After the 3rd Out...

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by billken

(HS or NCAA 2-man) When you make the 3rd out call on a tag play at a base (could be a pick-off at 1st, a runner caught stealing, etc), how long do you stay with the play before trotting out to right/center field?

Do you stay until both players separate? Does your approach change if the coach reacts negatively to the play? Is it understood that the PU will keep his eyes on the players so you can remove yourself?

I've always heard the older and highly respected guys in my assn. say to make the call and get out of Dodge. But in the past couple of weeks, I've had a couple of extracurricular issues arise that I didn't see and now I'm thinking that I should stay in there until the sliding runner is back on his feet. It might be worth the risk of the coach coming out to see this stuff a little better.

What do you guys think? What is taught at the higher levels?

Stay there until the play is over. The "play" includes any extra-curricular stuff. You can also be watching as you begins to move to your between-innings position. You don't need to put your head down and sprint out to RF.