Can I back up behind the bag and get a running start on the tag up, be on the run when outfielder catches fly ball as long as I make contact with the bag at the time of catch or after ball hits glove
there is no specific rule that I know of that says you can't .. I actually had it happen in a game about a year ago and the defense did appeal it but I called the runner safe
I'm in agreement with B.J. on this, with one minor caveat: The base runner has to be in contact with the bag when the ball is hit ... He can't be leading off, even if it's a "negative leadoff" ...
MLB, ASA, NCAA have rules against it but like BJ could not find a rule in Senior Softball. So would make same call safe, as long as runner touches bag same time as ball hits glove, understand runner has to have contact with bag as contact with bad is made.
If I don't know the umpire, I let them know that I'll have one foot hanging over the lead edge of the bag and the other one behind the bag. I'll start moving towards the next bag when the ball is a couple of feet from the glove. The lead foot is still in contact with the bag, but my 150lbs is already in motion. Haven't had a defense appeal leaving too soon in years.
