Question for the Experts

See 'b'. But that's what adds all the confusion. The umpire can 'in his judgement', only protect her to second or protect her to third (or home), and be right. He can also call her out for trying to reach third or going back to second, and be right. Either way, somebody is coming out of the dugout and will feel like the ump improperly interpeted the rule. I know over the last coupla years, the associations have tried to emphasize what the umps should look for. Now add into the mix the definition for 'impede'.

 

Fishman,
Yes she would be out in that scenario. Obstruction is a pass to ONE base. Once the runner reaches its over.

 

That's the way to teach it. You cannot teach your girls just to head to the next base when contact occurs because the ump might have missed it and then your runner is out at the next base.