Back Pedaling - Is this a rule?

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Oct 15, 2013
727
63
Seattle, WA
At a tournament yesterday DD hit a deep shot to center that hit the ground just short of the 210ft fence. DD had an easy double, but got greedy and tried to take 3. The ball from the outfield beats arrives at 3rd way before she does and the third baseman reaches out to tag DD as she approaches the base, but DD stops about a yard short of the base and back pedals two steps. The third baseman misses the tag by about two feet, but the field ump, who is standing between the 3rd base bag and the dugout looking right down the baseline to 2nd calls DD out. Our coaches, players and parents go nuts because the tag wasn't even close. DD had retreated towards 2nd, but when the 3rd baseman ran the ball to the circle she went to 3rd; she knows she wasn't tagged and everyone is telling her not to leave the field. The explanation our coaches get from the field ump is DD is out because she back pedaled. Is that really a rule?
 

TMD

Feb 18, 2016
433
43
Any chance that the ump thought the runner went more than 3' outside her chosen base path when she started backpedaling? That's the only thing I can think of that could possible get her called out in this scenario.
 
Oct 15, 2013
727
63
Seattle, WA
Any chance that the ump thought the runner went more than 3' outside her chosen base path when she started backpedaling? That's the only thing I can think of that could possible get her called out in this scenario.

He was very clear that the out was called for back pedaling. Later in the game, between innings one of our parents asked if there really was a rule against back pedaling, saying he had coached for a long time, but had never heard of that rule. The field ump gave stammered a very weak affirmation of the rule then added "and she was out of the baseline too", which was not true. She never left the middle of the base bath going any direction, backwards or forwards.
 
Oct 11, 2018
231
43
The umpire is wrong. It is discussed in great detail here: https://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-rules-questions/15455-running-backwards-avoid-tag.html

Edit: it seems you are asking about backpedaling specifically. I have never heard of such a rule in softball or baseball.

There is a rule about running the bases in reverse order to make a mockery of the game. That certainly wouldn't apply here but could be what your umpire was invoking. But clearly as pointed out above, every pickle would be a violation if enforced like in your situation. Definitely no rule against backpedaling.
 

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