Umpire 101: Infield Fly Rule Explained

Infield Fly Rules explained for umpires at the High School Level. However, these rules are the same at every level from little league to Major League Baseball, and should be helpful for any new or experienced umpire.
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[@bobh6728]

For the appreciable height requirement, you can consider if the base runners and fielder have time to make a decision on the play. If the runners really don’t have time to decide whether to go back and tag up or not, it is probably not an infield fly. In that case, the intentional dropped ball rule comes into play. That would requirement the fielder to drop the ball after touching it, not just letting it drop which is always legal.

[@bobp6164]

As always, great stuff. On #10 I think you need both A & B to determine if it's an infield fly. The ball, since you also have to determine if it's at an appreciable height and the fielders to look for ordinary effort. I'm probably splitting hairs. I appreciate your work on these Patrick.

[@rayray4192]

Good point. Eyes go Immediately to the ball. You will know almost immediately if the ball is high enough to be an infield fly. Then your eyes 👀 go to the fielder. Same principle as never watching the ball on a pop up behind the plate - always watch the catcher. The fielder will tell you if he’s an infield fly.

[@stefanocossalter5349]

I love the quiz. So helpful to help anchor those learnings!

[@worldnotworld]

Great! A suggestion: at 5:38 you should be more precise: it's not the _infield fly_ that benefits the runners, it's the _infield fly _*_rule_* that benefits the runners. Without that rule, the infield fly would too dramatically benefit the defense. With the rule, the infield fly ball itself doesn't really "benefit" anybody.

[@byrkesestok]

Thanks for this content. Exactly what I searched for. 🤜🤛

[@masterangler21]

Can we have a video on intentional dropped fly balls, and if there is any difference from MLB. Does it matter by NFHS if they touch or do not touch the fly ball

[@UmpireClassroom]

Good idea!

[@mrdgenerate]

Dope Fulton County stadium sign. I always wonder how accurate those base markings are in the parking lot. Thats part of the old wall too isnt it?

[@UmpireClassroom]

I think the parking lot field is pretty accurate. Georgia State is hoping to build a new baseball field using that exact footprint. Fun fact, the old outfield wall for Fulton County Stadium is currently the outfield wall for Georgia State’s current baseball facility in Panthersville.

[@allenwu5070]

What confuses me is when there is only first base w/ less than 2 outs and if the fly ball is not caught. According to the description the rule does not apply. Easy double play can still be achieved provided that the batter-runner is slow

[@UmpireClassroom]

The rule is not written to protect a slow batter-runner. Only runners on base.

[@cappskr92]

If the batter runs it won’t be a double play, that’s why it has to be 1st and 2nd or bases loaded.

[@seymourbrown7647]

Gotta better understanding of infield fly...thanks...wanted to ask if you'll put up NCAA and OBR videos up and i also wanna know more about balks including where the fielders should be in position (i.e. defensive one foot in fair territory with runners on...balk or not?) Thanks again for the knowledge

[@bullsleafs]

So if the infield lets the ball drop can the base runners advance without tagging up? No need to tag up if it’s not caught or do they because it is an out due to the IFF? If caught the runners can advance if they tag up?

[@UmpireClassroom]

Q1. Yes, because it is uncaught. Q2. No need to tag. IFF makes the batter-runner out so the runners won’t be forced to advance. They still have to tag if the ball is caught. Q3. Yes they can advance at their own risk.

[@philoetiker2942]

I was hoping for an answer to this situation …R1, R2, no outs. High pop fly near the 3rd base line. Umpires properly call “Infield fly, if fair!” The third baseman can catch this with ordinary effort, but does not make any contact with the ball. The ball lands in fair territory in the infield, but rolls foul between home and third base. Do we enforce the infield fly rule and call the batter out, or is it just a foul ball? Thanks!

[@UmpireClassroom]

This is just a foul ball. The definition of an infield fly is "a fair fly." So, in your scenario, what makes the ball fair? A ball in front of the base does not become fair until it is touched in fair territory or settles in fair territory. Since this ball settles in foul territory. It is a foul ball and a foul ball can never be an infield fly.

[@IndymanPhilly]

When was this rule introduced?? We never had this when I played baseball in high-school.

[@UmpireClassroom]

Unless you're about 135 year's old, this was in place during your high school ball. The infield fly dates back to 1900. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infield_fly_rule

[@IndymanPhilly]

@@UmpireClassroom then I guess me and my teammates just never let the ball hit the ground!!!

[@jameshealey27]

If the runners from 1st and second advance on an IF call that wasn't caught do they have to be tagged? Seeing contradicting scenarios from game footage.

