NFHS Officials Quarterly mistake on Obstruction
 

Did anyone read the softball article on page 30 of the Spring 2009 magazine? Look at the part of the article that talks about obstruction. It talks about the two situations that must occur to meet the definition of obstruction. #1 second part says "The defensive player does not have possession of, nor is in the defined process of, receiving the ball for a play on the runner" What is a college rule doing in a NFHS magazine? Dave

ShipWreck:

Answer: The author of the article has been an NCAA Fastpitch Softball umpire for the last twenty (20) years.

MTD, Sr.

Yep, my issue came yesterday and that jumped out at me when I read it!

There's an interesting tip in the baseball article, too. The author recommends NEVER going to an umpire in the "A" position for a check swing appeal on a left-handed batter, unless (quote) your vision is blocked because the catcher stood up...and everyone in the stadium is yelling that the batter swung (unquote).

I wonder what else I should go for help on?.... if my vision is blocked and EVERYONE is yelling!.... sucks to be short :)

My favorite part of getting this publication every year is looking at all of the mistakes in the articles and pictures.

Base umpires with watches on, during the pre-game, or still wearing their sunglasses. A few years back there was a picture with an umpire holding a player's helmet while a coach attends to her for an injury ( my presumption from the content of the picture.) It is amazing to me that a national organization like NFHS cannot afford to hire an editor.

MTD, Jr. It shouldn't matter even if she had been umpiring college ball for 40 years. Those of us who umpire using different rulesets are required to know what rulesets we are using and enforce the correct rulings. This happens on the field, where many times a decision needs to be rendered quickly. She had the advantage of being behind a computer when she wrote this. It should have dawned on her that it was incorrect. Dave

I agree with this. If the author is writing an article for NFHS officials, it should be using NFHS interpretations and rules. If the NFHS merely copied an article the author wrote for another publication, then the NFHS quarterly editors are at fault. In general, I've never been impressed with the rules-based articles in the NFHS (née Referee) magazines.

Might even double as rule book editor. :p :rolleyes:

My post was one of scarasm. :D

I agree with you 100%. I officiate boys'/girls' H.S. basketball (NFHS Rules), men's college basketball (NCAA Men's Rules), and women's college basketball (NCAA Women's Rules), as well as having been an USA Basketball Referee (FIBA Rules) and have been a basketball rules interpreter. I also umpire girls' H.S. fastpitch softball (NFHS Rules) as well as fastpitch softball using ASA and USSSA rules.

It was just poor writing on her part and poor editing by the NFHS.

MTD, Sr.

Mark, I knew it was sarcasm. It just drives me crazy seeing things like this. Dave

Is that why your nickname is LindaBlair? :eek: ;) :D

Linda Blair, the actress from Excorcism? I can't twist my head around 360 degrees even though my sons think I can. But don't forget, I am a sports official, meaning I am blind in one eye and can't see out of the other one.

MTD, Sr.