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I am looking for feedback to help understand the obstruction law better. Here is the senerio...

The ball is kicked by the attacking team (A) toward the defending team's (D) goal from just past center field. As the ball is rolling toward (but not yet to) the penalty area players from both teams run toward the ball, which is approaching the penalty area but slowing down. Both players and the ball are heading in the same direction - toward the goal.

The defending player "D" arrives at the ball first with the attacking player "A" close behind. D wants her goal keeper to be able to play the ball with her hands in the penalty area so she runs with the ball staying with in playing distance of it, but does not play it. Instead she keeps herself directly behind the ball so she is positioned between the ball and player A. As the ball approaches the goal keeper player D is having to take stutter steps to keep from running past the ball. The ball reaches the goal keeper in the penalty area who picks it up and punts it most of the way back down the field.

Was player D obstructing player A, even though player D had the ability to play the ball at anytime but didn't?

Thanks for your insight,
~Peter

I say no because the defending playing is within playing distance of the ball but if the defending player is using his or her arms to prevent the attacking the player from going around yes then I would say obstruction.
A good example would be to players in the corner with ball and you see the defending player or visa versa shielding the other player from the ball just as long as the ball is within playing distance. the key words would be playing distance and shielding.

As long as the defender is moving in the same plane and direction of the ball, i.e. he or she is not actively moving to one side or the other to block the attacker, I am not going to call obstruction. We cannot require players to run at certain speeds or require them to move from a specific position. As long as the ball is within playing distance or if there is sufficient room for the attacker to go past the defender then I'm letting play continue. If you look at the play ruling in the NFHS book 12.5.1. the implication is that the defender runs in between the attacker and the ball to impede the attacker. I don't think this is what you have cited. If the defender though slows up to where he or she is not able to play the ball anfd then does not let the attcker pass, that would be obstruction.