New college rule for obstruction

SoCal_Dad said:

NCAA rules do call for warnings on some obstruction calls even if there was no unsportsmanlike conduct.

9.5.2.6 A fielder shall not at any time obstruct a runner rounding a base.
9.5.2.7 A fielder shall not at any time obstruct a runner returning to a base.
9.5.2.8 A fielder shall not use force to push a runner off the base she possesses in order to put her out. (See Rule 9.5.4.2 if excessive force is used.)
9.5.2.9 A fielder shall not position herself in the base runner’s line of vision to obviously distract her or intentionally prohibit her from seeing the release of the pitch.
EFFECT—(9.5.2.6 to 9.5.2.9)—Delayed dead ball is signaled. The umpire shall issue a warning to the offending individual and notify her coach. Subsequent violation of the same rule by the same individual shall result in a one-base award to the obstructed base runner and each other base runner forced to advance. The awards shall be to the base beyond the base where obstruction occurred unless the base runner safely advances farther on her own, in which case no award is given.

Same for 9.5.2.11 A fielder shall not position herself in the batter’s line of vision or act in a manner to distract the batter.

Flagrant obstruction results in an ejection without a warning:

9.5.4 Flagrant Player Obstruction.
9.5.4.1 The fielder shall not at any time flagrantly (with excessive force) impede the batter, batter-runner or base runner.
9.5.4.2 The fielder shall not attempt to put out a runner occupying a base by using excessive force to push her off the occupied base.
EFFECT—(9.5.4.1 and 9.5.4.2)—Delayed dead ball is signaled. The appropriate obstruction effect is applied, and in addition, the offender shall be ejected without warning. (Behavioral ejection; see Rule 13.2.1.)

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SoCalASABlue said:

Hope everyone is well...

Just learned (please note SARCASM) that with every obstruction call comes an official warning to the player that caused the obstruction even if there was no unsportsmanlike conduct during the play...DD's college coach told this last week during a game

Happy Softball Season!!

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Ajaywill said:

The rule as posted by SoCal_Dad has been in place in the NCAA book for several years now. Nothing new about it.....

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SoCalASABlue said:

Hey - if it's in the rule book, then it's in the rule book...but in the 20 years I've watched college softball in person and on TV, the scenario I described was the FIRST TIME I've ever seen a player warned for obstruction - which in my admittedly limited experience occurs on damn near EVERY INFIELD GROUND BALL with a runner on base.

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SoCalASABlue said:

Hey - if it's in the rule book, then it's in the rule book...but in the 20 years I've watched college softball in person and on TV, the scenario I described was the FIRST TIME I've ever seen a player warned for obstruction - which in my admittedly limited experience occurs on damn near EVERY INFIELD GROUND BALL with a runner on base.

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