Tag-ups and going halfway

Setup

1. Three outfielders, a second baser, shortstop and third baser, and a catcher in full gear at home.
2. Runners in batting helmets take leads at first and third (in foul ground at third). Spare runners wait in foul ground behind each base.
3. The coach hits fly balls from beside home plate and steps back into foul ground straight after each hit, away from the plate and the runner's path.
4. Before each ball, the coach calls the number of outs. With two outs, runners simply run on contact.

How it runs

1. The coach calls the outs and hits a fly ball to the outfield.
2. Runner on third: go straight back to the base, face home with one foot on the base, and watch the ball. Leave on the fielder's first touch and sprint home.
3. Runner on first: go far enough off the base to reach second if the ball drops, but not so far that a catch traps you. On a catch, get back; on a drop, go.
4. The outfielder catches and throws home (or to the base the runner is heading for). The catcher sets up in front of the plate, takes the throw and tags.
5. Mix deep flies (tag up), shallow flies (bluff off the base and hold) and flies in the gaps. Rotate runners every two balls and outfielders every few.

Coaching points

• Fewer than two outs and a fly ball: the runner on third tags; the runner on first goes halfway, reading the ball's depth.
• Leave on the first touch of the ball, not the secure catch. Leaving early can be appealed and the runner called out, so watch the ball, not the base coach.
• The runner on second can usually tag to third on a deep fly to right or centre; check the throw distance.
• Shallow fly: take a few steps off the base as a bluff to draw a throw, then get back.
• Line drive: freeze and get back. A runner caught off base is easily doubled off.
• Infield fly rule: with runners on first and second (or the bases loaded) and fewer than two outs, a catchable fair pop-up in the infield is called an infield fly. The batter is out and runners don't have to run; they may still tag up at their own risk.
• At home, the runner slides or goes around the catcher; the catcher takes the throw in front of the plate and doesn't block it without the ball. Check your competition's collision rules.

Common mistakes

• Runner on third going halfway on a deep fly instead of tagging, and not scoring.
• Runner on first tagging on a ball in front of the outfielder and getting nowhere if it drops.
• Leaving early on the tag-up.
• Outfielders catching flat-footed instead of coming in through the ball to throw.
• Catcher standing on the plate in the runner's path before the ball arrives.