Situational Softball
Runner on first, less than two outs. A routine ground ball is hit to shortstop. Where is the first play?
Second base for the force out.
What position is number 6 on a softball scorecard?
Shortstop
How many outs does a defense need to end a half-inning?
Three
What is a hitter's main job with two strikes?
Protect the plate, compete, and put a hittable pitch in play.
Before every pitch, every defensive player should know these two basic things.
The number of outs and where the runners are.
Runner on third with one out. A fly ball is hit deep to center field. What should the runner on third do?
Tag up, then advance after the ball is first touched if she can score safely.
What position is number 2?
Catcher
A runner leaves first base on a caught fly ball before the ball is first touched. What must she do before legally advancing?
Retouch/tag first base.
You're on first base and a ball is hit in the air. What should you immediately determine?
Where the ball is, whether it is likely to be caught, and whether you need to tag/retouch or can advance.
Why should players communicate even when the play seems obvious?
Communication prevents confusion and makes sure everyone knows responsibilities, coverage, and where the next play is.
Runners on first and second with no outs. A bunt is laid down toward third base. What is the defense's priority?
Communicate immediately, field the bunt, and get the lead out at third if the play is available; otherwise take the sure out at first.
On a routine ground ball to the shortstop with nobody on base, who should generally cover second base?
The second baseman.
What is the difference between a force out and a tag out?
A force out occurs when a runner is required to advance and the defense controls the ball while touching the forced base. A tag out requires tagging the runner with the ball or glove containing the ball when the runner is not protected by being on a base.
Why should a runner round first base aggressively after a clean single?
To put pressure on the defense and be ready to take second if the defense makes a mistake or the ball gets away.
What does it mean to "think one play ahead" on defense?
Know what you're going to do with the ball before it is hit to you.
Runner on second, two outs. A ground ball is hit to the shortstop. What should the outfielders be doing even though the ball isn't hit to them?
Moving into backup positions in case of an overthrow or deflection.
A ball is hit into the right-center gap. Besides pursuing the ball, what should the outfielders communicate?
Who has the ball, who is backing up, and where the throw needs to go.
There are runners on first and second with less than two outs, and the batter hits a fair fly ball that can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort. What rule may be called?
The infield fly rule.
Runner on second, nobody out. A ground ball is hit directly in front of the runner to shortstop. Should the runner automatically advance to third?
No. She must read the ball and avoid running into an easy out at third.
Runner on second with one out. You're playing outfield. Before the pitch, what should you already be thinking about?
Where to throw on a base hit, whether there could be a play at home, who the cutoff is, where to back up, and the game situation.
Bases loaded, one out. A ground ball is hit directly to the third baseman. Give two good options depending on the speed and location of the ball.
Step on third and throw to first for a possible double play, or throw home for the force if that is the higher-percentage play. The defender must know the outs and make the safest available play.
A base hit goes to left field with a runner starting on second. Name several defensive jobs happening away from the ball.
Infielders move into cutoff/relay positions, the catcher communicates where the throw should go, defenders cover bases, and appropriate players back up potential throws.
With two outs, a runner from third crosses home before a force out is recorded at second for the third out. Does the run count?
No. A run does not score when the third out is a force out.
DAILY DOUBLE: Runner on second, two outs. The batter hits a routine single to the outfield. How should the runner's mentality change because there are two outs?
She should be aggressive because there is no need to wait to see if a ground ball gets through, and on a hit she should be looking to score while reading the coach and the play.
Your teammate makes an error that allows a runner to advance. What should the other eight defenders do immediately?
Keep playing. Move to backup/coverage positions, communicate, find the next play, and prevent one mistake from becoming multiple mistakes.