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1. It is not a new rule, it is a changed condition of the rule.
2. Want to talk about confusing? Hell, the "about to receive" was a topic on these type of boards just about every week and it was hard to believe how many people STILL cannot grasp the rule.
3. Any inability to adjust to that condition weighs on the shoulders of coaches who are baseball oriented and haven't the ability to teach their players the proper mechanics of the game.
4. If a player gets hurt today, it is because they do not know how to apply the tag.
5. The penalty is just fine. Even as it is, there are still moron umpires out there taking things into their own hands on THEIR field. That is wrong. Next thing you'll want is an automatic two-out call for interference just to teach those so-and-so what for!
If you want to blame someone for the problems, talk to the parents. Most of them have no problem letting someone else babysit their kids even if it means not learning to play the game properly.
Anyone who fails to understand the conditions of obstruction are trying to outthink the rule or feel some sort of loss of control. I have no problem with it, understanding it, calling it or readily explaining it. And to be quite honest, I think most coaches are more up on it than the umpires.
JMHO,
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The bat issue in softball is as much about liability, insurance and litigation as it is about competition, inflated egos and softball.
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