Look back rule on a walk

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Apr 17, 2012
806
18
Wi
Situation girl walks nobody else on when she reaches first she rounds the base about three steps then goes back to first. Field ump called her out. Plate ump overruled. I saw it called both ways this wknd? What's the correct call.
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
Runner may round and stop, but must then immediately either advance to 2nd or return to 1st. (Assuming pitcher has posession of ball in circle and is not making a play on the runner. If the pitcher is making a play the lookback rule is not in effect.)
 

ArkFastpitch

Dont' I know you?
Sep 20, 2013
351
18
Should be a no call here, as long as the runner didn't pause or hesitate in any way at first base before rounding.
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
This rule is always misinterpreted... whenever it happens there is always an umpire somewhere scratching his head while a group of parents scream at him.
 
Jan 20, 2009
69
0
Short version,
At the moment that F3 achieves possession/control of the ball in the circle and is not in the act of making a play:
a.) If the runner is running, she may continue to run as far as she wants, may stop once, and then "immediately" advance to the next base or retreat to the previous base; and may not stop again or change direction
b.) If the runner is not running and not on a base, must "immediately" advance to the next base or retreat to the previous base; and may not stop again or change direction
c.) If the runner is not running and is on a base, she may not leave the base.

The word "immediately" then becomes critical. As it has been mentored to me, it means "about one second". I count one-thousand one, one-thousand DEAD BALL, unless the runner has started moving before the words DEAD BALL can come out of my mouth.
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
This rule is always misinterpreted... whenever it happens there is always an umpire somewhere scratching his head while a group of parents scream at him.

Yeah, they are scratching their head because they are often as uneducated as they believe the umpire is
 

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