The Tag-Up Rule

Start here

What's a tag-up?

The rule that catches new players out the most

When the ball is caught before it bounces, every runner must go back and touch the base they started on.

Only then can you run to the next base, and now it's your choice, not something you have to do.

Out Leave too early and they get you out just by touching your base.

Four questions

Walk it through

Tap the answer that matches what just happened.

Question 1

Did it bounce first?

Did someone catch the ball before it hit the ground?

Why?

All of this only matters when someone catches the ball in the air. If it bounces first, it's just a normal play: run like you would any other time. So watch the ball, not your teammates.

Question 2

Fair or foul?

Foul = outside the white lines. Fair = inside them.

Why?

A catch outside the white lines is a full reset: nobody is allowed to move up a base. There's no free base to win here, only one to lose. So get back and stay there.

Question 3

Where were you?

Were you touching your base when they caught it?

Why?

You only get to keep the base you were touching when the ball was caught. If you'd already left, the fielding team just has to touch that base while holding the ball, and you're out.

Follow-up

Did you make it back?

Did you touch your base before they touched it with the ball?

Question 4

Do you go?

You're back on your base. Run for the next one, or stay?

Why?

The kicker is already out, so nobody is running up behind you to take your base, which means you don't have to move. And because you don't have to, they must touch YOU with the ball to get you out.

Normal play

Nothing special. Just run.

Out

Everyone back. Nobody moves up.

Out

OUT.

They touched your base with the ball before you got back.

Safe

Stay put. You're safe.

Key rule

They must touch YOU with the ball, not just the base.

Putting it together

The flow

Start at the top: get back in time and you carry on down.

1Did it bounce first?

YES Normal play Nothing special. Just run.

NO, they caught it
2Fair or foul?

FOUL Out Everyone back. Nobody moves up.

FAIR
3Touching your base?

NO Key rule Get back and touch it. Too slow = OUT. made it back?

YES
4Do you go?

NO Safe Stay put. You're safe.

YES
Key ruleThey must touch YOU with the ball, not just the base.

Try it

Four real situations

Read the setup, decide, then tap to check.

Situation 1

Still on your base

Ball goes high to left field. You're on 2nd. It's caught.

Out or not out?

Key rule

Wait until they touch the ball.

Then you can run, but you don't have to.

You never left your base, so you're already good to go.

Situation 2

Caught behind you

You already ran. It gets caught while you're halfway, and the throw back to 2nd beats you.

Out or not out?

Out

Beat the throw or you're OUT.

They only have to touch the base, not you.

Turn around and touch 2nd again before the ball gets there.

Situation 3

The throw beats you

You waited, touched 2nd, then ran. The ball gets to 3rd first.

Out or not out?

Safe

NOT OUT unless they touch YOU.

Standing on 3rd with the ball does nothing.

You did it right, so you never had to run.

Situation 4

Caught outside the lines

You're on 2nd. It's caught outside the line near 3rd.

Can you advance?

Out

Nobody moves up. At all.

Get back to 2nd and stay there.

The kicker is out, but nobody gets a free base.

Quick recap

Out or not out?

The bit we keep arguing about

Out

You'd already left, and they touch your base with the ball before you get back
They touch you with the ball while you're off it

Safe

You touched your base first, then ran, and they only touched the base
You stayed on your base the whole time

When does it all stop?

When the pitcher is holding the ball in the middle circle. Already running forward? You get one base. If not, go back.

Key ruleDidn't have to run? Then they must touch YOU.