NCAA Rule Changes for 2018

djcarter1966 said:

this actually seems pretty significant from me and will keep slappers closer to the plate and maybe lose half a step...although it is still going to be a straight judgement call since after the second or third inning you cant see the lines anyway it would just seem its a lot harder to argue that no part of her foot was outside the line that her whole foot.

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I don't know that they lose any speed. I just think it makes them more susceptible to the outer half of the plate.

Itsabouttime said:

I don't know that they lose any speed. I just think it makes them more susceptible to the outer half of the plate.

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This is true also guess I was thinking more of towards the front of the box instead of plate side.

djcarter1966 said:

So 9.5 still seems confusing they state: " Obstruction occurs when a defensive player, not in possession of the ball or in the act of fielding a batted ball, impedes a batter's attempt to make contact with a pitch or impedes the progress of any runner who is legally running bases on a live ball." Which would leave you to believe that you can not have obstruction UNLESS the runners progress is impeded....

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So far, so good, looks like the NCAA is coming around to the rest of the softball world and make it easier to play with the knowledge of what you can or cannot do. It would take something really stupid to screw it up now

........but then they go on to clarify "It is obstruction if a defensive player is blocking the whole base/plate or base path without the ball and/or the runner does not have a clear path to the base/plate." Now there is no mention of impeding only lack of a clear path....

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And there it is. Should have just shut the hell up why they were ahead

....then further clarify "4 . In past years, coaches taught their players to block the base, catch the ball and make the tag. Now defensive players must catch the ball, block the base and make the tag."

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This is the same wording used by ASA when they followed NFHS in requiring possession of the ball. The powers that be said they used that language to talk at the coaches and players level and common verbiage even though they knew it could be confusing.