"Forcing" a runner

What do I mean by "forcing" a runner?


When you step on the base (and the ball is in your hand or glove) before the runner gets there, the runner is out. This is called "forcing the runner" or a "force out" or a "force play" That is why you guys are trying so hard to throw it to first base before the runner gets there.

However, the force play only works when a runner is "forced" to run.

How do you know when a runner is "forced" to run?

Think about base runners like marbles in a tube. Each marble you put in the tube forces the other marbles to move forward, right? Same with base runners. As long as there is a baserunner on every base behind the runner, they will be forced to run to the next base.

I will give you examples of when a runner is "forced" to run. Pretend you are a baserunner.

1) a batter is ALWAYS forced to run to first base.

2) if you are on first base, and the batter hits a ground ball, then you are forced to run to second base

3) if you are on second base, and there is a another runner on first, and the batter hits a ground ball, then you must run to third base

4) if you are on third base, and there are runners on second and first base, then you must try to run home if the batter hits a ground ball.


Confused? don't be. It's easy. So as long as there are runners on all of the bases behind you, you will be forced to run on any ball hit on the ground.

If there is an empty base behind you on either first or second, then you are NOT forced to run. In this situation, you CAN run but you don't HAVE to. You are not "Forced"

Why do we keep talking about having to run on "ground balls?" Because, if a ball is hit in the air, and it is caught, then the baserunners can't advance to the next base. We'll cover that in "Base-running"