swells9232 wrote:ASA Rules Supplement: 34 J
"While in the circle and in possession of the ball, any act by the pitcher that, in the umpire's judgement, causes the runner to react is considered making a play"
So, by definition it does not have to be an act that would cause the runner to get out, but instead any act that causes the runner to react to the action of the pitcher, in the umpire's infinite wisdom, negates the look back rule. So the location of the arms of the pitcher would not matter, only the reaction in the umpire's judgement.
Impossible, IMO, to name every thing that is or isn't. I teach this as the "reasonable man" theory.
Short version, if any action by the pitcher would/should/could make a reasonable person react, then the runner has the right to react. If the umpire believes any action by the pitcher is solely intended to make the runner react, then the runner has the right to react to that action.
But, if the pitcher did nothing that the runner should react to, then it remains the runner's responsibility under the
LOOKBACK RULE to make one, and only one move immediately on recognition that the pitcher has control of the ball and with both feet in (or partially within) the pitcher's circle.
It may be just me, but I don't know of any rules body that defines a "circle violation". Let's call it what it is, which is a defined term, I believe; calling it a made-up name can often be the cause of made-up interpretations.