[@UmpireClassroom]

Yes. If the infield fly is called, we. An not have a force play as the batter did not become a runner.

[@berniesoete1923]

When can the runners run, and if they run, are they out by a force or do they need to be tagged?

[@UmpireClassroom]

Runners can advance at any point. If the ball is caught, they still need to “tag up” before advancing. The batter is out, so the force is removed.

[@bullsleafs]

@@UmpireClassroom so the runners can advance at the hope it drops, if caught then the ball is thrown back to their starting base and they are out if they don’t return to that base before the ball?

[@PrezFarbz]

​@@bullsleafs correct

[@michaelkoss]

Why wouldn't the infield fly rule be in effect with fewer than two outs and a runner only on first? The defense could still dupe the runner on first.

[@UmpireClassroom]

Because the batter should be running to first, so if the defense let's it fall, the batter should easily reach first.

[@battle4truth701]

I've been watching this more for some reason. The rule should be a certain distance from home plate and clearly delineated on the field. Any fielder within that distance camped under the ball enacts the field fly rule.

[@deborahd.7281]

Why doesn't it include just a runner on first couldn't there still be a cheap double play?

[@willoughbykrenzteinburg]

Only if the batter is lazy. The only possible way to turn a double play on a pop up with just a runner on first is if the batter just gives up - - assuming the ball will be caught and he'll be out. Otherwise, the batter would have plenty of time to reach first before the ball even falls if he actually.....you know......RAN to first. So, the infield fly rule doesn't apply if there is just a runner on first. The rule exists to prevent cheap double plays. Suppose the rule didn't exist. If there is just a runner on first, and you don't have a lazy batter, you're only going to get one out if you let the ball fall - because the batter would have already reached first before the ball even fell. So, your only out would be to get the runner going from first to second. HOWEVER, if there are runners on first AND second (or bases loaded), those runners would hold up on a pop fly and letting it drop could easily turn into a double play. If there were runners on first AND second, then you could let the ball fall, throw to third for the force, then back to second for the force. Easy double play. That double play option is not available if there is just a runner on first - - unless the batter is just lazy, and if that batter is so lazy that he doesn't even run to first assuming the ball will be caught, then he deserves to be out in the event the ball is not caught.

[@deborahd.7281]

@@willoughbykrenzteinburg Is this what you mean? Batter Doesn't Run Out Pop Fly, Costs His Team a Big Out kzbin.info/www/bejne/j57MqnijbbClsJI

[@b1randon12]

Yea. I would just look to see what everyone else is doing.

[@Palmerrip]

What are the best ways to put bet on a game I'm umpiring, manipulate the game in my favor, and win big? I know I can't be touched as I am protected by the union. Anyways, just want to know how you guys get away with it all.

[@davej3781]

6:30 - Pedantic Umpire says there are no force plays at first base. Pedantic Umpire really had a hard time selecting "B" on the quiz, even though he knew that's the answer Umpire Classroom wanted, because, again, Pedantic Umpire knows there are no force plays at first base.

[@UmpireClassroom]

Pedantic umpire is correct. Pedantic umpire gets the idea. 😅

[@davej3781]

@@UmpireClassroom Pedantic Umpire still loves Umpire Classroom, even though Pedantic Umpire's penchant for pedantry went un-placated in the present presentation.

[@centechken1]

What you just said?

[@prsguitars42]

Why doesn't infield fly apply for just a runner on first base?

[@UmpireClassroom]

The infield fly is designed to keep a team from getting a cheap double play. With a single runner on base, the batter-runner should reach first base safely and not be the back end of a double play.

[@prsguitars42]

@@UmpireClassroom ok..got it!!..Thank You!!

[@talkinwiththead]

Here is a detail question that I have. In the event, a runner wishes to advance after the infield fly rule is in effect, when can he advance? And in the event of a bobbled, infield, fly catch, say the fielder allows the ball to hit his glove, and in the process of trying to catch it he bobbles it and ends up, pinning the ball between his hand and stomach a couple bubbles later. Can the runner advance when the ball first touches his glove? Or does the runner have to wait until the ball is finally caught, even though the infield fly rule is in effect, to advance?

[@UmpireClassroom]

Infield fly runners can advance at any point, but if the ball is caught, they would need to retouch. On the other part, see rule 8-2-4: ART. 4... If a fair or foul batted ball is caught, other than a foul tip, each base runner shall touch the base after the batted ball has touched a fielder. So not when we can call catch, but when the ball is touched.

[@tshirtfactory07]

Clear as mud😂