If your child is just starting out in T-ball or junior baseball, one of the trickiest concepts to wrap your head around — as both a player and a parent on the sideline — is how outs actually work. In this episode of Inside the Game, Matt Redman breaks down the three main ways the fielding team can get an out, why force plays take a little extra teaching time, and how coaches can make these concepts click for young players. It’s essential knowledge for anyone coaching youth baseball or softball in Australia.

Welcome to Inside the Game

Inside the Game is RBI Australia’s podcast for parents, coaches, and players who want to understand the game better and help the next generation fall in love with baseball and softball. Whether you’re coaching a team at or watching your kid’s first T-ball game, this series is packed with practical, no-fuss advice from people who’ve been on the diamond for decades.

About Matt Redman and RBI Australia

Matt Redman brings more than 25 years of coaching experience to every episode of Inside the Game. He’s worked across every level of the game — from T-ball and junior baseball right through to representative teams and senior leagues. His approach is always the same: keep it simple, make it fun, and build the game from the ground up.

RBI Australia was founded in 2019 and has grown into one of Australia’s go-to destinations for baseball and softball — offering retail, training, and community programs from its locations in Smeaton Grange and Rouse Hill. Whether you’re after gear, coaching tips, or a place to train, RBI Australia is here for the whole journey.

What to Expect in This Episode

The Three Ways to Get an Out (That Aren’t a Strikeout)

In T-ball, strikeouts are a bit of a special case — there’s no pitcher, so any strikeout is really the batter’s own doing. That means the fielding team earns their outs in three other ways: catching the ball, tagging a runner, and executing a force play.

Matt walks through each one in plain language, which is exactly what you need when you’re trying to explain the rules to an eight-year-old who’s more interested in the canteen than the rulebook.

• Beating a forced runner to a base (force play)
• Catching a batted ball before it hits the ground
• Tagging a runner who isn’t touching a base

Catches — And the Rule About Tagging Up

A catch seems simple enough: if the fielder grabs the ball before it bounces, the batter is out. But there’s a follow-on rule that catches a lot of young players (and their parents) off guard — tagging up.

When a ball is caught in the air, any runners already on base have to return to their original base before they’re allowed to advance. If the fielding team gets the ball back to that base before the runner does, it’s a double play — two outs from one batted ball.

Matt’s advice for young players is straightforward: if the ball goes up in the air, hold your position and keep a foot on the base. Wait until you can clearly see whether it’s going to be caught or hit the ground before you decide to run. It’s one of those habits that’s much easier to build early than to correct later.

Tagging a Runner — And Why Two Hands Matter

A tag out happens when a fielder, holding the ball securely in their hand or glove, touches a runner who isn’t in contact with a base. As long as the ball stays in the glove when contact is made, the runner is out.

The coaching detail Matt emphasises here is simple but often overlooked: always tag with two hands. When young fielders use just one hand, there’s a real chance the ball gets knocked loose on contact. Two hands means the ball stays where it’s supposed to be.

The good news? Teaching tagging to young kids is genuinely fun. There are heaps of games — tag, bull rush, tip — that naturally build the same movement patterns. Just make sure you’re reinforcing the two-handed technique from the start, and it’ll become second nature.

• The fielder must have the ball in hand or glove when they make contact
• The runner must not be touching any part of a base to be called out
• Always teach two-handed tags to keep the ball secure

Force Plays — The Trickiest Concept to Teach

Force plays take a bit more explaining, and Matt is upfront about that. Expect to cover this one a few times at training before it really sinks in — and that’s completely normal.

Here’s the core idea: a force play happens when a runner has no choice but to advance to the next base because a new batter is coming behind them. In that situation, the fielding team can get the out simply by touching the base with the ball before the runner arrives. There’s no need to tag the runner.

First base is the most obvious example. Every time the ball is hit, the batter is forced to run to first. That’s what keeps the game moving. It’s why you’ll always see fielders throwing to first base — because there’s always a forced out available there.

Things get more interesting when there are already runners on base. If there’s a runner on first when the ball is hit, that runner is now forced to run to second. Suddenly there are two forced outs available — one at first, one at second. Add a runner on second, and third becomes a forced out too. When all bases are loaded, a forced out is available at any base.

• A runner is “forced” when a new batter pushes them off their base
• First base always has a forced out when the ball is hit
• Touching the base with the ball beats the runner — no tag required
• Force plays can lead to double plays and even triple plays

Putting It Together — Double Plays and Why This All Matters

One of the most exciting plays in baseball is the double play, and force situations make them possible. Matt uses a great example: a runner on first, ball hit to second base. The fielder catches it, steps on second to force out the runner coming from first, then throws to first to get the batter. Two outs, one play.

Understanding force plays isn’t just a fielding skill — it helps young players understand the flow and logic of the game. When kids get it, they start anticipating what’s going to happen next rather than just reacting. That deeper understanding makes the game more enjoyable, and enjoyment is what keeps them coming back season after season.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

• There are three ways the fielding team can earn an out: catches, tags, and force plays
• On a caught ball, runners must return to their base before advancing — this is called tagging up
• When tagging a runner, always use two hands to keep the ball secure
• A force play happens when a runner has no choice but to advance — the fielder just needs to beat them to the base
• There is always a forced out at first base when the ball is hit
• Force plays become more complex — and more powerful — as more bases have runners on them

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If you’re a parent, coach, or player looking for simple, practical ways to improve and enjoy the game, Inside the Game is here to help.

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Stay Tuned for More

Whether you’re revisiting this episode or diving into the series for the first time, there’s plenty more to explore across Inside the Game. Future episodes will cover fielding drills, batting fundamentals, and how to keep training sessions fresh and engaging for junior players. We’d love to hear from you in the comments — especially if you’ve got a favourite way to teach force plays to young kids.

New to the podcast? Start with Episode 01: Introduction to Matt Redman and RBI Australia.

Listen to the previous episode, Episode 10: Hitting Approach for Youngsters

Future episodes of Inside the Game will continue to break down hitting, throwing, fielding, and mindset in a way that helps young players grow and enjoy the game.

Train smart. Play hard. Keep growing the game.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a force play in T-ball or junior baseball?

A force play happens when a runner has no choice but to run to the next base — typically because a batter has hit the ball and is running to first, pushing other runners along. In a force situation, the fielding team gets the out by touching the base with the ball before the runner arrives, without needing to tag them.

How do you teach young players about tagging up in baseball?

The simplest advice for young players is: if the ball goes in the air, keep your foot on the base and wait. Only run once you can clearly see that the ball has hit the ground or that it’s definitely not going to be caught. Repeat this during training until it becomes a habit.

Why do T-ball coaches always tell fielders to throw to first base?

Because there’s always a forced out at first base when the ball is hit. Every batter is required to run to first, which means fielders can always get an out there — no tag required. It’s the most reliable out available on any batted ball.

What’s the difference between a tag out and a force out in baseball?

A tag out requires a fielder to physically touch a runner with the ball while they’re off a base. A force out only requires the fielder to touch the base with the ball before the runner gets there — no physical contact with the runner is needed. Force outs are only possible when the runner has no choice but to advance.

How many force outs can there be in one play?

It depends on how many runners are on base. With the bases loaded (runners on first, second, and third), a force out is available at any of the four bases — making double plays and even triple plays possible. This is why understanding base situations is such an important part of coaching youth baseball.