Do the Runs Score?
 

USSSA FP Game: Bases loaded, 1 out: Batter hits deep shot to right center which is caught for out #2, R1 & R2 tag-up successfully and head for home. R3 left 1st base early and is three quarters of the way to 2nd when the throw comes into the 1st baseman who's off 1st base and heads for R3 to make the tag for the 3rd out but R1 & R2 cross home plate before she makes the tag. Do the runs score?
The coach yells that it's a force play so no runs should score.

Who is forcing that runner from first to run to second? In order to bave a force, someone has to be doing the forcing
Score the runs because they both scored before the 3rd out.
:D

The play you are describing is an appeal play, not a force out.

it is impossible to have a force out on a caught fly ball!!!!!!!!!

There have been more baserunning appeals in the past month on this forum, than in my 27 years of umpiring. :D

That is why it is good to discuss them, to be prepared for the unusual. :cool:

Appeals and forces look the same to coaches - because of the touch-the-base-for-an-out thing... but they are not the same. Appeal is a timing play. Runs score.

Suggest you read the definition of a force play / force out, and it will all become clear.

I don't know about USSSA, but the Fed rule on a force play clearly states "If a batter ball is caught before the ball touches the ground there can be no force plays". I would assume that ASA, NSA, USSSA and other codes all have similar wording in their force play rules.

No, ASA does not, nor does it need to.

Irrelevant. An appeal of a base left too early is not a force, even though it looks like one. Ever. In any ruleset, and with either sized ball. That's all that really matters here.