Which of the following is an example of a penalty pass?

A penalty pass occurs when a player is awarded the ball due to an infringement by the opposing team. In the context of netball, obstruction is a violation that happens when a defender is too close to the player with the ball, preventing that player from passing or shooting. The umpire awards a penalty pass to the player who was obstructed, allowing them to take the shot or pass the ball to a teammate without any immediate defensive challenge.

This situation highlights the importance of adhering to the rules of maintaining a certain distance when defending, as it directly impacts gameplay. While stepping, failing to release the ball within the required time, and contact also lead to penalties, they do not specifically result in a penalty pass. Only in cases of obstruction does the offended player receive the opportunity to pass the ball unchallenged, which is why this is the correct example of a penalty pass.