Force Out or Tag Out: Is Stepping on the Base Enough?

An activity to learn when stepping on the base is enough and when you have to tag the runner, as in baseball and softball. It moves from frozen situations to a live decision game.

How to play

1. Walk-through on a diamond: the batter is always forced to first; a runner on first is forced to second when the ball is hit; a runner alone on second is not forced (5 min).
2. Frozen situations: the teacher places runners on bases and groups decide at each base whether it's a force; they answer with a gesture: foot stomp means step on the base, hand up means tag (5 min).
3. Safe-tag practice: ball held in the hand, a light touch on the runner's leg or hip, no shoving or sweeping (2 min).
4. Game on two diamonds with teams of seven: the teacher rolls a ball by hand, runners advance and the defense chooses to step or tag. Switch sides halfway (10 min).
5. Debrief on close plays and who had it right (3 min).

Rules

• Tags are made with the ball in hand, below the shoulders and gently.
• Runners may not run into a fielder standing on the base.
• Close plays are settled by the group using the rule, not by whoever yells loudest.

Variations

Adaptations

• Deaf or hard-of-hearing students: "step" and "tag" cards to show their call.
• Students with limited mobility: defend the nearest base or act as the play's judge.
• Students new to the game: start the frozen situations with a partner who explains.

Learning goals

• Tell a force out from a tag out.
• Choose the right defensive action quickly.
• Settle close plays fairly.

Equipment for a class of 25

• bases: 8
• softballs (soft): 4
• pinnies: 14

Teacher tip

Draw the diamond on a portable whiteboard or in chalk for the frozen situations. The usual mistake is chasing a forced runner instead of stepping on the base: praise every correct step out loud.

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