102 Coaching Youth Softball
Figure 8.21 A runner tagged out between bases.
Tag Play Game
TAG-OUT
Goal To tag out baserunners Description This game involves six players; get two games going at once to keep all players involved. Place defenders at second base, third base, short- stop, and right field. Place a runner on second base (see figure 8.22). Another runner will alternate with that runner, each one running every other play. Each play starts with the runner on second. The runner must attempt to go to third on each play. Alternate hits—hit fly-outs to the right fielder in which the runner must tag up, and hit ground balls to second base and shortstop. (Don’t hit to third, as the runner wouldn’t attempt to advance in such a situation.) The defense tries to get the runner out at third base; if the runner is tagged out, the defense Tactics and Skills 103
scores a point. After six plays, rotate the two baserunners with two defenders. To make the game easier ᶀ Don’t use an outfielder. ᶀ Move your outfielder in.
To make the game harder ᶀ Hit the ball to spots that will make the play difficult.
RF 2 3- SS R 3- 2B 3B 4 1
C Figure 8.22 Set-up for Tag-Out.
Double Plays Double plays occur any time two runners are put out during continu- ous action. Examples include a fly-out, in which the baserunner is put out after failing to tag up or is tagged out at the next base after correctly tagging up; a strikeout and a runner thrown out on the same play try- ing to steal; and a ground ball with a runner on first, with force-outs made at second and first bases. Double plays are rally-killers for the offense and morale boosters for the defense. They are also more diffi- cult to execute, because there are usually more players handling the ball, more throws made, and thus more time used. However, as your players advance in their skills, they can learn to execute double plays. With less than two outs and a runner or runners in force situations, the first option is usually to cut down the lead runner. Once the lead runner is put out at one base, the covering player at that base throws to first base to complete the double play. Here we’ll focus on executing the second-to-first double play.