When is a Lead Off Really a Lead Off?

Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Marc
Marketing Manager

The lead off rule is pretty simple. The base running section of our rulebook states: “The runner is called out if they leave the bag before the bat makes contact with the ball.”

Pretty straight forward, but let’s consider some likely scenarios that could pop up during your game. For example, if someone swings and nicks the ball, you are not leading off if you leave the base. If the ball is hit foul, even wildly and obviously foul, you are not leading off if you leave the base.

However, here is where it gets tricky. If the batter swings and completely misses the ball and you start to run, you are definitely out. A lot of team captains will give a warning or two before they actually call someone out for this. It’s good sportsmanship to give a warning unless you believe the person is doing it on purpose to gain an advantage and not just out of pure excitement.

This next scenario is a bit greyer. If the batter swings and misses the ball completely, and you lift your foot off the bag by an inch, is that a lead off? Technically, yes, of course it is. But in the interest of sportsmanship, I would have to say that it would be in bad taste to call someone out for that. As a Slo-Pitch player, it is easy to get caught up in the batter and to be excited about getting to the next base, so it’s only natural to twitch or to “false start” the tiniest bit.

In your next game, if a player is leading off, give them a warning or two before you call them out. If they are leaving the bag a minuscule amount and it has no effect on the game whatsoever, just let it slide.

Have fun out there.