high school softball base on balls

Question
QUESTION: During a base on balls play the batter-runner advances to first base, the pitcher receives the ball in the circle before the batter-runner reaches first base. If the batter-runner doesn't stop on the bag but advances toward 2nd base, does she have to continue to 2nd?  If she stops and goes back to first is she out if tagged? Does she need to be tagged even if she is on first base?  Does the defensive coach need to bring this to the attention of the umpire?
Thanks, in advance
Larry Adams

ANSWER: Hi Larry,

Thank you for your questions about the Look Back Rule.  It is Rule 8-7 in the 2011 NFHS (high school) Rules Book.

1) If the batter-runner doesn't stop on the bag but advances toward 2B, she doesn't have to continue to 2B.  She can stop once, but then must immediately, non-stop, continue onto 2B or retreat to 1B.  2) Since the ball is live, she certainly is out if she is tagged on her way back to 1B, but 3) she would be safe if she was tagged while on 1B.  4) The umpires are the ones required to pay simultaneous attention to the runners and to the pitcher while she has the ball in the circle.  The Look Back isn't one of NFHS softball's four appeal plays.  Only in those is the defense required to bring an infraction to the attention of the umpires.

Scott Kelly



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: On a play at the plate, is the catcher allowed to block the entire plate by placing her kneeling body on the plate with legs in line with the 1st base fair/foul line?  The base runner slid but had zero change/access to touching the plate.  Can the runner knock her back without sliding?  Is this an obstruction call by the umpire?  Thanks in advance.

Answer
Hi Larry,
Thank you for your question.  Suggestion: submit a new question about a brand-new topic as an original question, not as a followup question to an old, unrelated topic.  Thank you sir!

On a play at the plate, the catcher MIGHT BE allowed to block the entire plate.  

1) If she kneels on it without the ball before the arrival of the runner, and impedes the runner, this is obstruction.  However, the runner still would not be allowed to "knock her back," which rings of "bowling her over."  Even if the catcher didn't put her out, she could be called out and ejected for that.  The runner should try her best to touch the plate by avoiding contact with the catcher, even though the plate is entirely blocked.  If she is put out then the umpire would likely award her home, pursuant to the obstruction call.  

2) If she kneels on the plate with the ball then she isn't required to leave any of the plate exposed for the runner to touch.  There is no obstruction call here, as obstruction only applies to fielders without the ball, as in 1) above.  Here again, though, the runner would not be allowed to knock the catcher back or bowl her over.  Even if the catcher didn't put her out, she could be called out and ejected for that.  The runner should try her best to touch the plate by avoiding contact with the catcher, even though the plate is entirely blocked.

A batter-runner or runner is never, ever, required to slide!

Scott Kelly