Safety Rule: Leaping
High School rules seeks to avoid dangerous actions. When runner leaps, jumps over, or hurdles another player, it is illegal. What is the penalty and are there exceptions?
On a steal of 2nd base, the throw is excellent to 2nd base and caught by the 2nd baseman well before the runner arrives. The 2nd baseman reaches out to tag the runner, but the runner leaps, leaves his feet, and lands on second.
A. What is the call?
B. Is the call different if the 2nd baseman drops to his knees and attempts a tag?
C. What if the 2nd baseman drops to his knees and entirely blocks all access to 2nd base and the runner leaps to try to get to 2nd base?
D. What if the second baseman does not have the ball, but is about to catch the throw from the catcher, and the runner leaps around him?
E. Lastly, what if the second baseman is on his knees in front of the base, the catcher throws the ball back to the pitcher (instead of to second base). The second baseman is clearly obstructing the runner reaching the 2nd base, so the runner leaps over the second baseman to get to 2nd. Which is enforced -- the obstruction by the 2nd baseman or the illegal action by the runner?