Runners stopping when forced

Question
Dr. Ambrose;  1)Br hits a ground ball down the 1st baseline. F3 fields ball and stands in line and wait for Br to advance to 1st base. BR decides to Stop on the line half way down the line. My question is . Is Br out right away , or do you have to wait until Br takes a step backwards towards the  HP? 2) Same situation with R1 on 1st base, graoundball to F$ who fields the grounder, now R1 stops before the tag is made by F4. Now is R1 out as soon as he stops oor takes a step backwards towards 1B because if play is made on BR going to 1st base, legally R1 can go back to 1B?? Is Br alowed after a hit to run to 1st base with his bat in hands, and can the Br run the bases all the  way around with bat in hand ,as long as he does not cause aany interference on any defensive players?

Answer
Hi Richard,

1)no the br can stop w/out penalty they are only out if they step back towards home to avoid or delay a tag by a fielder.

2) no R1 can stop or even move back toward 1st w/out penalty.  If they could not we would never have a run down in softball.  R1 cannot legally possess 1 base if B2 safely acquires it but they can certainly move back to 1st and if B2 is put out, again legally possess 1st.

3) yes in ASA, no in some other orgs.

Mark