Infield Fly Rule | the Infield Fly Rule for Coaches and Parents
baseballmom writes "Infield Fly ! Many of us have heard Infield Fly ! called, (or
not) What exactly is the infield fly rule in youth baseball? It's the
same as MLB. The "In-field Fly" rule can be confusing, especially for
youth baseball and youth baseball coaches and parents.
Lets take a moment to discuss the infield fly rule.
The rule is often a point of controversy among coaches, players and
spectators watching the game, often times umpires. Many ask, "what is
the 'In-field" fly rule? When does the "In-field Fly" baseball rule
apply? Here we explain the reason for this rule of baseball, the
situations under which this baseball rule applies, and some additional
info to help coaches and parents of youth baseball better understand
the infield fly rule.
Why do we have the "In-field" fly rule?
According to MLB rules, the stated purpose of the infield fly rule, is to prevent a defensive player from dropping a fly ball on purpose or letting a infield fly drop to the ground untouched with the intention of trying to turn a double play.
Example of the infield fly rule, there are runners at first and second base with no outs. The third short stop is fielding a high pop fly hit high between him and second base. If we did not have the "In-Field-Fly" rule, he could let it drop. Pick it up and quickly touch second base, then throw to third to get a tag on the second base runner for the double play. The defense has turned an easy double play. The two runners being forced to tag up on the play have no chance of advancing to the next base in time to prevent the outs.
Another scenario would be bases loaded, an infield fly is hit high that will land four feet in front of home plate. The catcher sets up to make the catch. He allows the ball to hit. He quickly picks it up, touches home plate for the first out and then he throws the ball to the third baseman who is set up on the bag. The third base man catches the ball, tags the base for the second out, and then throws to second base for the completed triple play. If there was no infield fly rule, the following could happen: Runners are on first and second with less than 2 outs. Pop fly is hit to the third baseman. He intentionally drops the fly ball, picks it up, tags third and then makes the throw to second base to complete a double play. It is an easy triple play because all three runners are tagging up on their bases in anticipation that the ball to be caught.
What situations does the infield fly rule apply?
The rule is applicable with a runner at first and second, or first, second and third bases with less than two outs.
Some Important Things to Remember about the Infield-Fly Rule:
1. The rule is applied on any fair fly ball that could have been caught by an infielder with ordinary effort. The ball does not have to be caught. The batter is declared out immediately when the ball is hit. The out stands if the ball is in fair territory.
2. The ball does not have to be in the infield. It can be in the outfield. The key is if an infielder, according to the judgment of the umpire, should be able to catch the fly ball with ordinary effort.
3. If the rule is invoked by the umpires and an outfielder catches the ball, the out still stand. If the ball land uncaught in fair territory, the out still stands.
4. Once the rule has been called by the umpire. The other base runners may advance at their own risk. If they attempt to advance and are tagged out, the result is a second out on the play. The runners can advance after tagging up like they would on a fly ball. The difference for the runner is that since the batter is out, there is no longer a force play and the runner does not need to advance, even if the ball is not caught.
5. An infield fly rule must be called when the ball is in the air. The signal given by the umpires is a finger pointing into the air.
6. The fly ball must be in fair territory. The umpires will make a verbal call, "Batter is out if the ball is fair".
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