Sports

College Softball’s ‘Obstruction’ Problem Reaches Fever Pitch With Controversial Call At World Series

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College Softball Obstruction Controversy World Series
ESPN

College softball has an obstruction problem, as we saw with Ole Miss and UCLA at the Women’s College World Series. Fortunately, neither call had an impact on the outcome.

That does not mean the rule should not change.

I don’t know if obstruction in college softball has been called more often during the 2025 season than in years prior or if it is happening more often in big spots but I cannot remember a time where it has been more often discussed. They were at the forefront of the sport’s biggest stage during the first round of games from Oklahoma City on Thursday.

First and foremost, what is obstruction? As per Rule 9.5 of the NCAA softball rulebook, obstruction is when a defensive player inserts themselves into the path of a runner and blocks that player away from attempting to reach that base safely. Continued:

Obstruction occurs when a defensive player, neither in possession of the ball nor in the act of fielding a batted ball, impedes a batter’s attempt to make contact with a pitch or impedes the progress of any runner who is legally running bases on a live ball. It can be intentional or unintentional.

— Rule 9.5 NCAA Softball rulebook

Obstruction can also be called if the defensive player does not have possession the ball, if she:

  1. Blocks any part of the leading edge of first, second or third base or home plate (as defined); or
  2. Otherwise blocks the runner from advancing or returning to a base.

This is where the rule makes sense. Obstruction should be called if a defensive player is actively blocking the base without the ball. The rest of the rule needs to change, as we saw at the Women’s College World Series.

Ole Miss was the first team to be impacted by a controversial ruling. The Rebels were called for obstruction on a pickle play at third base because Ashton Lansdell’s foot apparently blocked the base from the runner. Although I do see her foot in front of the bag, I find it hard to see a world where her foot prevented the runner from reaching base. Especially when the runner slid to the left of third.

UCLA was called for obstruction in a much bigger spot not long thereafter. Oregon tied the game in the top of the seventh inning because of the ruling. Here is how it looked in real time:

Upon further review, the out call was overturned because of obstruction. The Bruins’ catcher apparently prevented the runner from touching the plate. The Ducks were awarded the game-tying run.

Everybody had the same reaction.

I don’t really know what else the catcher is supposed to do. By rule, as it is written and interpreted, she is forced to move her body away from the plate and make the tag across her body. By logic, it is her job to stop the run from scoring. That is what she did. The ball was in her glove. She made the tag.

This would be different if the catcher had not caught the throw prior to the slide. I cannot comprehend how a bang-bang play at the plate can be ruled as obstruction. The rule needs to change. It needs to be reworked to where obstruction is called when the ball has yet to reach the base.

A runner who beats the throw to the base deserves to get that base. If she is physically prevented from reaching the base by a fielder without the ball, obstruction makes sense. If the fielder already has the ball and tags the runner before the runner reaches the base, there should be no obstruction.

Will the NCAA fix the obstruction problem in college softball? Probably not. Will calls like the ones against Ole Miss and UCLA at the Women’s College World Series continue to happen until they impact the outcome? Sure seems that way…