How to Break Up a Double Play

A break up of a potential double play may never make its way into the stat book. However, it truly can be a game-changing play. Breaking up the double play gives your team an extra out in an inning, allowing your team to possibly put runs on the board. Here is how you can break up a double play.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Once a double play ball has been hit, begin sprinting towards second base. In order to break up the double play, you will need to arrive at the bag just as or around the time that the man covering second has stepped on the bag to force you out. If you jog towards second, you wiill all but eliminate any possibility of breaking up the double play.

2. Stay in the base path when running towards the base. If you leave the base path, you may be called out immediately. Making any contact with the second baseman outside of the base path will also almost guarantee that you and the man running to first will be called out. You want to make the double play more difficult for the opposing team. Being called out just makes their job easier.

3. Once you get to base, slide feet first into the bag. If you slide head first, it will appear as if you are simply trying to disrupt the second baseman when he is making his throw to first base. Also, sliding with your arms towards the player will naturally tempt you to reach towards him in order to disrupt the play. Any motion that appears unnatural other than a normal slide to the plate brings with it the risk of the umpire calling you and the batter out.

4. Slide towards the second baseman while still making contact with second base. This is the hardest part of breaking up the double play. You must make contact or at least disrupt the second baseman when he is throwing the ball to first. It's also vital that you make contact with second base in order to not get called out. Use a controlled and swift slide when trying to break up the double play. Don't worry about sliding past the bag. Breaking up the double play isn't about you being called safe. As long as you make contact with the base, even if you slide over it, you lessen the chances that you'll get called out for illegally breaking up the double play.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to protect yourself when breaking up the double plays. Many players have suffered injuries, including concussions, when attempting to break up the double play.
• Do not slide with your feet up into the air. Going into the base with your spikes showing will almost guarantee two outs for your team and may result in you being ejected from the ballgame.

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