Here is a brain buster....

Basepath is in fair territory last time I checked...

 

So the look back rule only applies when there is more than one base runner on base?

Here's the first paragraph in the ASA Rule Book on the Look Back Rule-

The "Look Back Rule" shall be in effect for all runners when the ball is live and the batter-runner has touched first base or has been declared out, and the pitcher has possession and control of the ball within the pitchers circle.

The book then goes on to describe what the batter-runner must do after touching first depending on what direction she turns.

So does the rule only apply when there are runners on base? But the batter-runner becomes only a runner after she touches first base.

Just sayin........

 

The batter runner... ( key component ) runs through the first base bag,
staying in fair territory. She turns around and starts walking back, in fair territory. Ball has been returned to the circle to the pitcher.

She surveys the infield, and can proceed to 2nd, just like a player would if there had been an overthrow at first base, at her own risk. Play is an extension of the at bat.

If she returns to the 1st base bag, she is now positioned there and subject to the lookback rule. This is the key... she is not subject to the lookback rule, because she has not established possession of a base.
She is " between 1st and 2nd ". She can walk back to first without penalty, or attempt to move to 2nd, subject to penalty if caught.

This play has been in college play books for years. John Tschida,
head coach at St Thomas and a member of the US coaching pool
described it in detail back in January at the Softball at the Beach
weekend... It was under how to take advantage of the "dancing dollies"

It is an opportunity that the player must read...can't be coached, it would be too late.

Has nothing to do with the number of base runners.....applies only to first base, and the play that put the batter runner at first...

 

USC Upstate

Coach Hawkins at Upstate is a master at teaching this move. I have seen his girls do it at least 4-5 times this season. It has to be an instant decision , and fast kids don't hurt either.

 

Great topic and very informative. If the fielders aren't napping, it would be difficult to succeed, but the aggressive baserunners are always looking for advantages.

This is one example that makes softball more fast paced than baseball... no time for napping

 

I get what you are saying but I have a question regarding the ruling that she can run to 2nd after the ball is back in the circle.

First, I always understood that when the Batter/Runner "abandons" any effort to advance and begins to return to 1st base they are NOT liable to be tagged out. Which is what you are describing by the WALKING BACK TO BAG comment.

My question/comment is: If the batter/runner is still able to advance to 2nd even though the ball is in the circle, this would mean that they are still in play to be tagged out. It would seem that if the batter/runner is walking back to the bag in fair territory the defense should automatically make a play to tag her out. This cannot be a situation that leaves the option of "being in play" up to the decision of the batter/runner. She is either in play or not.

Which is it?

 

I would say the basepath from home to first is on either side of the foul line...just my humble opinion...I could be wrong.

 

"basepath" is the chosen line between where a runner is and the base she's heading for.

"baseline" is the straight line (which may be chalked) between two bases.

This is how I read the lookback rule: Once the pitcher has the ball in the circle, the runner may continue to run as far as she thinks is safe, so long as she doesn't stop. Once she stops on a base, she's stuck to it. If off a base, she must instantly choose which direction to go to get to a base and start moving that way. Absent a play by the pitcher, if she stops again (off a base) or changes directions, then she's out.

Fair/foul/baseline/basepath don't matter.

 

When she is walking back to "1st", maybe she is walking back to the baseline to "2nd"...

She is still going forward.......
Once she bolts to 2nd. she has established her baseline.
Think outside the box....... This is legal....

Don't let someone use it against you...
Stop your 2nd baseperson and shortstop from doing the dancing dollies, and play smart, it won't happen to you....

 

I understand the concept and think that it is a good play to talk to players about.
But my question is: What is the status of the batter/runner? Is she, while walking back to the bag, liable for tag out while walking back to 1st base?

If she is not, when does she change her liability, when she breaks for 2nd?