While play in Little League baseball often mirrors that of professional baseball, there are a number of rules that set Little League apart. For instance, while Little League base runners are free to steal second and third base, as well as home plate, they cannot begin their steal attempt until the pitch has crossed home plate. This rule can sometimes be misconstrued following a walk.
After a batter has been walked, he or she is allowed safe passage to first base while the catcher returns the ball to the pitcher. Despite the stealing rule, a walked batter can round first and make for second base so long as the umpire considers the play one continuous motion. In other words, the play remains live until the batter has stopped on first base and a new better has entered the batter's box. Until that point, the play is live and the base runner can continue to advance.