ruled obstruction and awarded home because it never stopped and was originally the issue. Was defense going after ball? Yes, but the cluster-tangle seemed mostly about obstructing the runner.....both were trying to get out from each other's way.

"Going after the ball" is irrelevant. The defense has no right of way at all on anything but a batted ball. There's no "seemed mostly about obstructing...". The defense has NO rights here, and 100% liability for not getting in the way of the runner.

That's what I was looking for......defense has no case even if going after ball. Their argument was they were playing on the ball so they had the right and it was interference. While I wasn't sure about it I ruled on what I saw....didn't remember anything in rules about a right to go after a thrown ball, just a batted ball. Thanks guys...

Try this simple checklist.

1) Was a runner hindered or impeded in any way by a defensive player? If yes, then
2) Did the defensive player have possession of the ball? If no, then
3) Was the defensive player in the act of fielding a batted ball? In no, then
4) (NCAA ONLY) Did the ball arrive before the runner (about to receive)? If no, then
5) Did the runner do something specific and obvious that interferes with the fielder? If no, then

THIS IS OBSTRUCTION!!!