Good call or OBS?

[ajaywill]

NCAA rules set: probably a 'good call' as NCAA still includes, 'about to receive the ball' to benefit the defense.

ASA rule set: probably had to see the play, but if the fielder is not in possession of the ball, and impedes the runner (in any way), it is OBS.

"About to receive" is defined as the ball being closer to the fielder than the runner when the runner is first impeded. Obviously, if there was contact between the runner and the fielder before the fielder had the ball, the runner has been impeded and the ball is not closer to the fielder than the runner is.

This play sounds like obstruction under any rules code I am aware of.

That is what was taught in ASA clinics when 'about to receive' was in the rule set, but I don't see your definition in my NCAA rule book. While what you say is one of the 'rules of thumb', on plays that the ball has never left the infield, 'about to receive' is just that, esp on the OP. I don't see many (if any) D1a blues calling OBS on a throw back from the catcher.

for what it is worth, ASA's attempt to 'vanilla' the rule book changed the way infielders played their positions. I have not seen that change at the NCAA level .....yet.

The definition of "about to receive" comes from the person that wrote the definition, (Emily A).

I'm not a D1 NCAA umpire, but I have called and seen obstruction called on several plays similar to the OP in all levels of NCAA ball.

[MTR]

The definition of "about to receive" comes from the person that wrote the definition, (Emily A).

I'm not a D1 NCAA umpire, but I have called and seen obstruction called on several plays similar to the OP in all levels of NCAA ball.

"About to receive" was defined 20+ years ago as when the thrown ball gets between the runner and the receiving fielder. There used to be a graphic with a dotted arc drawing an imaginary line to demonstrate what was meant and after years of geometrically-challenged umpires just not getting it, I, and assumedly many others just started stating that the ball must reach the defender before the runner for the defender to have a right to the basepath.

I have little to no doubt that EA was involved in bringing this around as a relatively factual definition at some level.

Of course, we will always be fighting the two extreme factions, the umpires with an old-time baseball mentality that, like in NASCAR, believe contact is just part of the game and those who throw out an arm the minute a runner slows down coming around 3B and the catcher is standing 55' away on that side of the plate.