Steve,
In your sitch, a player off a base is not compelled to advance or to return to a base unless you have local rules in place to avoid such tactics.

If the runner refuses to move and the pitcher refuses to make a play on that runner, then call "time" and send the runner back to his previous bag.

If it happens again. Call "Time", send that runner back, call both managers together and tell them stop that posturing in order to keep the game moving. Short of that go to 9.01.d (Unsporting act)

mick

Not that familiar with LL rules, need Rich for that. But I think play is never over until the ball is dead. If the ball is live and the pitcher toes the rubber with catcher and batter in position and the runner is off the base at the time the pitch crosses the plate there are potential penalties, depending on what happens. Pitcher toes the rubber or enters the circle while runners are off their base means nothing. If runners are off their bases, make a play on them or ignore them. It would be a good idea for them to be in contact with their base when the next pitch crosses the plate.

Steve:

You didn't ask a "grass roots" level question. You asked a Little League question. And it isn't a matter of being beneath anyone to answer it; the fact is there are far more Little League umpires and coaches at Eteamz.com than you will find here. Many of them are quite expert with those rules.

At umpire.org, an entire page of the site is dedicated to "small diamond" ball. You might find that helpful as well. That said, some umpires who frequent this board have experience in Little League. (at least one of whom, Rich Fronheiser, also works College ball)

Suggesting that he will find more complete answers (although probably contradictory answers!) at eteamz for LL is fine.

Berating him for sullying this pristine board with inferior LL questions was completely out of line.

You cannot force a runner to return to a base by "rushing" to the mound.

The rule calls for a pitcher and a catcher ready to receive a pitch. Once I have those two elements in place, I'm calling for a batter -- if the runner is still between bases, it's a 7.13 violation and THEN the runner is getting sent back after the pitch (along with all the nasty things that could happen if the ball is actually put into play).

Steve:

I'll second Mick's suggestion about how to handle this. I've also called time with a runner dancing about two steps off third and a catcher holding the ball and staring him down from the plate. Either make a play or get back to playing baseball. If you want to hold a staring contest, do it somewhere else.

Again, just don't call time during continuous action, just when things have become a standoff and no one's really doing anything.