R1 Walking "Steal"
 

I'll try my best to describe a situation that I saw at an ASA tourney 16U. The same team did this 3 times throughout the day.

R1, R3, no outs. After pitch leaves pitcher's hand, R1 begins walking (not running) towards 2B. The pitcher fakes a throw (from inside the circle), batter reverses direction and starts walking back to 1B. Pitcher fakes another throw, R1 reverses again, walking towards 2B. Pitcher finally throws ball, R3 breaks for home and makes it.

I assume this is legal, since F1 continued to "make a play" (fake throw). If, however, F1 had walked directly back to the pitcher's plate without making a play, would R1 have been out since she didn't "immediately" go to 2B? Or, would she be safe since she didn't change directions after F1 returned to circle?

The play does not indicate whether the runner did anything immediately or stop, other than reacting to the pitcher plays. But then your question asks "what if" none of that happened. Besides, on this forum, we use R1 as the lead runner, R2 next, R3 last if there are two others.

The rule: a runner can move in either direction, but once the pitcher has ball in circle (plate or not), the runner must "immediately" go one way or the other and not stop again until reaching the chosen base. If the runner did not change directions after pitcher has ball in circle, not a LBR violation, and can still change direction once or stop once.

Sounds like those ducks at the shooting gallery.