NFHS Softball
Obstruction - ✔️✔️Obstruction is:
1) the act of a defensive team member which hinders a runner or changes the pattern
of play
2) when a catcher or fielder hinders a batter unless the fielder is in possession of the
ball or making an initial play on a batted ball.
**The act may be intentional or unintentional, physical or verbal
Fair ball touches a runner;
a) Before it touches a fielder
b) After it passes any fielder other than the P and another fielder has a play - ✔️✔️a)
Hit Runner is out
b) Batter awarded 1st base (and a hit)
c) Runners return to base occupied at time of interference
Change (Name/#/Add Sub) to the lineup card after it has been made official -
✔️✔️Penalty:
1st: Warning
2nd: Coach Restricted to bench
Illegal Substitute (Rule 3-4, P. 34 Sect. 4) - ✔️✔️Penalty:
1) Player restricted to bench
2) Art. 1 A & C: If player is on base, at bat, or is the courtesy runner; she is also called
out.
Illegal Defensive Sub (Rule 3-4 Art. 3) - ✔️✔️Penalty:
1) Sub involved with a batted ball=restricted to bench; offense has option of taking result
or accepting penalty (out nullified & Runners return)
2) If another legal pitch is thrown, all play stands and illegal sub is restricted to bench
3) Anytime an illegal sub handles the ball and it does not alter the play/no one is put out;
play stands and illegal sub is restricted.
A coach physically assists a runner during live ball action. (8-6-5) -
✔️✔️Penalty:Runner is out and ball remains live.
Offensive Interference with a fielder attempting to make a play on a batter/runner (3-5
art. 5) - ✔️✔️Penalty:
a) The ball is dead.
b) Runner closest to home is out
c) All runners not out return to last base touched at time of interference
Offensive player interferes with a fair batted ball or foul fly ball (3-5-Art. 6)
Obstruction - ✔️✔️Obstruction is:
1) the act of a defensive team member which hinders a runner or changes the pattern
of play
2) when a catcher or fielder hinders a batter unless the fielder is in possession of the
ball or making an initial play on a batted ball.
**The act may be intentional or unintentional, physical or verbal
Fair ball touches a runner;
a) Before it touches a fielder
b) After it passes any fielder other than the P and another fielder has a play - ✔️✔️a)
Hit Runner is out
b) Batter awarded 1st base (and a hit)
c) Runners return to base occupied at time of interference
Change (Name/#/Add Sub) to the lineup card after it has been made official -
✔️✔️Penalty:
1st: Warning
2nd: Coach Restricted to bench
Illegal Substitute (Rule 3-4, P. 34 Sect. 4) - ✔️✔️Penalty:
1) Player restricted to bench
2) Art. 1 A & C: If player is on base, at bat, or is the courtesy runner; she is also called
out.
Illegal Defensive Sub (Rule 3-4 Art. 3) - ✔️✔️Penalty:
1) Sub involved with a batted ball=restricted to bench; offense has option of taking result
or accepting penalty (out nullified & Runners return)
2) If another legal pitch is thrown, all play stands and illegal sub is restricted to bench
3) Anytime an illegal sub handles the ball and it does not alter the play/no one is put out;
play stands and illegal sub is restricted.
A coach physically assists a runner during live ball action. (8-6-5) -
✔️✔️Penalty:Runner is out and ball remains live.
Offensive Interference with a fielder attempting to make a play on a batter/runner (3-5
art. 5) - ✔️✔️Penalty:
a) The ball is dead.
b) Runner closest to home is out
c) All runners not out return to last base touched at time of interference
Offensive player interferes with a fair batted ball or foul fly ball (3-5-Art. 6)
