Another LBR question

[black&blue]

My DD is not exactly fleet of foot. She plays 10U. I've tried to teach her that if she's dead in the water on the bases, turn and run back instead of running right into a tag. I figure her chances are pretty good in a 10U rundown.

Is there ever a situation where the LBR would prevent her from turning around and going back to the previous base? Just as an example, runner on 3rd and DD walks. Coach sends her straight to 2nd. Pitcher bites and throws to 2nd. DD stops and turns around instead of running into the tag. Can she do this?

Is there any other scenario that the LBR would come into play if she runs back? She doesn't do much dancing off the bases, she's not fooling anyone.

We're hoping when she grows into her huge feet, maybe she'll get a little faster

[Martin]

In the scenario you describe, your DD is fine.

Once the pitcher has the ball in the circle, any runner off base must choose a direction and continue moving in that direction until the pitcher throws the ball or feints a throw. At that point, the runner may change directions.

[wadeintothem]

LBR doesnt apply when the pitcher doesnt have the ball or is making a play on a runner.

"dancing" off the bag.. if the pitcher has the ball in the circle and isnt making a play.. probably gonna get rung up in pretty short order.

[Judd]

Wade, if the pitcher is on the rubber and has the ball, can the batter who was just walked keep running through 1st and go to second? She never stopped. The emphasis being that the pitcher was on the rubber. One mom said this may be considered leaving the base early.

[Bretman]

When the Look Back Rule is in effect (and the pitcher need only have the ball in the circle, not on the pitcher's plate), rounding first and continuing to second is perfectly legal.

Some leagues *might* restrict this move in their youngest age groups, but that would be a local rule adopted by the league, not a standard softball rule.

The restrictions on runners when the LBR is in effect are:

- If stopped on a base, she may not leave it. If she does, she is out.

- If between bases, she may stop one time, then must "immediately" either advance to the next base or retreat to the previous one. She may not stop a second time or reverse direction a second time. If she does, she is out.

The "immediately" part of the rule is strictly umpire judgment. Most umpires that know what they're doing will give a silent count of "one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two"- just enough time for the runner to assess the location of the ball and make her move one way or the other. If the runner stands stationary, off the base, for a prolonged period she should be called out.

[wadeintothem]

Wade, if the pitcher is on the rubber and has the ball, can the batter who was just walked keep running through 1st and go to second? She never stopped. The emphasis being that the pitcher was on the rubber. One mom said this may be considered leaving the base early.

LBR is put into effect by the pitcher having the ball in the circle. The rubber has no additional significance.

The runner can round first and stop, then immediately go to 2nd (or back to first).
The runner can go all the way to second.
The runner can overrun first, then proceed immediately to 2nd.

The runner cannot stop at 1st then take off to 2nd
The runner cannot overrun first, turn around & move towards 1b (which is considered committing to 1b), then take off to 2nd.
The runner cannot overrun first, turn right, the take off to 2nd.

[Judd]

OK. I understand the rest, we thought her being on the rubber had some different significance.

Thanks for helping clarifying.