[Az.Ump]

I posted the following question over on the L.L. site.

In FED and ASA there is a rule referred to as the "look back rule". In
breif it requires that when the pitcher has the ball in the cirle and
is
not making a play that runners already advancing or the batter runner
(after reaching 1B) may stop once, but then must immediately advance or
return or be called out. I do not see a similar rule for L.L., although
the Fair Ball comment hints at one. Second in FED and ASA the circle
and
LBR rules do not go into affect if the batter becomes a BR, until the
BR
reaches 1B. If I understand the L.L. rule if we have R3 and BR walks
and
the ball is returned to F1 then R3 must immediately advance and cannot
wait until BR reaches 1B unless a play is made. Is this correct?

Thank you for your consideration,

Paul Baker


The following answer by Kevin Hunter summed up the unanimous response.

The NOTE on 7.08(5) is essentially equivalent to the FED/ASA "look back
rule." Although the wording is different, the intent is the same. You
will not find an explicit "they can reverse directly once" statement,
but that is implied in the phrase "immediately attempt to advance to
the
next base or return..." Essentially, if a runner is advancing and the
ball goes back to the pitcher, the runner may, at that point, decide to
advance or retreat (thus potentially reversing direction) but then has
to stick with that decision unless released by a play or attempted play
by the pitcher. Thus, I believe, the effect and intent is identical.
Certainly, in this area, I believe that it is Little League's intent to
play the same way as FED and ASA.

You are correct in the second half of your statement - Little League's
interpretation and application of the rule is different in this area.
LL's rule binds each runner independently, and does not "wait" until
the
BR reaches first base for other runners. If the catcher returns the
ball to the pitcher before the BR reaches first, R3 becomes subject to
the rule at that point. The BR is allowed somewhat more margin - the
basic "theory," as it has been explained to me, is that the BR is to be
given enough time to look for the ball in the circle *after* having
crossed or passed the bag, and then to make up her mind to advance or
retreat. The "ten feet" in the Fair Ball ruling is, in typical play,
only maybe 3-4 steps, maybe two seconds, which is within a reasonable
interval for a player to react. Granted, in actual play the BR will
frequently already know that the pitcher has the ball before reaching
first, however she's still given that opportunity to advance slightly
past the bag and then reverse.

My basic "style" of applying this rule is a "two second count." When I
see that the pitcher has the ball, "thousand one, thousand two" and
then
I don't want to see a reversal of a runner thereafter. Similarly, I
want the BR committed in about the same interval after crossing first.

To be perfectly frank, I haven't had to call a "reversal" in years, and
can only remember one game in the past 3-4 years where my partner
called
it. (And on that one, it was the base coach's fault - he changed his
mind about 19 times on one play, and confused the poor girl to death.)
Leaving too soon I've called more often - almost always a 12-year-old
who also plays in another "flavor" of softball, and leaves as the
pitcher releases instead of waiting for the ball to reach the batter...

Kevin Hunter
Umpire Consultant
Florida District 9
Fort Myers, FL

Paul