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2005 NFHS SOFTBALL OBSTRUCTION INTERPRETATION

SITUATION 1:  B1 grounds to F5 and is approaching first base within the running lane when the throw by F5 pulls F3 to her left. B1 and F3 collide in front of the base before F3 has possession of the ball and both go down. F3 recovers the ball from the ground and tags B1 before she can touch the bag.

RULING 1:  OBSTRUCTION The new rule (2-36; 8-4-3b) makes no differentiation about WHY the fielder is in the path of the runner (intentionally blocking the base/plate or in the path due to a poor throw). It doesn't matter. Hard and fast.....either the fielder has the ball or she doesn't. That was the whole rationale behind the change.  It is not  F3's fault that F5 made a bad throw, but it is not B1's fault either and she should not be impeded on her way to the bag by a fielder who does not have the ball in her possession (and then gets to tag her out because of the impedance).

SITUATION 2: R1 attempts to score from second on a single to the outfield. The throw from F8 draws F2 into the basepath in front of home. R1 doesn't attempt to slide and collides with F2, but the umpire is convinced that R1 did not intentionally or maliciously initiate the contact.  Because of the collision, R1 is knocked away from the base, and then is tagged by F1 who retrieves the ball while backing up the play.

RULING: OBSTRUCTION The runner should not be impeded or hindered from her path by a fielder who does not have the ball in her possession!  It would be unfair for the defensive team to slow a runner down in anyway to gain themselves time to get the ball and then tag the runner out.

REMINDER: Remember, the umpire is only awarding the runner the base (in his/her judgment) that she would have received had there been no obstruction....we're not giving her anything more than she deserves.