Couple of questions about "look back" rule

OK..it looks like a baserunner can stop 1 time and go either direction afterwards if she was moving when the ball entered the circle. If she is stopped when it enters the circle she must go one direction or the other and a subsequent change of direction or stop would be a penalty.

My questions are:

1. With a runner third only the pitcher walks a batter. The ball is returned quickly to the pitcher in the circle (before the runner reaches 1st base)...does the runner at third have to go back to third or go toward home before the runner reaches first? Can she stay off the bag until the runner touches first and then have to make a decision?

2. In order for the ball in the circle to be considered such does the pitcher have to be the one with the ball? If a third baseman has the ball in the circle is it considered to be a 'ball in the circle" and the look back rule is in effect?

 

Look-Back Rule
SECTION 18. a. The look-back rule is in effect when the ball is live, the
batter-runner has touched first base, there are one or more runners,
the pitcher has possession (that is, holds the ball in her hand or gloved
hand) and control of the ball within the pitcher’s circle. The pitcher is
considered to be in the pitcher’s circle when both her feet are within
the lines.
b. When a runner is legally off her base after a pitch or as a result of a batter
completing her turn at bat, and she is in motion as the pitcher takes
possession of the ball within the pitcher’s circle, the runner may continue
moving forward in the direction she is going without stopping; or she
may immediately and directly go back in the other direction. If the runner
is stopped as the pitcher takes possession of the ball within the
pitcher’s circle, the runner must immediately and directly go forward or
back. A base on balls or a dropped third strike is treated as a base hit as
long as the batter-runner continues past first base.
c. Once the runner has determined a direction, she may not reverse direction
unless the pitcher:
1. Throws the ball from within the pitcher’s circle.
2. Carries the ball outside the pitcher’s circle.
3. Has one foot completely outside the pitcher’s circle, on the ground,
and is in possession of the ball.
4. Sets the ball on the ground or no longer has the ball in her hand or
gloved hand.
5. Loses possession of the ball, including handing it to another player.
6. Makes a play on the runner or another runner.
Note: When the pitcher’s circle is not visible, the umpire must use good judgement.
d. The pitcher is considered to have made a play if:
RULE 12-17/BASE RUNNING
164
1. She fakes a throw.
Note: Raising the throwing arm into throwing position is considered a fake
throw regardless of whether the pitcher’s arm moves forward.
2. She makes any aggressive body movement toward the base runner
(e.g., steps toward the runner, head and body fakes toward the runner).
e. There is no obligation on the part of the pitcher to look, fake or throw in
order to force the runner to comply with the look-back rule. The obligation
to comply rests solely with the runner.
f. When the pitcher takes possession of the ball within the pitcher’s circle:
1. A runner standing off her base must immediately return to the base
she last occupied or advance to the next base.
2. A runner who starts back to the base she last occupied or starts forward
toward the next base shall not stop or reverse direction.
3. The batter-runner may not step off any base after stopping at it.
4. The batter-runner, after overrunning first base, may not retouch the
base and advance toward second 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.
EFFECT (1)-(5)—The ball is dead, the offending runner is out, and each
other runner must return to the last base legally touched at
the time of the infraction. If two runners are off base and
both runners are called out, the umpires must determine
which runner was called out first as it is not possible to
obtain more than one out under the look-back rule. The ball
is dead when the first runner is called out, and the other
runner must return to the base last touched at the time of the
infraction.​

1. see red high lighted area
2. see green high lighted area ( PITCHER is the KEY Word )

 

Thanks Charlie, but I have been told by other coaches and some umpires that until the runner touches first base the runner at third can do anything she wants....What is your interpretation?

 

Look Back Rule is NOT in effect until batter/runner touches first base or has been declared out. Once the above has occurred, and the pitcher has control of the ball in the circle and not making a play on the runner, the runner at third should immediately commit to home or back to third or she should be called out

 

Thanks BMAC..I was hoping this was not the case, but I thought it was.

 

Thats what the rule sez...

See green highlited area...

 

Yes, since I looked at it closely is does state it that way..my bad. I do not agree with the rule, but will have to live with it.

 

walk that slow path

so the "walked" batter could actually walk very slowly to 1st base and the runner on 3rd could jockey back and forth off the base in either direction if they chose to. probably wouldn't accomplish a lot, though.

 

yes...

that's why they call it a walk...............