Here is a brain buster....

...better know the Umpire!!!

At the high school level the rule book is no better than the guy who's using it. Before you attempt this play or any other that can be interpreted more than one way, you better know that the guys in blue are qualified to make the call. I would never attempt this with some of the umps that call our games.

 

A pre game chat would be appropriate...

 

Hey Coach...

...they don't get to the park early enough to go over "everything"!!! LOL

 

Charlie-

In the ASA rulebook on page 86 under the look back rule section it is specific about what the batter/runner must do depending on the direction she turns. I have always agreed with the way you see it, but the differences in ASA and NCAA were pointed out to me recently. Am I missing something on this?

I agree, we don't teach our runners to turn right after touching first. Just break down quickly, glance to the right for a possible over throw, then turn left (to see the ss, 2b and find the ball) without making an an attempt towards second unless she is going to that base.

 

>>5. The batter-runner, after overrunning first base, must immediately
return non-stop to first base or, if she does not retouch first base, she
must make an attempt to advance to second. If after passing the base,
the runner is heading back toward first within the basepath extended,
she may make a decision to go to either base. However, stepping
beyond the extended basepath in foul territory commits the runner
to first base while stepping beyond the basepath toward the second
base side commits the runner to second base.<<

According to the above statement is doesn't matter which way they turn...they can turn either way as long as they stay in the basepath. I assume this is the NCAA rule book. Seems real simple to tell your fielders to stay put until the runner retouches 1st base. Although I do not recall telling players this...I will from now on!

 

Seen it Done

While my DD was at UNCG this was done several times in the season,the key was not to return to first base and catch the infield sleeping.No one was ever called out or sent back probably due to the field ump keeping an eye on the runner until she either goes back to the bag or not.Just tell defense not to be in a hurry to run ball to circle.Remember ball in circle doesn't mean anything until pitcher takes possession.

 

It does not matter which way... you just have to stay in fair territory.
We teach to turn left, because most of them cross the foul line when
they turn right...

 

Ben, your right in respect to the lookback rule...

but the lookback rule does not apply in this case, because you are allowed
to over run the 1st base bag... that's the kick.. This has nothing to do with the look back rule.

turning to the left, and walking slowly back to the infield...
you are not committed to 1st, until you touch it a 2nd time....
Walking back up the baseline, reading the infielders, and breaking for 2nd is legal.

 

I don't see where it says you have to stay in fair territory...just in the basepath.

 

This Board Rocks!!!!

This is a great board! I love learning all of the little ins, outs, and 'tricks' (it is really good coaching) that are talked about.

Unfortunately, I coach at the middle school level and cannot teach this. We have to teach our girls to peel off to the right for a few reasons...

1) The umpires we get at the middle school level are usually the brand new ones who know less about the rules than some of the coaches. As CougarCoach said, the umps don't get there early enough to talk to them. In our games, they show up, inspect the equipment, call the coaches and captains to home plate and then start the game. I have also found that it does no good to argue with them. When we have questionable calls, we let them know that we think they made the wrong call and then try to talk to them after the game but most of the time they are gone before we wrap up our post game team meeting.

2) Most of the girls at this level have not played any higher softball like TB (many of them are just athletes who have never played softball before) so they panic in these kinds of situations. We actually tell our first basewoman that if she sees them turn to the left, run at her and tag her. You would be amazed how many times the runner panics when she sees the girl running at her and tries to take off to second and gets tagged out (another cool 'trick').

3) I have had umpires call our girls out just for turning left even though they didn't make an 'aggressive move' to second.

4) There just isn't enough time to teach every little thing in a 2 1/2 month season where you only practice 2 hours a day and have games in between that you have to prepare for.

Having said that, I will certainly try to teach this from now on especially if I ever coach travel or HS ball again.