I was recently involved in a game at a college showcase where it was late in the game with the go-ahead run on third base. The batter hit a fly ball to center field. The runner at third left before the fielder caught the ball and was called out on a base appeal play. The need to tag on a fly ball happens infrequently enough that most coaches do not routinely practice this situation and, therefore, many times players do not execute it correctly. Let me briefly describe when to consider tagging up on a fly ball, how to tag up on a fly ball, and then give a five minute tag on fly ball practice drill that you can regularly incorporate into your practice.
Situations when a runner should consider tagging up on a fly ball
With a runner on base and the batter hits a fly ball into the outfield, the runner needs to decide: do I go half way to the next base in case the outfielder drops the ball or do I tag up so that I can attempt to reach the next base on a caught ball. Here are the tag up guidelines:
- Go back to the base to tag up when:
- Runner on second and ball hit to right, right center field, or very deep center field
- Runner on third and ball hit into the outfield
- Go half way to the next base when:
- Runner on first always goes half way
- Runner on second and ball hit to left, left center field, or shallow center field
How to tag up on a fly ball
When a runner is in a tag up situation, they should quickly return to the base, turn their bodies so that their hips and chest are facing the next base, and then turn their heads over their shoulder so that their eyes can watch the ball. When the first defensive player touches the ball, then the runner can turn their head and run directly to the next base.
Common running errors
- Runner does not return to the base on a fly ball: This is a common mistake with very young players but rarely happens with older players.
- Runner does not have their hips and chest pointing to the next base: Many times the runner, once they return to the at pitch base, will turn their whole body toward the outfield as they try to find the fly ball. By completely turning their body, once the defensive player touches the ball, the runner must first pivot toward the next base and then start their running acceleration. The initial pivot adds time before they reach the new base. By pointing their chest and hips toward the next base and only turning their head, they lower the time required to reach the next base. Does a sprinter start sideways? A tagging base runner is acting like a sprinter whose finish line to the next base and should only turn their head so their eyes can see the defensive player touch the ball, not turn their whole bodies.
- Runner leaves early or late: The rulebook states that "a catch is legal if the ball is finally held by any fielder, even though juggled, or held by another fielder before it touches the ground. Runners may leave their base the instant the first fielder touches the ball." Since the rule is written this way, the runner is looking (not anticipating) for the ball to touch any part of any defensive player or their glove. When they see the ball touch the defensive player, they turn their head and sprint to the next base.
Practice drill
In our practices, we regularly spend a few minutes working on base running. We line up the players at first base with a coach of the pitching rubber. The base runner takes the appropriate position, the coach pitches the ball, and the runner steals second base. With the runner at second, the coach makes the next pitch and they steal third base. With the runner at third, the coach pitches the ball in the dirt (wild pitch scenario) and the runner runs home. After the runner gets home, they go to the back of the player line at first base.
Second time through the base running drill, we change the drill a little to practice tagging up on a fly ball from second and third base. We put two coaches in right field and two coaches in left field. The runner at first base leaves on the pitch to home (just like before) to steal second base. Once on second base, the runner watches one coach in right field throw a fly ball to the other coach in right field and waits for the fielding coach to touch the ball. When the fielding coach touches the ball, they sprint to third simulating the second base tag up scenario. When at third, they watch the coaches in left field throw and touch the ball (third base tag up scenario).
To reinforce leaving when the defensive player touches the ball, many times the coach on the pitching rubber will ask the runner that just came home whether the left fielder caught the ball. The correct answer is: "I don't know." If the player knows the answer, they waited too long to see the catch.
Keeping the drill moving
In order to maximize the player's practice time, at the beginning of the season, we will have a player on each base simultaneously working on the skills. This gives us 3 players on the field practicing base running instead of one. Since our team has a couple of coaches, each coach can watch a base to make sure the player's timing is appropriate.
Toward the middle of the season, we add two extra bases at each location. One at regulation distance, one five feet behind, and then the other five feet beyond the second one. In this situation, we can have nine players practicing their base running simultaneously. In this case, coaches are looking for one player being out-of-sync with the other two players.
By modifying your base running to include tagging up on a fly ball practice will only take a few extra minutes and will enhance the fundamental base running skills of your players that just might get the extra run we need to win the close game.
Photo credit: sillydog
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