Pony Look back Rule ??

[justwannaplay]

Hello

Looking for some help on the look back rule ? We had two runners in different innings reach first base and turn towards second base at least 2ft from bag and our pitcher was in in the circle with ball and then the runner went back to first base. Should the runner be called out ? Was she now committed to go to second base if second base was not occupied?

Can someone provide some clarification on this rule ?

Thanks JWP

 

[BretMan]

What you describe sounds like perfectly legal baserunning.

A runner may round a base, then stop one time. After stopping, the runner must immediately either advance to the next base or retreat to the previous one, without stopping or reversing direction a second time.

The only time a runner would be "committed" to advance to the next base (and, by the way, it doesn't matter if the next base is occupied or not, as that is not part of the rule) would be if she rounded the base, stopped, then began advancing toward the next base.

 

[rowdy]

The spirit of this rule is when a runner is between bases and the ball is returned to the pitching circle the runner must make their mind up immediately which direction they are going to pursue. The problem you usually have is you only have two umpires and they can't watch everything. If a girl dances around between bases then she will be called out but what you are describing will never be a called a violation of the look back rule.

 

[honus14]

The spirit of this rule is when a runner is between bases and the ball is returned to the pitching circle the runner must make their mind up immediately which direction they are going to pursue.

That's not exactly right. BretMan posted the correct rule (of course); the runner can keep going as long as she wants, but when she stops, then she has to decide immediately which way she wants to go. (If she stops ON a base when the LBR is in effect, she's stuck there.)