What is illegal obstruction?
Contact and safety · Rule 10.24
A player must not actively or deliberately impede an opponent when neither is within three metres of the ball, except for permitted attacking-end jostling. A player not contesting a ball on the water must not actively block someone who is.
How it works
A player must not actively or deliberately impede an opponent when neither is within three metres of the ball, except for permitted attacking-end jostling. A player not contesting a ball on the water must not actively block someone who is. Stationary positioning and the jostling exception need to be distinguished from active obstruction.
In a game
A player paddles across a distant opponent's route when neither is near the ball.
Remember
Stationary positioning and the jostling exception need to be distinguished from active obstruction.