advancing after a base on balls

Question
Had a rather heated argument with another coach who insisted it was illegal for my girls to advance to second after legally obtaining first base after a walk. Without hesitation my girls are coached to hustle to first, watching the 2nd baseman, shortstop and pitcher. My first base coach makes the final decision as the girls is approaching first, they just round the base and go to second. I believe this is legal even with the ball in the pitchers circle as long as the runner does not come to a stop and fake going back to first before advancing.

Am I applying the rule properly?


Answer
Hi Dan,
Sorry it took me a short while to answer but my daughter graduated from MSU this weekend and it's been a busy time.

I'm going to give you the important info from POE 34, you might want to print it out.

Look back rule
When a runner is legitimately off base after a pitch. or as a result of a batter completing their turn at bat and is stationary when the pitcher has the ball in the circle, the runner must immediately attempt to advance to the next base or immediately return to the base left.  The responsibility is completely on the runner.  There is no obligation on the pitcher to look, fake or throw.

The look back rule does not go into effect for all runners until the batter-runner reaches 1st base, or has been delared out and the pitcher has control of the ball in the circle.

A base on balls or a dropped 3rd strike is treated as a batted ball as long as the batter-runner continues past 1st base.  For scoring purposes, when they advance to 2nd base it is considered a stolen base.  If they stop at 1st base, however, and then steps off the base after the pitcher has the ball in the circle, they are out.

Batter-runners overrunning 1st base, can no longer start back to the base, and before reaching 1st, run for 2nd.  The batter-runner cannot change their mind and advance to 2nd once it looks like they are moving directly to 1st following the overrun or they will be called out.

If a runner is moving toward a base, other than 1st, when the pitcher receives the ball in the circle, that runner may stop once then immediately advance to the next base or return to the previous base, or be called out.  Making an attempt or fake will justify the runner being called out.  If after the pitcher has the ball in the circle, the runner starts back to the original base or forward to another base, and then stops or reverses direction the runner is out, unless the pitcher makes a play on them.  When a play is made on the runner, the runner may stop or reverse direction.

Any act by the pitcher in possession of the ball in the circle that, in the umpire's judgement causes the runner to react, is considered making a play.

Looks like your good.

Mark