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Originally posted by Mad4maddux
Is this some weird High School rule?
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As you can tell by now, no it isn't just a weird HS rule.
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If so, how is the defense penalized really?
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They aren't. Obstruction under these rules is an infraction without an penalty.
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They don't have anything to lose by "sneaky" obstruction, and they might actually get away with it and get the out!
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Correct.
Mike's perspective is different from mine. I deal mostly with JO ASA fastpitch, with a little bit of NFHS rules occasionally. In other words, teenage girls and mostly Dad coaches. When I see this kind of defensive behavior, I believe it is almost always coached at this age level.
I deal with it similarly to Mike, except at this age level, I don't bother to warn the coach unless a warning to the player doesn't work. I just inform the player she is commiting obstruction, which is against the rules. They usually stop.
However, it is becoming so common, that I think ASA / NFHS should put more teeth behind the rule. This would perhaps make the penalty "not worth it" to try to slip this stuff by the umpires.