Blocking the plate

Question
What constitutes blocking the plate? My daughter catches for her travel team. She was taking the throw when the runner slid into her. Her feet were positioned - left at the 3rd base front corner, right toward first base. She was not in front of the plate except with half of her left foot. The runner never made it to the plate. She finished the slide between her feet. The ball arrived just later than the runner. The umpire called the runner safe saying catcher blocked the plate. Is that the correct call?

Answer
Hi Rick,

yes it is the correct call, you cannot block any base and that's what she was doing, WITHOUT possession of the ball. The runner has the right to free access to the base. About to receive the ball no longer applies in ASA or Fed play.

Mark