Baseball: Force Outs, Tag Outs and Double Plays
A class focused on the difference between force outs and tag outs, the rule that sparks the most arguments in school baseball. Students work through game situations, practice the double play and play a game with base umpires who must explain every call.
How to play
- Walk-through on the diamond: when the runner is forced to advance, stepping on the base with the ball is enough; when not forced, the runner must be tagged with the ball (5 min).
- Guided situations: with runners on different bases, the teacher rolls the ball to an infielder and the defense decides where to throw; runners advance at a jog (6 min).
- Double play practice with a runner on first: ground ball to the shortstop, throw to second for the force and on to first; each group counts how many it turns in five tries (4 min).
- Three-inning game with two student base umpires who must say, on each out, whether it was a force or a tag (11 min).
- Review: the umpires describe the two closest plays and the group checks the call against the rulebook (4 min).
Rules
- Tag the runner gently with the ball in the glove or hand, never at the head; throwing the ball at a runner is not allowed.
- No sliding into bases.
- The bat is dropped inside the circle before running; throwing it is an out.
- Each base is a double base: the fielder uses the inside half and the runner the outside half to prevent collisions.
Variations
Easier
The teacher stops play on every out so the umpire can explain it.
Standard
Situations, double play and a game with base umpires explaining each call.
Harder
Add the tag-up rule for runners after a fly ball is caught.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: serves as base umpire, or bats and has a teammate run for them.
- Hearing impairment: umpires always use the arm signal for safe and out.
- Autism: has a fixed infield position and is told ahead of time what to do with the ball in each situation.
Learning goals
- Tell force outs from tag outs in real situations.
- Turn a simple double play with accurate throws.
- Umpire the bases and explain each call with rulebook arguments.
Equipment for a class of 25
- soft baseball bats: 2
- soft baseballs: 6
- bases: 8
- cones: 12
- pinnies: 14
- whistles: 2
Teacher tip
Double bases prevent most collisions at first; if you do not have them, put a cone next to each base for the runner. With 28 students, use two teams of 12 and four on umpiring and scoring.
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