Quote:
Originally posted by greymule
Rubbish! ASA's (and most of the other softball org) obstruction rule is just fine and relatively simple to understand.
Just fine?
It's so fine they adjust the rule and/or change the wording every couple of years.
Relatively simple to understand? Relative to what?
"About to receive" meant "ball is between runner and fielder." "Crash" means anything from a bump to an outright flattening, depending on who's umpiring. So simple that a good percentage of these posts involve whether or not OBS should be called in various situations.
So simple that when you pose situations to guys who've umpired ASA for 30 years, they often admit they aren't sure.
It's fine for those of us exalted enough to mind-read what ASA's cryptic rule book means or to pronounce as "rubbish" a mere opinion offered by an experienced umpire. Maybe it's not fine for the rest of us.
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I've never had a problem reading it, understanding it and calling whatever incarnation the rule which was applicable at the time. For those who have had, I don't know what to tell you.
I think it is almost as simple as the IF and agree with AZ. Too many people would rather spend more time trying to find something wrong with it, and trying to convince others that there must be a problem.
Grey, were you ever in the Navy?