Thread: When does the look back rule take effect?

Wow! Thanks for the quick reply, comp! Much appreciated. Glad to know I can properly interpret a USSSA rule.

Hello everyone,

I don't mean to resurrect an old thread - but I have a question about this rule when it comes to ASA. I am the assistant coach for a 14U girls softball team and this rule can be confusing at times. Here's a scenario that I see a lot.

Runner rounds 2nd base and stops - Pitcher has control of the ball in the circle. Runner then "hops" two or three times toward 3rd base before returning to 2nd base. It's easy to see what the runner is doing - they are taunting the pitcher to try and throw the ball to 2nd base and the runner has plans to run to 3rd... but the runner stops once, and then even after the pitcher has control, does the hop toward 3rd, but then returns to 2nd. My belief is that the runner is out.

Thoughts?

If they stop with ball in the circle. Advance toward 3rd. Then return to 2nd w/o P making any attempt or fake then yes you are correct, they should be out under LBR as I understand it. Once they stop they need to "immediately advnce to the next base or return to the base they came from". The definition of just how long "immediate" is seems to be up for debate.

Originally Posted by Sweet Lou

If they stop with ball in the circle. Advance toward 3rd. Then return to 2nd w/o P making any attempt or fake then yes you are correct, they should be out under LBR as I understand it. Once they stop they need to "immediately advnce to the next base or return to the base they came from". The definition of just how long "immediate" is seems to be up for debate.

Thanks for the quick reply. That is how I interpreted the rule as well.

I would have to know if there was a batter/runner on her way to first, in this scenario, before ruling.

Can you tell me what the difference would be if there was and was not a runner on her way to first base?

Originally Posted by pete

Can you tell me what the difference would be if there was and was not a runner on her way to first base?

On a walk, the LBR does not take effect until the pitcher has the ball in the circle and the batter/runner has reached 1st base.

To try and further clarify, (hopefully not muddy the water any worse) you can also be dealing with timing issues with regard to the LBR. After the pitcher has the ball in the circle, the runners have 1 stop and reversal of direction. So, if a runner were off base and moving back toward a base when the pitcher received the ball in the circle, that runner still has a stop and reversal of direction.

Originally Posted by Comp

On a walk, the LBR does not take effect until the pitcher has the ball in the circle and the batter/runner has reached 1st base.

To try and further clarify, (hopefully not muddy the water any worse) you can also be dealing with timing issues with regard to the LBR. After the pitcher has the ball in the circle, the runners have 1 stop and reversal of direction. So, if a runner were off base and moving back toward a base when the pitcher received the ball in the circle, that runner still has a stop and reversal of direction.

Thanks for the info... It seems like the more I learn about this rule, the more confusing it gets.