1st Base Obstruction/Interference

Question
My daughter plays 1st base 12U fast pitch.  Is there a rule as to how she has to place her foot on the bag as she is receiving a throw?  The umpire has admonished her about her foot placement saying he will cite her for obstruction/interference.  We teach her to keep her foot at the very edge of the base closest to the fielders, but sometimes in the heat of the battle, she places the foot on top of the bag where I guess it could potentially get tangled up with the runner.  Can she actually be cited for obstruction/interference?  I figure she has as much right to the bag as the runner.  Please clarify.  Thanks.

Answer
Van,

Yes, she can be cited for obstruction or interference. If in the opinion of the umpire the placement of her foot somehow interferes with the running path of the batter/runner. Many times, in order to prevent this, leagues have a double base. There is one base for the 1st baseman and then to the right of the foul line is another orange base. This base is out of play but is were the runner is to step.

These rules are set in place to prevent injury to the both the runner and the fielder.

Hope this helps.

Jesse