Stealing when pitcher has ball

Question
I am very confused.  We play ASA 10u. I was under the impression that once the pitcher has the ball in the pitcher's circle, you could not steal a base. We have been in a few tournaments now where the runners have stolen with the pitcher in the circle, but not on the pitcher's plate. Please let me know the right answer to this, and if possible where I can find it in the ASA rule book.  Thanks!

Answer
Hello LaTanya

Yes a base runner can steal a base if the pitcher has the ball within the circle. The article below written by Dave at http://www.girls-softball.com explains the purpose of the pitcher抯 circle.    

The pitcher's circle exists exclusively as a basis for the look-back rule. The look-back rule refers to the requirement that a runner on base not "dance around" while the pitcher is inside the circle. For example, when a batter gets a hit and rounds first base, if the pitcher is in possession of the ball within the circle, the runner must either advance towards second base or immediately return to first. She cannot juke back and forth in order to draw a throw. If the runner continues to change direction towards first, then second, the umpire may call her out. Likewise if she stops between bases waiting for the pitcher to throw to a fielder, as sometimes happens between pitches, and the pitcher is in possession of the ball within the circle, the runner may be called out by the umpire.