Weird play - curious about rule

[SWFLguy]

Never heard of that. What is the rationale for not having it?

[RKBUmp]

I have run into it in many rec leagues in the 10 age group. For whatever reason they think it is too confusing for the 10 year olds so they dont have an IFF.

[ASA/NYSSOBLUE]

Originally Posted by RKBUmp

I have run into it in many rec leagues in the 10 age group. For whatever reason they think it is too confusing for the 10 year olds so they dont have an IFF.

Bah - how many adult players are confused about it?

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by SWFLguy

Never heard of that. What is the rationale for not having it?

Because of the reduced chance of a fielder's catching a fly ball. Why give the defense a gift out?

[Rita C]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

Because of the reduced chance of a fielder's catching a fly ball. Why give the defense a gift out?

In games that can go 20-19, you want whatever outs you can get.

Rita

[SWFLguy]

Honestly have never heard of any level of play that ignored the infield fly rule. I've been calling softball and baseball since 1957. Makes no sense to eliminate it. In many of my JV games, it can help move a very long half inning. Rita C is correct.

[john5396]

At any level, infield fly is not "giving the defense a free out". This play is the perfect example of why they need the IFF. The Infield fly rule exists to prevent the defense from getting the cheap double play. It protects the offense.

If your really concerned that the young kids don't understand, then add a local rule that makes the IFF a dead ball and protect the offense from the cheap DP.

[chapmaja]

Originally Posted by SWFLguy

Honestly have never heard of any level of play that ignored the infield fly rule. I've been calling softball and baseball since 1957. Makes no sense to eliminate it. In many of my JV games, it can help move a very long half inning. Rita C is correct.

The Travel League I do has the same rule. No IFF for 10U. I had a similar play to the OP earlier this year. The difference, the fielder touched the base then the runner. The defense wanted the DP, and it took a while to explain after the game why they only got one out. This game also had a look back rule violation called that took some explaining after the game as well.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by SWFLguy

Honestly have never heard of any level of play that ignored the infield fly rule. I've been calling softball and baseball since 1957. Makes no sense to eliminate it. In many of my JV games, it can help move a very long half inning. Rita C is correct.

I think anyone here would agree it's stupid to remove the rule at JV. We are talking MUCH lower level than that.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by SWFLguy

Never heard of that. What is the rationale for not having it?

The reason the rule exists is to prevent the defense from intentionally not catching the pop up and turning an easy double play...

At low-level 10U, or younger, there is not a chance the defense could decide not to catch the ball and then turn a double play... in fact, coaching them to fail to catch it on purpose is more likely to result in ZERO outs instead of 1 (or 2). So no need for the IFF at that level.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

The reason the rule exists is to prevent the defense from intentionally not catching the pop up and turning an easy double play...

At low-level 10U, or younger, there is not a chance the defense could decide not to catch the ball and then turn a double play... in fact, coaching them to fail to catch it on purpose is more likely to result in ZERO outs instead of 1 (or 2). So no need for the IFF at that level.

Sure there is a need. The play in the OP is proof of that.

[MD Longhorn]

That doesn't make a lot of sense, to be honest. If they don't use the IFF, and everyone knows they don't use it, the runner staying on 3rd base after the ball wasn't caught is simply a dumb move on her part. She should run. If she had run (and again, going off the assumption that the level of play is such that IFF is not necessary ... again, low level 10U or any level 8U), then it would not be likely this low level defense could throw her out at home and still have time to throw out any other runner.

it was her staying on 3rd that made this DP possible ... just as if she'd stayed on third base on a ground ball to the third baseman.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

That doesn't make a lot of sense, to be honest. If they don't use the IFF, and everyone knows they don't use it, the runner staying on 3rd base after the ball wasn't caught is simply a dumb move on her part. She should run. If she had run (and again, going off the assumption that the level of play is such that IFF is not necessary ... again, low level 10U or any level 8U), then it would not be likely this low level defense could throw her out at home and still have time to throw out any other runner.

it was her staying on 3rd that made this DP possible ... just as if she'd stayed on third base on a ground ball to the third baseman.

Sure it does -- what if the ball is dropped at a point where the runner is between the fielder and third base?

The IFF rule makes sense at every level of the game. What's considered routine may change due to the range of the fielders, but what BENEFIT results here from not having one?

Just another case of mommies and daddies screwing with well-established rules cause they "know better."

[Dakota]

I think it's been a long time since some of you have worked a low level 10U game... At that level, you need the IFF rule not to protect the offense, but so that some how, some way, you get an out!

[Tru_in_Blu]

At 10U games, how many batters can actually hit a ball high enough to even qualify as an IF?

A lot of outs are made by base running gafs, strike out, and ground balls to F1.