NSA / Obstruction

Bandit · #1 (**permalink**) Mon Apr 19, 2004, 07:51am

Does NSA treat interference as a "delayed" dead ball ? Unlike NFS and ASA as a "dead" ball?

Dakota · #2 (**permalink**) Mon Apr 19, 2004, 08:27am

Quote:

Originally posted by Bandit
Does NSA treat interference as a "delayed" dead ball ? Unlike NFS and ASA as a "dead" ball?

I'm confused, Bandit. Your subject line says "obstruction" and your question says "interference."

Interference is a dead ball. Even in NFS.

Bandit · #3 (**permalink**) Mon Apr 19, 2004, 02:13pm

Sorry early morning typo. I was at a NSA tournament this past week-end in Indianapolis as a fan. I am a umpire within ASA and Indiana High Schools. While at this tournament I saw a umpire call a delayed dead ball for obstruction. When the coach asked him why a "delayed" dead ball the umpire stated that NSA does that to allow the defensive team an oppurtunity to turn a double play. I had just never heard of this and was wondering if anyone on the board knew of such a NSA ruling. I could not find it in their online rule book.

Bandit · #4 (**permalink**) Mon Apr 19, 2004, 02:16pm

PS....I know this was a early season tournament and most likely the first tournament for many of the umpires here in Indiana this year.. But I saw LOTS of things about softball and it's rules within NSA that I never knew before this week-end.

Dakota · #5 (**permalink**) Mon Apr 19, 2004, 02:26pm

Obstruction is a delayed dead ball in NSA, as in ASA.

The reasoning given was screwy.

Basically it is a DDB so that the offense is not penalized. Think about it - what is the defense's #2 priority (other than get outs)?

Get the runners to hold at their bases.

If obs was an immediate dead ball, then the defense could bring the baserunning to a halt merely by obstructing the nearest runner.

At least that is how I have always thought about it.