catchers blocking home plate

Question
I have read the answer that was given to Ken but is still a little unclear for me!  My daughter is a catcher and need to know the exact rule on blocking the plate according to ASA.  She was taught to spread her legs (one foot in front and one in back of plate) leaving a path for the runner to slide in between her legs.  Once the ball hits her glove she goes down to block and tag(remember never until the ball is in her glove!).  Just before nationals this year an umpire called the runner safe (who didn't attempt to slide) because she "blocked the plate".  Now we are getting conflicting stories that the catcher must stay in front of the plate until she has possesion and it is still unexplained whether she can block at all, we are being told that she must "sweep" the runner coming into home.  This sounds unsafe for the runner and catcher-got any answers for me!!!

Answer
Hi Denise,

Let's talk about obstructon first..obstruction is the act of a fielder not in possession of the ball which impedes the progress of a runner legally running the bases.  "If a defensive player is blocking the base w/out the ball that is impeding the progress of the runner and is obstruction."  POE 36

Let's now talk about what your daughter was taught (it was ok under the old rules but not the recent ones).  First of all a runner is under no obligation to slide.  Your daughter's physical presence straddling the plate w/out the ball as a runner is close to home is IMO impeding the runner and is obstruction.  I understand you do not believe she is blocking the base until she has the ball in her glove, but as an umpire I see it as she is blocking the base with her body and impeding the runner.

Now we don't want this to happen at all but it also puts her at risk of collision with the runner.  A runner cannot crash into a defensive player who has the ball, but in your case she doesn't have the ball yet and the runner has a right to the base.  Should the runner remain upright and collide with your daughter who doesn't have the ball (even if she was about to receive it) we would have obstruction not interference.

As I stated in the previous answer...it is no longer block the base, get the ball, it is get the ball, block the base.

Obstruction is a judgement call by the umpire but in my opinion most experienced umpires are going to call it as I described, especially as her class of ball goes up.

I'm an umpire not a coach and I don't care where the catcher is (front, back, off to the side, etc.) as long as they are not impeding the runner. You should follow up your question on catcher's positioning and tecniques under the recent rules to Larry A on this forum.  I respect his coaching knowledge.

Mark