NFHS 8-4-3. . . A runner is entitled to advance without liability to be put out when:
b. a fielder not in possession of the ball or not making an initial play on a batted ball, impedes the progress of a runner or batter-runner who is legally running bases. Obstructed runners are still required to touch all bases in proper order, or they could be called out on a proper live ball appeal by the defensive team. Should an act of interference occur following any obstruction, enforcement of the interference penalty would have precedence.
PENALTY: (Art. 3b) When any obstruction occurs (including a rundown), the umpire will signal a delayed dead ball. The ball will remain live.
a. If the obstructed runner is put out prior to reaching the base that would have been reached had there not been obstruction, a dead ball is called and the obstructed runner and each other runner affected by the obstruction will be awarded the base or bases which would have been reached, in the umpire's judgment, had there not been obstruction. An obstructed runner may not be called out between the two bases where she was obstructed.
c. When a runner, while advancing or returning to a base, is obstructed by a fielder who neither has the ball nor is attempting to make an initial play on a batted ball, or a fielder who fakes a tag without the ball, the obstructed runner and each other runner affected by the obstruction, will be awarded the base or bases which would have been reached, in the umpire's judgment, had there been no obstruction.
Play Example: A runner is obstructed @ 2 base. At the time of obstruction, the umpire holds his arm out to their side and yells obstruction. At this moment, the umpire is protecting this runner either to 2nd, 3rd or home, but no one knows because the play is still on-going (live ball). Once the play has stopped (dead ball), the umpire will make state which base the obstructed runner is awarded to. If the base is 3rd, the runner goes to 3rd. If the base is home, the runner goes to home. Keep in mine, the game is still in dead ball time. Once all players have stopped and the umpires are in their proper spot for the next play, the home plate umpire will call or indicate live ball. Play is now live. This is important, because if any runner did not properly run the bases such as: the 2nd base obstructed runner (sent home by umpire) did not touch 3rd base on the way home, the defense can appeal the runner missing 3rd and the runner would be out. The run also would not count. This appeal can only be made during live ball, not dead ball.
b. a fielder not in possession of the ball or not making an initial play on a batted ball, impedes the progress of a runner or batter-runner who is legally running bases. Obstructed runners are still required to touch all bases in proper order, or they could be called out on a proper live ball appeal by the defensive team. Should an act of interference occur following any obstruction, enforcement of the interference penalty would have precedence.
PENALTY: (Art. 3b) When any obstruction occurs (including a rundown), the umpire will signal a delayed dead ball. The ball will remain live.
a. If the obstructed runner is put out prior to reaching the base that would have been reached had there not been obstruction, a dead ball is called and the obstructed runner and each other runner affected by the obstruction will be awarded the base or bases which would have been reached, in the umpire's judgment, had there not been obstruction. An obstructed runner may not be called out between the two bases where she was obstructed.
c. When a runner, while advancing or returning to a base, is obstructed by a fielder who neither has the ball nor is attempting to make an initial play on a batted ball, or a fielder who fakes a tag without the ball, the obstructed runner and each other runner affected by the obstruction, will be awarded the base or bases which would have been reached, in the umpire's judgment, had there been no obstruction.
Play Example: A runner is obstructed @ 2 base. At the time of obstruction, the umpire holds his arm out to their side and yells obstruction. At this moment, the umpire is protecting this runner either to 2nd, 3rd or home, but no one knows because the play is still on-going (live ball). Once the play has stopped (dead ball), the umpire will make state which base the obstructed runner is awarded to. If the base is 3rd, the runner goes to 3rd. If the base is home, the runner goes to home. Keep in mine, the game is still in dead ball time. Once all players have stopped and the umpires are in their proper spot for the next play, the home plate umpire will call or indicate live ball. Play is now live. This is important, because if any runner did not properly run the bases such as: the 2nd base obstructed runner (sent home by umpire) did not touch 3rd base on the way home, the defense can appeal the runner missing 3rd and the runner would be out. The run also would not count. This appeal can only be made during live ball, not dead ball.