With my heavy lesson schedule I don’t often get a chance to go out and watch actual youth softball games. But over the last couple of weeks – thanks to the miracle of modern streaming technology – I’ve been able to watch several games online.

While I was mostly watching some of my students as a fan, the coach in me couldn’t help but notice something rather, well, odd. Let’s set up the situation then we’ll get to what was strange to me.

In the plays I’m talking about there were runners on second and/or third base with less than two outs, and only a run or two separating the team on defense (which was behind) from the team on offense. A ground ball was hit right to an infielder or the pitcher and – and the fielder immediately picked up the ball and threw it to first base.

No checking to see what the lead runner was doing – which in most cases was taking off immediately. No awareness that I could see that there even WERE runners on base.

Just automatically making the play at first, which resulted either in a runner scoring, putting the team on defense even further behind, or a runner advancing to third, increasing the offense’s chances of scoring again, especially if the out at first was the first of the inning.

I don’t get that at all. Why wouldn’t coaches be teaching their players to at least take a look at that lead runner, and if there is a play there go for that instead of throwing to first?

To be honest, in the plays I saw the lead runner should have been caught dead to rights. There was plenty of time to make a play if the fielder had been trained to think, “I should see what that lead runner is doing and throw her out if I can.”

In one example, the lead runner on second ran right past the shortstop. Had the shortstop noticed her, she could have made a quick pivot to throwing side and either gotten the runner immediately on a tag play or else created a rundown situation.

But instead, the shortstop showed no awareness at all of the runner who had just passed right in front of her and instead opted to make the long throw across the diamond. Yes, she got the out, but the lead runner eventually went on to core.

Had the shortstop made the throw to third instead that runner would have likely been erased. And since the chances of scoring from third with two outs are more than double than the chances of scoring from first with two outs (.321 v .144) according to 643 Charts, the defensive team wouldn’t have had as a big a hole to climb out of when it was their turn to hit.

Another situation was a combacker to the pitcher with a runner on third. Rather than checking the runner to see if she was going (she was), the pitcher automatically threw the ball to first, allowing an easy score.

Had she looked at the runner she would have seen that a simple toss home would have resulted in either an easy tag play or at least a rundown that, if it was properly executed but didn’t get an out, would prevent a run from scoring.

So does that mean you should always go after the lead runner? Of course not.

There are a number of situations where the out at first is your best option – not the least of which is when your team is having trouble getting outs at all. In that case get an out somewhere and get out of the inning!

Another obvious situation is a ground ball to the second baseman, especially if she is playing somewhat deep. She probably doesn’t have the arm to make a throw home and get the runner so going to first is the smarter move.

Even if she does have the arm, though, if it’s going to be a close play at home but an easy play to first, take the out. There’s probably little likelihood of getting the out at third either so take the out at first.

Bunts in general tend to be another exception. If the catcher fields the bunt she might have a chance of making the play at second because she’s used to making that throw and she’s moving in the right direction to do it.

For everyone else, unless there’s an extremely slow runner on first, take the out with the hitter.

There are some other factors as well, such as whether your team is good at putting up runs. If you’re struggling on offense already, either overall or in that game, you might want to do everything you can to keep the game close, including not giving up runs when you don’t have to. On the other hand, if you’re confident you can trade a run for an out because you’ll make it up in your next at bat, take the out at first.

Another factor is where you are in the game. The fewer outs you have left on offense, the more important those runs given up on defense become.

Even if your philosophy is “take the easy out,” you may need to adjust if you’re coming down to the last inning or two. Yes, there is a risk of making the situation worse if your team can’t execute the throw and tag, but hey, that’s what practice is for.

On the other hand, if your team is up by six runs late in the game, trade that run for the easiest out. You have runs to spare, while the offensive can’t spare any outs.

Early in the game, keep in mind that a well-executed play on a lead runner may cause the other team’s coach to become more cautious on the basepaths. No one wants to get a runner thrown out at home so if you can show you’re able to do it you might just keep the pressure off your defense for the rest of the game.

Speaking of which, the other big factor is your team’s ability to judge whether they can make the throw in time and your confidence that they can execute the play overall. There’s a big difference between trying it with a college or 16-18U travel team versus a 10U travel team versus a rec league team.

Clearly, there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution here. But going for the lead runner is at least worth considering.

Teach your players HOW to do it, then teach them when. You never know when that one out your saved can mean the difference between winning and losing.