The ASA's rules on obstruction prevent players from hindering an opponent's ability to reach base. Without these rules, which the International Softball Association and USSSA have also adopted, defensive players could use nearly any means necessary to get offensive players out.
Definition
Obstruction occurs whenever one player prevents another player from completing an action on the softball field. Obstruction does not necessarily include physical contact; simply getting in another player's way or attempting to trick that player into heading elsewhere on the field count as obstruction.
Batter Obstruction
Catchers and other defensive players cannot prevent the batter from making contact with a pitched ball. When this occurs, a number of different things can happen. If the batter and all other runners still advance at least one base on the play, the play stands and the defensive team does not receive a penalty. If not all of the runners advance, the batting team has a choice of either taking the play as it stands or allowing the batter to reach first base and all other base runners to advance if forced.
Runner Obstruction
Fielding players cannot prevent a base runner from advancing, because this constitutes obstruction. This occurs when the fielder does not have possession of the ball or does not have a potential play on the ball. In these cases, the fielder must make sure that he stays away from the base runners and does not impede their progress. When a defensive player obstructs a runner, the umpire awards the runner the base that he would have reached. A fake-tag, which occurs when the fielder pretends to have the ball to influence a runner to return to a previous base, counts as obstruction. The umpire awards each runner the base that he would have reached in these situations.
Exceptions
If a fielder obstructs a runner's progress, but the runner reaches his intended base anyway, the defensive team can put him out once he leaves that base. Therefore, runners do not receive immunity for the rest of the play, but rather only until they reach their first destination. In addition, once the fielding team attempts to put another runner out, the obstructed player loses his immunity immediately.
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