- Apr 19, 2011
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Once the ball is back in the circle from catcher, does the baserunner on have to committ to advance the next base, back to original base, or can she stop in the baseline and bait the pitcher into a throw?
Once the ball is back in the circle from catcher, does the baserunner on have to committ to advance the next base, back to original base, or can she stop in the baseline and bait the pitcher into a throw?
At least in the rules we play by, once the ball is back in the circle, and as long as the pitcher isn't making a play on another runner, a runner who's off the bag either has to immediately try advance to the next bag or return to the base she's leading off from.
Stopping and trying to bait the pitcher would lead to her being called out (and I've seen it called).
P.S. Runners who take a second base on a walk get around this rule by not stopping at first base. If they hesitate and/or stop as they round first base, and the pitcher has the ball in the circle, then they can be called out.
The runner must commit one way or the other. She cannot remained stopped
2008: If a base runner attempts to advance to the next base
while the pitcher has possession of the ball in the
pitcher’s circle, she must continue to the next base. Any
attempt to retreat back to the previous base (without
pitcher attempting to make a play on the base runner)
will result in the base runner being called out. This is
called “hesitation” or “look back” rule. (The base
runner can turn the corner and immediately look for the
ball. This is not an attempt to advance to the next base.)
I just looked at that . . . to call that rule book "half-assed" is an insult to all the half-asses in the world.USFA strikes again...
They have the absolute worst rule book in the business, full of half-assed interpretations that bear little resemblence to the rest of the softball world.
Dudes . . . which is it?Base Path: The path between the bases. 3ft on both sides of the bag that run parallel from the base pad and
centerline. Base runner’s position also establishes base path.
Dudes . . . which is it?
USFA strikes again...
They have the absolute worst rule book in the business, full of half-assed interpretations that bear little resemblence to the rest of the softball world. If you've been around awhile, you might remember their first few rule books that were little more than a one-page handout and included such gems as "The hands ARE part of the bat".
But they cover it all with this disclaimer:
These are the basic playing rules adapted by the United States Fastpitch Association. We will not mention the very basics, which are universal. Balls, strikes, outs, foul ball, fair ball, defensive interference, offensive interference, home run, triple, double, single, walk, strike out, etc. These are some of the fundamental parts of the game that have been a part of the game since it was invented. Any organization that changes these rules is changing the foundation of the game.
Just don't mention it...then leave it up to the umpires, players and coaches to figure it out. And by the way, their above quoted version of the "look back rule" is a fundamental change to how it's called in all the major associations, so I guess they're just fine with "changing the foundation of the game".