Look Back Rule? I don't know what happened.

[quincy]

Now that I'm seeing this thread, I realize I haven't seen this called in a few years for my DD. Guess the girls have finally learned something.

It had to be pretty aggress for it to be called in DD's games. Only saw it called 3 times I think, all against us.

 

[marriard]

Now that I'm seeing this thread, I realize I haven't seen this called in a few years for my DD. Guess the girls have finally learned something.

Yeah, I call it perhaps 1-3 times a year generally in 10U or young 12U.

 

[MDCrab]

Marriard nailed it. None of the other stuff matters.

I really like to remember it this way, and it might help in the future

“The look back rule is in effect when the batter runner has reached first base and the pitcher has the ball in the circle”

The look back rule is like a light switch. It can be switched on and off. For example, “an attempt”, by the pitcher with the ball in the circle temporarily shuts off the look back rule. That’s a thing that an umpire has to decide…

Also remember, the runner has to advance or return. It doesn’t say how fast they have to advance or return, it just says the have to do it.

It does say how fast. NFHS and USSSA says immediately. But they have to stop first. Then the decision must be immediate. A runner may stop once while pitcher has ball in circle . Then they must immediately go one or the other. Without altering direction, unless the pitcher makes a play on someone


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[Greatdaytobeawildcat]

It does say how fast. NFHS and USSSA says immediately. But they have to stop first. Then the decision must be immediate. A runner may stop once while pitcher has ball in circle . Then they must immediately go one or the other. Without altering direction, unless the pitcher makes a play on someone


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I think he is referring to the speed of the advance or retreat, not the speed of the decision to advance or to retreat. The decision should be “immediate”, but they can move towards or away from the base as slowly or quickly as they want.

 

[flash277]

I may be mistaken, but say a runner is on third, (or second) and the batter is walked and the catcher quickly throws back to pitcher, does the look back rule apply to the runner on third right away, or does it go into effect when the batter runner reaches first? The rule says look back rule goes into effect when batter runner reaches first or is declared out.

 

[Gambler Bob]

I may be mistaken, but say a runner is on third, (or second) and the batter is walked and the catcher quickly throws back to pitcher, does the look back rule apply to the runner on third right away, or does it go into effect when the batter runner reaches first? The rule says look back rule goes into effect when batter runner reaches first or is declared out.

The batter must reach first base before the Look Back Rule goes into effect. For instance, if a runner is already on 3rd base and the batter walks the Look Back Rule does not go into effect until the walked batter reaches first base. Once the batter reaches first base the runner on third has to make a decision to either advance to home, or return to 3rd base.

 

[quincy]

In SB the batter-runner can not retreat towards home. They can stop but if they take a step back towards home they are out.

 

[CoachJD]

Yeah, I call it perhaps 1-3 times a year generally in 10U or young 12U.

Out of curiosity, what "types" of LBR violations usually get the calls at these lower levels? I'm guessing it's not because the runner hesitated ever so slightly, but more the dancing back and forth, actually stopping and reversing direction once committing, etc.

 

[quincy]

2 of of the 3 times I saw it called runner just stopped threatening P to throw the ball. Can not remember the 3rd.

 

[Westwind]

It does say how fast. NFHS and USSSA says immediately. But they have to stop first. Then the decision must be immediate. A runner may stop once while pitcher has ball in circle . Then they must immediately go one or the other. Without altering direction, unless the pitcher makes a play on someone


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@Greatdaytobeawildcat said it better than I did! You are correct that they have to make an immediate decision, after that they just need to be moving. Important to understand only if the team on offense is exploiting the rule.