ASUA Webinar Series OBSTRUCTION

Meet ASUA’s Education Co-Chairs: Frankie Billingsley Softball Canada Level 5 Umpire (obtained in 2011) WBSC Certified Umpire (obtained in 2013) Kris Hartley Softball Canada Level 4 Umpire (obtained in 2004)

Agenda Housekeeping Rule Definition Obstruction Mechanic Penalty Enforcement Obstruction Examples Mindset/Philosophy Point of Emphasis Question & Answer Period 30 minute session - 15 Q & A Everyone is muted but, if you have a question - please enter the question into the Chat portion → to Organizers and we will answer the questions later in the

SOFTBALL CANADA Rulebook RULE 8, Section 1 and 7 in the Softball Canada Rulebook All of the following must take place for a pitch to be a legal pitch. The pitcher must immediately deliver the ball to the batter upon making any motion to pitch. The pitcher must only make one revolution on the windmill pitch. However, the pitcher may drop the pitching arm to the side and rear before starting the windmill motion. This allows the arm to legally pass the hip twice. The delivery must be an underhand motion, with the hand below the hip, the wrist not further from the body than the elbow and with no stop or reversal of the forward motion. The release of the ball and follow through of the hand and wrist must be forward and past the straight line of the body. In the act of delivery the ball, the pitcher may take one step with the stepping (non-pivot foot) simultaneously with the release of the ball. The step must be forward towards the the batter and with the 24 inch length of pitcher’s plate. It is not a step if the pitcher slides either foot across the pitcher’s plate, provided contact is maintained with the plate, and there is no movement backwards off the plate. The pivot foot must remain in contact with the pitcher’s plate or push off and drag away from the pitcher’s plate or be airborne prior to the stepping (non-pivot) foot touching the ground. The pitcher may leap from the pitcher’s plate, land and with a continuous motion deliver the ball to the batter. The pivot foot may follow through with the pitcher’s continuous action. All movement of the pitching arm must be continuous as the pitcher steps, pushers or leaps from the pitcher’s plate. The pitcher’s push off to drag, leap or hop must start from the pitcher’s plate. The pitcher must not crow hop or push off from any place other than the pitcher’s plate. The pitcher;’s arm on the release of the ball may follow through, provided the wind-up does not continue. The pitcher must deliver the ball to the batter so as not to deliberately drop, roll or bounce the ball to prevent the batter from hitting it. The pitcher has 20 seconds to release the next pitch after receiving the ball or after the Umpire indicates “play”.

Obstruction Definition Rule 1, Section 62 (SP) and 63 (FP) Is the act of: A defensive player or team member that hinders or prevents the batter from striking or hitting a pitched ball A fielder who impedes the progress of a runner or batter-runner who is legally running the bases while: i) not in possession of the ball; ii) not in the act of fielding a ball; iii) making a fake tag; iv) in possession of the ball and pushes a runner off a base or; v) in possession of the ball but not in the act of making a play on the runner.

Obstruction DEFENSIVE player impeding an OFFENSIVE player (ex - runner) Some Examples: Fielder blocking a base Fielder in the way of the runner (does not have possession of ball, is not making a play on a batted ball) Fielder misplays the ball, goes to retrieve it and obstructs runner

Obstruction - Effect Effect: DELAYED DEAD BALL (wait until the play is over) If runner is SAFE – Obstruction is ignored/nullified If runner is OUT - call “DEAD BALL” and the runner is SAFE. Runner is awarded the base the umpire believes they would have reached if the obstruction had not occurred (judgement call) Runner is at liability to be put out if they pass the base the umpire believes they would have achieved without the obstruction

Explanation of what is & isn’t Obstruction

Obstruction by a fielder

How Long Do We Signal? The Major League Baseball (MLB) is different than Softball Canada. We use the delayed dead ball signal. Make sure that your umpire partners have seen your obstruction signal. The defensive player and the runner/batter will not be looking at you - so it is important that they hear you. If you do not have to “move” anywhere - consider keeping the signal up for people to see until the runner has secured the base that they would have achieved had they not been obstructed.

Obstruction - Pick off Attempt

Obstruction in a Rundown situation

Catcher Obstruction #1

Catcher Obstruction #2

Catcher Obstruction When the Obstruction occurs by the catcher on a runner sliding into home plate, the runner will be declared “SAFE” as they would have achieved home plate had the catcher not blocked their progress illegally.

Catcher Obstructing a Batter Hitting Occurs when the catcher prevents the batter from hitting a pitched ball (typically the bat hits the glove) as batter is swinging Effect: DELAYED DEAD BALL If the batter hits the ball and all runners including the batter advance one base: Catcher obstruction is cancelled/ignored. If all offensive players do NOT advance one base safely : It is an option play 1. Take the result of the play OR 2. The BR gets 1st base, other runners only advance if forced

Catcher Obstructing a Hitter

Mindset/Philosophy We do not go “looking” for these to call, they will happen and when they do - CALL THEM! If we call obstruction when we see it, all the time, we will call it when we need to. Understand, if you are consciously deciding to let obstruction go (because the effect was minimal etc.) you are condoning that behaviour. 2016….advice…. Look for reactions of players, this can assist you, if you are unsure.

Timing of the Call With obstruction, the timing of the call is most effective when it is made when you see it - which is when the infraction occurred. As with all things, there may be a perception of uncertainty, if the timing does not match when the obstruction actually happened. I think there are times when we are processing what we just saw and it takes a few moments. We might think that it is too late to call it, it isn’t. Make the call to let everyone know that you saw it and that you have the call. Better late than never…..the impact can be great…...

Point of Emphasis #2 Officials within the ASUA will make a commitment to call obstruction when they see it as a way to educate, prepare and engage with the rules. We are not doing ourselves or the players any favors by allowing the low impact obstruction calls to go without verbalizing, showing the delayed dead ball signal and making the obstruction call. The two points of emphasis for our ASUA officials are also being used for a number of International crews including those umpires that are working Olympic Qualifiers this summer.

Questions

Next Webinar Monday June 24th, 2019 at 7:00 p.m The Topic will be INTERFERENCE.

Contact Information Kris Hartley Frankie Billingsley (780) 904-4716 587) 581-4450 Email: education@asua.ca