| Everyone needs to know the chain of command so players won’t be fighting over who will catch a pop up – or having dangerous collisions. Visit this page to learn who the shortstop can call off and who you should defer to when a high pop fly is hit, as well as some other important protocols you will be expected to know. |
Every baseball player needs to know baseball pop fly priorities, i.e. chain of command, so players won’t be fighting over who should catch a fly ball.
A well-played pop-up is often an easy out – but DON’T take that for granted.
A poorly played pop fly is not only embarrassing for the players, it can lead to errors, runs for the other team, and even dangerous collisions.
Every softball player needs to know softball pop fly priorities, i.e. chain of command – so players won’t be fighting over who should catch a fly ball – AND, how to avoid serious injury from on-field collisions.
A side note: Your coverage zone may be more or less than shown on this diagram, because a player’s range differs according to her individual athletic abilities and pre-pitch positioning.
Pop fly priorities broken down for the whole field
- Outfielders have priority over the infielders.
- Centerfielder has priority over the left and right fielders.
- Shortstop has priority over everyone in the infield.
- Middle infielders (SS and 2nd base) have priority over the corner infielders (1st base and 3rd base).
- Corner infielders have priority over the pitcher and catcher.
Communicate
“I got it.” The player who makes the catch should yell “I got it, I got it, I got it,” and the person(s) she is calling off will say nothing so there won’t be any misunderstanding on who should catch the ball.
Wave your hands. As an infielder if you are going back on the softball and you are calling for the softball, along with yelling, wave your hands in the air so the outfielder can see that you are calling it. When there are a lot of people yelling and the infielder is yelling back towards the catcher, often times the outfielder won’t hear anything, but she will see the infielder waving her hands.
Dealing with potential collisions:
If there is a chance of a collision between and infielder and outfielder on a fly ball, the outfielder will slide feet first and the infielder will stay on her feet. The protocol is to prevent a head on collision. A glancing blow is better than a major collision.