ASA Softball Rule
 

Okay guys, I've umpired college and high school baseball for years. Now playing ASA Senior Softball and need help on a rule. Can't find it in rule book, but it may be in a case book. In baseball there is a thing called the "initial play" rule as involves obstruction and interference. Basically, a fielder has the initial chance to field a ball without being interfered with by a runner. However, should he boot the ball and have to go after it, he is no longer protected from an interference call and may be called for obstruction of the runner should his chasing down his booted ball take him into the path of the runner advancing to next base. Well, I can't find anything that mentions this rule in the ASA Softball Rules Book. Need some help on this one as it seems to be a regular occurrence with us concrete handed geezers in the over 50 league.

The rule you're looking for is 8-7-J(4).

On a deflected batted ball, the runner would be out for interference only if: a) the interference is intentional, and; b) the defender still has a chance to make an out with the deflected ball.

Is there a rule that applies to the fielder running into the runner after he has booted the ball and has no chance to make a play. In baseball that is obstruction.

The definition of OBS should cover it. Your fielder who has booted a ball and has no chance to make a play is no longer "in the act of fielding a batted ball."

My guess is you are going to see far more "non-contact" OBS in softball than you did in baseball.

ASA does not have a rule to determine how long a fielder is still attempting to field a batted ball. It is umpire judgment. However, a long accepted "rule of thumb" is to allow the fielder a "step and a reach." Within that space, the fielder is still protected from interference. Beyond that - obstruction.

NFHS codified "step 'n reach" into it new initial play rule in 2007, along with a rule to cover a deflected ball (secondary fielder is not protected from interference when trying to field a deflected ball, unless ball deflects off F1, or is continuously in flight).

WMB

I have no problem using the rule quoted by BretMan to cover a play in ASA. The rule specifically notes "any" defensive player. If a batted ball is touched by any defensive player and in the umpire's judgment a runner intentionally interferes with any defensive player which still has the opportunity to make an out, it is interference.

Please note that the retention of the requirement of intent on the runner's behalf makes this quite an easy rule to apply. Of course, someone is going to argue that the player deflecting the ball is exempted from this rule, but I cannot find any evidence to support such a claim.