Position Responsibility
Player Coverage Area
The following chart displays the player coverage area for teams fielding 10 players.
Position Responsibility
3B
- Field balls in coverage area
- Ground balls or dropped fly balls
- Less than two outs: throw one base ahead of lead runner on force play, look runner back and throw to first when no force play
- Two outs: throw to first or get easy out
- Caught fly balls
- Less than two outs: throw behind the runner if she is too far off base
- Two outs: the inning is over
- Charge home on bunt
- Cover third base
SS
- Field balls in coverage area
- Ground balls or dropped fly balls
- Less than two outs: throw one base ahead of lead runner on force play, look runner back and throw to first when no force play
- Two outs: throw to first or get easy out
- Caught fly balls
- Less than two outs: throw behind the runner if she is too far off base
- Two outs: the inning is over
- Cover second on a bunt with no runners or with runner on first; cover third on bunt with runner on second
- Backup 3B on balls hit in 3B coverage area; cover third base if necessary
- Backup P on balls hit to P coverage area
- Cover second base on all balls hit to right side of field
- Cutoff throws from the outfield for balls hit to the left side of the field; cutoff position should be midpoint between thrower and 2 bases ahead of runner on ground balls and 1 base ahead of runner on fly balls expected to be caught
- Cover second base on steal and pickoff attempts when a batter is up that is likely to hit the ball to the right side of the field
2B
- Field balls in coverage area
- Ground balls or dropped fly balls
- Less than two outs: throw one base ahead of lead runner on force play, look runner back and throw to first when no force play
- Two outs: throw to first or get easy out
- Caught fly balls
- Less than two outs: throw behind the runner if she is too far off base
- Two outs: the inning is over
- Cover first base on bunt
- Backup 1B on balls hit to 1B coverage area; cover first if necessary
- Cover second base on balls hit to left side of field or to P
- Cutoff throws from the outfield for balls hit to the right side of the field; cutoff position should be midpoint between thrower and 2 bases ahead of runner on ground balls and 1 base ahead of runner on fly balls expected to be caught
- Backup throws from catcher to pitcher with runners on base
- Cover second base on steals and pickoff attempts when a batter is up that is likely to hit the ball to the left side of the field
1B
- Field balls in coverage area
- Ground balls or dropped fly balls
- Less than two outs: throw one base ahead of lead runner on force play, look runner back and throw to first when no force play
- Two outs: throw to/tag first base or get easy out
- Caught fly balls
- Less than two outs: throw behind the runner if she is too far off base
- Two outs: the inning is over
- Charge home on bunt
- Cover first base
- Cutoff throws from outfield to home for extra base hits
P
- Field balls in coverage area
- Ground balls or dropped fly balls
- Less than two outs: throw one base ahead of lead runner on force play, look runner back and throw to first when no force play
- Two outs: throw to first or get easy out
- Caught fly balls
- Less than two outs: throw behind the runner if she is too far off base
- Two outs: the inning is over
- Charge home on bunt
- Cover home on past balls with runners in scoring position
- Cutoff throws from outfield to home for singles and caught fly balls
- Backup third base for throws from the outfield
- Backup home for extra base hits to right field
C
- Field balls in coverage area
- Ground balls or dropped fly balls
- Less than two outs: throw one base ahead of lead runner on force play, look runner back and throw to first when no force play
- Two outs: throw to first or get easy out
- Caught fly balls
- Less than two outs: throw behind the runner if she is too far off base
- Two outs: the inning is over
- Charge bunts
- Cover home
- Make pickoff attempts and throw out steal attempts
LF
- Field balls in coverage area; throw 2 bases ahead of lead runner on ground balls; throw one base ahead on caught fly balls
- Backup balls hit to 3B, SS, & LCF
- Backup throws to third base from P, C, 1B, 2B, & RF
- Backup throws to second base on balls hit to RCF
LCF
- Field balls in coverage area; throw 2 bases ahead of lead runner on ground balls; throw one base ahead on caught fly balls
- Backup balls hit to SS, P, LF, & RCF
- Cover second base on bunts
- Backup throws to second base P, C, 1B, 2B, & RF
RCF
- Field balls in coverage area; throw 2 bases ahead of lead runner on ground balls; throw one base ahead on caught fly balls
- Backup balls hit to 2B, P, LCF, & RF
- Backup second base on bunts
- Backup throws to second base from P, C, 3B, SS, & LF
RF
- Field balls in coverage area; throw 2 bases ahead of lead runner on ground balls; throw one base ahead on caught fly balls
- Backup balls hit to 1B, 2B, & RCF
- Backup throws to first base from P, C, 3B, & SS
- Backup throws to second base on balls hit to LCF