[greymule]

Of course there is no 1/3-of-the-way rule, but some rec leagues institute similar rules to hold down the chaos. That ump probably thought that somebody's house rule was an actual book rule.

For example, some leagues (usually 10-and-under or below) play that once the pitcher gets the ball in the circle, runners who are not halfway to the next base must go back. Anyone who has ever umpired such games knows that most rec players that age run station to station anyway, so the house rule clamps the lid on overzealous coaches eager to exploit the fact that at some levels, if you hit a ground ball and keep running, you'll probably score.