sliding into home

Question
Hello!  A few questions for you today that I hope you can help out with.  I was told that the girls have to slide into home plate when stealing if the ball is enroute to the catcher (ages:11-15)or they are automatically out.  I cannot find that anywhere in the rule book.  Is this the case?  Also, a ball 4 walk; my batter rounded first to go to second then returned to first.  The pitcher was in the radius of the circle when the runner rounded first. Is the runner out on first, or safe because she returned?

Answer
HI Rebecca,

Local leagues can have rules that modify ASA rules so you might have a "must slide" rule.

Under ASA play a runner never is force to slide at the risk of being called out.  There is no ASA must slide rule so that's why you can't find it in the book.  If you have no local rule and an out is called for failure to slide it is protestable.


In ASA play a runner (inc a walk or dropped 3rd strike) may legally round 1st, they may stop once and immediately proceed to the next base or back to 1st.

here are some other parts of the rule..the look back rule goes into effect as soon as the pitcher has control of the ball in the circle and the b-r touches 1st base.

If the look back rule is in effect

A b-r walked can legally round the base stop once and immediately advance to the next base or return to 1st base.

If they over-run 1st toward rt field and turns left and moves directly toward 2nd , they must attempt non stop to advance to 2nd

If they over-run 1st toward rt field and turns left and stops, they must immediately move non stop back to 1st or to advance to 2nd

If they over-run 1st toward rt field and turns left and moves back toward the infield in any direction other than directly toward 2nd, they must immediately move non stop back to 1st

If they over-run 1st toward rt field, turn right, is committed to return non-stop to 1st

Mark