As someone who has made my share of tag plays on full-grown men running at full speed, I can tell you that if you're looking at the runner when the throw is on its way, you're doing it wrong. I focused on positioning, tracking the ball, CATCHING it, and then getting the glove down just in front of the bag. If you're set up correctly, the chance of injury goes way down.
Throw down chest high or bounced on 1st base side of second
- Thread starter Bob516
- Start date
Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch
Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.
As someone who has made my share of tag plays on full-grown men running at full speed, I can tell you that if you're looking at the runner when the throw is on its way, you're doing it wrong. I focused on positioning, tracking the ball, CATCHING it, and then getting the glove down just in front of the bag. If you're set up correctly, the chance of injury goes way down.
- Jun 8, 2016
- 16,118
- 113
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaCjDvQC1tE&list=PL9njfT6urVcQSvpqpUYadOnbFBsyK5LMh&index=131&t=0s
Agree with you. Catch the ball, drop the tag to the front of the bag, get your hand out.
In discussing throws to 2B with my DDs catching coach (former Oregon/USA/NPF player, Janelle Lindvall), she talked about sometimes needing to throw the ball to the 3B side of 2B because that's where the SS would be intersecting the ball as she's coming across. Throw it to the 1B side, and SS can't always get there in time to make the catch. Then again, this is from a catcher who did a very good job getting the ball there in a hurry.
I definitely agree with the need for SS to let the ball travel and not reach out (towards home) to catch the ball. I also see a lot of young fielders reach out towards the runner to make a tag, often too high, and the runner slides under the tag. The runner has to get to the base, which is on the ground. Drop the tag down, don't reach out.
I definitely agree with the need for SS to let the ball travel and not reach out (towards home) to catch the ball. I also see a lot of young fielders reach out towards the runner to make a tag, often too high, and the runner slides under the tag. The runner has to get to the base, which is on the ground. Drop the tag down, don't reach out.
- Jun 8, 2016
- 16,118
- 113
Agree about this..however one thing I have noticed with umpires around here at the 10U level is that 9 out 10 times if the ball is there in time it doesn't matter where the tag is applied they will call the runner out...drives me
nuts
- Dec 11, 2010
- 4,725
- 113
Strike2, I have made exactly NO tag plays, ever, lol. I do not have the advantage of first hand knowledge. What I am passing on is what a former SEC ss talked about with my dd and I. She is one of the most athletic players I have ever been around, and she talked at length about how players would try to take you out (every time) so the lesson didn’t end with the tag and the out.
I keep seeing plays missed at a variety of levels of play because the “almost perfect” throw, maybe a bouncer, isn’t handled. I think this is why.
It seems to happen less when the catcher has a higher target and the ss is in a more upright posture.
Again, just putting it out there for consideration. I’m a firm believer that there is usually more than one “right answer”. In the bb and sb world I have noticed that some believe the only right answer was supposedly incontrovertibly decided in 1957 and has not changed since then, lol.
I keep seeing plays missed at a variety of levels of play because the “almost perfect” throw, maybe a bouncer, isn’t handled. I think this is why.
It seems to happen less when the catcher has a higher target and the ss is in a more upright posture.
Again, just putting it out there for consideration. I’m a firm believer that there is usually more than one “right answer”. In the bb and sb world I have noticed that some believe the only right answer was supposedly incontrovertibly decided in 1957 and has not changed since then, lol.
- Jun 8, 2016
- 16,118
- 113
Getting taken out is part of the game. That said, you see it a lot more on DP than on throws down to second from the catcher. For DP that is why you see a lot of guys and girls get airborn a bit (in particular 2B) after they throw that way if you do get taken out you won't risk a knee injury due your feet being planted in the ground while taking a shot to the knee.
My DD prefers a higher thrown ball. She says too many variables for her missing the ball if it's bounced. She's also 12 so take that for what it's worth. she usually sets up in front of the bag and does a wonderful job of catching the ball as she's running. Sometimes it's a little too much on the first base side so she misses the runner by a little bit. And sometimes it's a little too much on the 3rd base side and she has to slow down to receive it. Sometimes the runner is just freaky fast and there as the throw is in the air.
The one's she receives that are right on the money (as she's getting right to the bag) have either turned into outs or very close plays. This past weekend were all chest high or waist high throws. I think her facial expression is hilarious when they capture her on camera receiving the ball. She's very focused on tracking the ball and receiving it. The runner is absolutely second to both of those because of the high likelihood (at her age) of outfield not backing up the throw.
The one's she receives that are right on the money (as she's getting right to the bag) have either turned into outs or very close plays. This past weekend were all chest high or waist high throws. I think her facial expression is hilarious when they capture her on camera receiving the ball. She's very focused on tracking the ball and receiving it. The runner is absolutely second to both of those because of the high likelihood (at her age) of outfield not backing up the throw.
Or how about the MIs that run off the bag to catch the throw down on a fly? Arrggh.
- Jun 8, 2016
- 16,118
- 113
Improper teaching of MI (or infield in general) play is one of my biggest pet peeves since I played there my whole career. There are a lot of seemingly little things that make a big difference. Off the top of my head:
a) Having kids play too far from the bag with a man on first yet expecting them to get there in time to properly receive a throw (from either the catcher or another infielder on DP situation)
b) Teaching them to get in front of everything when a lot of times backhanding the ball is the better play. I don't know how many times I have see 10U SS try and get in front of a ball only to either have carom off their glove because their body is facing the the third base dugout or catch it but be in no position to throw as all of their momentum is towards the OF. Having a weak backhand is no excuse...work on it!!
c) Telling them to throw overhand for every situation. MI in particular should play catch using different arm slots.
Last edited:
Similar threads
