OBSTRUCTION is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner.

If a fielder is about to receive a thrown ball and if the ball is in flight directly toward and near enough to the fielder so he must occupy his position to receive the ball he may be considered "in the act of fielding a ball." It is entirely up to the judgment of the umpire as to whether a fielder is in the act of fielding a ball. After a fielder has made an attempt to field a ball and missed, he can no longer be in the "act of fielding" the ball. For example: an infielder dives at a ground ball and the ball passes him and he continues to lie on the ground and delays the progress of the runner, he very likely has obstructed the runner."

A fake tag is considered obstruction.

The fielder may stand in the base path without the ball, IF, the throw is almost to him and he needs to be there to catch the ball. "Almost to him" is a judgment by the umpire. Some say that when a throw is over the infield grass and heading toward the fielder; the fielder is "in the act of fielding" and may stand where he needs to, to catch the ball. However, he may not actually block the base until he has possession of the ball. Until he has possession of the ball he must give the runner some way to get to the base. Obstruction can NEVER be called on a fielder for blocking a base; when he has possession of the ball.

As with interference, obstruction is also a tough judgment call. Contact between the runner and fielder is not necessary to meet the definition. If a runner must slow down or alter his path to avoid a fielder who is not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding, he has been obstructed.

If no play is being made on the runner at the time he is obstructed, the play continues. The tough part comes when the play stops. The umpire will award the runner the base to which the umpire believes he would have reached had he not been obstructed. For example: the batter hits a ball in the gap for what looks like an easy double. No play is being made on him. As he rounds first the fielder is in his path and they collide. The batter stops at first. The umpire will award the runner second base if he believes the runner would have made it there had he not been obstructed.

It does not matter where the obstruction occurs. If a runner is obstructed at first base and the umpire believes he could have made it to third base, he will be awarded third. The umpire must be the judge. If, in the umpire's judgment, a runner is slowed down by one step at first and then is thrown out by five steps at third, the out should stand.

An immediate dead ball obstruction is called when obstruction occurs while a play is being made on the runner. For example: a runner on first is attempting to reach third on a hit. He is obstructed by a fielder between second and third as the throw from the outfield is heading toward third. This is a play on the runner. The umpire should call "time" when the obstruction occurs and award the runner third base. Another example is a run-down play. It does not matter which way the runner is heading. If he is obstructed while being played upon in a run-down, he is awarded at least one base beyond the last base he held.

If a runner is obstructed attempting to get back to first on a pick-off play, the ball is dead and he is awarded second.

If a runner is awarded bases due to obstruction; runners ahead of him are forced to the next base. However, trailing runners are not always given another base when obstruction awards a lead runner another base.

Rule 7.06 covers obstruction. 7.06(a) is when a play is being made and 7.06(b) is when there is no play being made.

Offensive interference is an act by the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, impedes,

hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play. The ball is dead, the runner or batter is out, and any runners return to the last base that was legally touched at the time of the interference.

 

 Catcher's interference occurs when the catcher's mitt touches the batter's bat when attempting to swing. The ball is dead and the batter is awarded first base. Other runners advance if forced. If the batter hits the ball and advances past first base, the interference is ignored.

If a play is being made on a runner at a base, the runner must either slide or avoid contact with the fielder. If the runner does not avoid contact with the fielder, the runner is declared out.

1. The strike zone is the space over home plate which is between the batter's armpits and the top of the knees when the batter assumes a natural stance. The ball only needs to pass through a portion of the zone to be considered a strike. Be liberal with the strike zone. A ball that touches the ground and the batter swings and misses shall be declared a strike.

 

2. A foul ball is a batted ball that settles on foul territory between home and first or home and third,or that bounds past first or third in foul territory, or that first falls in foul territory past first or third, or that touches any person, player, umpire or object in foul territory.

 

3. A foul tip is a batted ball that goes sharp and direct from the bat to the catcher’s hands and is legally caught. It is not a foul tip unless caught and any foul tip that is caught is a strike, and the ball is in play. It is a not a catch if it is a rebound, unless the ball has first touched the catcher’s glove or hand. A foul tip can only be caught by the catcher.

 

4. A batter who is hit by a pitch is awarded first base. The umpire should yell out, "dead ball." The batter must make some attempt to avoid the pitch. The pitch must not be in the strike zone or it is a strike. If the pitch touches the ground first and then hits the batter, the batter is awarded first base. Please note: a batter’s hand is not part of the bat but the same as getting hit anywhere else.  A batter who is hit by a pitch while swinging is not awarded first base. The pitch is ruled a strike and the ball is dead.

 

5. The bat must come through the hitting zone (cross the plate) to be considered a swing.

 

6. Offensive interference is an act by the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play. The ball is dead, the runner or batter is out, and any runners return to the last base that was legally touched at the time of the interference.

 

7. Catcher's interference occurs when the catcher's mitt touches the batter's bat when attempting to swing. The ball is dead and the batter is awarded first base. Other runners advance if forced. If the batter hits the ball and advances past first base, the interference is ignored.

 

8. Obstruction is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball, impedes the progress of any runner. It does not have to be an intentional act. A fake tag is considered obstruction. The runner must have a reasonable chance of advancing for obstruction to be called. Obstruction shall be called on a defensive player who blocks off a base, baseline, or home plate from a base runner while not in possession of the ball. This is often a delayed dead ball situation and bases are not awarded until after the play is over. If the runners advance prior to the play finishing, the call is waved off. The umpire should give the obstruction sign.

 

9. If a play is being made on a runner at a base, the runner must either slide or avoid contact with the fielder. If the runner does not avoid contact with the fielder, the runner is declared out.

 

10. A batter who hits the ball with one or both feet on the ground entirely outside the batter’s box shall be declared out and the ball is dead.

 

11. A batter or a runner who is hit by a batted ball in fair territory shall be declared out and the ball is dead. All runners return to their bases. If the batted ball has already passed an infielder other than the pitcher or catcher, the call is not made.

 

12. If, while the ball is alive, two runners are touching the same base, the following runner shall be out when tagged.

 

13. Awarding bases:

Two bases, if a fair ball bounces or is deflected into the stands or goes under or through a fence.  Two bases, when a thrown ball goes into dead ball territory. The award is made from the time of the throw.  One base, when a pitched ball goes into dead ball territory.

 

14. A runner is declared out when running more than three feet away from a direct line between bases (explain how this line may change) to avoid being tagged, unless such action is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball.

 

15. Appeal plays:

A. can be made for a missed base or failure to tag up after a fly out.

B. must be clearly intended as an appeal by a verbal request by a player.

C. must be made during a live ball situation.

D. only one appeal shall be attempted on the same runner at the same base.