Who is the cutoff or relay in fastpitch softball?

A cutoff handles a one-throw ball that can reach the target but may need to be stopped or redirected. A relay handles a deep ball that needs another arm.

Rundown's 10U-14U system assigns cutoffs by target and relays by ball side:

• Throw home from left field: third baseman is the cutoff.
• Throw home from center or right field: first baseman is the cutoff.
• Throw to third from any outfield position: shortstop is the cutoff.
• Deep ball to left or left-center: shortstop is the front relay and second baseman trails.
• Deep ball to right or right-center: second baseman is the front relay and shortstop trails.
• Deep ball to straightaway center: the target breaks the tie. Shortstop handles the relay to third. First baseman handles the relay home.
• On a throw home, the catcher lines up the throw and makes the call. The pitcher backs up the plate.

Those are position assignments, not playing rules. A team can run another sound system. Every player still needs to know the target, the front link, the trail support, and the backup before the throw starts.

Cutoff and relay assignments by situation

Situation	Target	Rundown assignment	Call and backup	Rule or convention?
Routine single to left or left-center with no urgent lead-runner play	Second base	Shortstop is the ball-side link; second baseman covers the bag	Outfielder throws through the shortstop; second baseman owns the target	Convention
Routine single to right or right-center with no urgent lead-runner play	Second base	Second baseman is the ball-side link; shortstop covers the bag	Outfielder throws through the second baseman; shortstop owns the target	Convention
Single to left with a runner from second trying to score	Home	Third baseman is the cutoff	Catcher lines the throw and calls; pitcher backs up home	Convention
Single to center or right with a runner from second trying to score	Home	First baseman is the cutoff	Catcher lines the throw and calls; pitcher backs up home	Convention
Single to any outfield position with a runner from first trying for third	Third base	Shortstop is the cutoff	Third baseman owns the target call; pitcher moves toward the third-base backup lane	Convention
Deep ball to left or left-center	Called target	Shortstop is the front relay; second baseman trails	Front relay shows a target and gets in line; trail player supports the next throw	Convention
Deep ball to right or right-center	Called target	Second baseman is the front relay; shortstop trails	Front relay shows a target and gets in line; trail player supports the next throw	Convention
Deep ball to straightaway center, play at third	Third base	Shortstop is the relay because the side rule does not separate the middle infielders	Third baseman owns the target call; pitcher backs up third	Convention
Deep ball to straightaway center, play at home	Home	First baseman is the relay because the side rule does not separate the middle infielders	Catcher owns the call; pitcher backs up home	Convention
Caught fly with a runner tagging from third	Home	Use the same home cutoff assignment for the ball's field side	Catcher lines and calls; pitcher backs up home	Rule plus convention
Off-line throw toward home	Home	The assigned cutoff intercepts the throw without waiting for a call	Catcher still directs an on-line throw	Convention
Lead runner will score before the throw arrives	Next threatened base	Catcher or target fielder redirects the cutoff or relay to control the trail runner	Call the base early; do not chase a finished play	Convention

The first two rows describe a ball-side link that may become a cutoff or a relay depending on depth. The target and the ball's depth decide the final job.

What the rulebook decides

A live throw can let runners keep advancing

Under USA Softball, runners may advance with liability to be put out while the ball remains live on a fair batted ball or a thrown ball. A cutoff can stop one missed target from becoming another base, but it does not create a special rule protection.

A runner tagging on a caught fly can leave when the ball is first touched

Under USA Softball, a runner may leave the base when a legally caught fly ball is first touched. The throw home still uses the team's cutoff system. The defense must judge the runner, the catch depth, and the chance of controlling the next base.

An out-of-play throw carries a base award

When a thrown ball goes out of play under USA Softball, the award is two bases from the last base touched when the throw was released. The direction of the throw does not change that award. This is an out-of-play rule, not a claim that every overthrow automatically awards two bases.

The cutoff or relay cannot obstruct a runner

Under USA Softball, a defender without the ball may not impede a runner unless that defender is fielding a batted ball. A relay player should find the throwing lane without taking away a runner's path.

The rulebook does not name the cutoff

USA Softball rules define live-ball rights, outs, appeals, base awards, and obstruction. They do not assign the shortstop, second baseman, first baseman, or third baseman as the cutoff. Those assignments come from the coaching system.

What the coaching staff decides

Cutoffs go by target

Rundown assigns a one-throw cutoff according to the base receiving the throw:

• Third base: shortstop.
• Home from left field: third baseman.
• Home from center or right field: first baseman.

The assigned cutoff lines up between the outfielder and the target. On a throw home, the catcher can see the runner and the ball, so the catcher gives the through, cut, or redirect call according to the team's vocabulary. The cutoff independently takes an off-line throw that will not reach the catcher cleanly.

Deep relays go by field side

On a deep ball that needs another arm, the ball-side middle infielder goes out as the front relay and the other middle infielder trails:

• Left and left-center: shortstop goes out, second baseman trails.
• Right and right-center: second baseman goes out, shortstop trails.

The outfielder throws through the relay rather than floating the ball to a waiting player. The relay shows a target, gets in line, and opens toward the next throw. A firm throw near head height gives the relay a chance to redirect it without losing momentum.

Straightaway center has no clear ball side. Rundown uses the target rule to resolve that tie: shortstop for a throw to third and first baseman for a throw home.

The target player controls the decision

On a throw home, the catcher owns the call because the catcher faces the play. On a throw to another base, the player covering that base owns the call. If the throw is on line, the caller can send it through, cut it, or redirect it according to team language. If the lead runner is already safe, the defense should control the trail runner instead of sending every throw toward the plate.

Age the teaching

USA Softball's official divisional focus introduces outfield backups and plays at second at 10U. It adds relays to the plate at 12U. At 14U, it adds infielder cutoff positioning, pitcher and catcher cutoff positioning, outfield control of the next base, and catcher control during relays.

Use that progression:

• 10U: Move on every outfield ball. Get the ball to a visible middle infielder or second base. Use one clear target call.
• 12U: Add the difference between a cutoff and a deep relay. Teach left-side and right-side movement plus relays to the plate.
• 14U: Add target-specific cutoffs, tandem relays, catcher redirects, tag-up reads, and first-to-third decisions.

Do not add three call words when the group can execute only one. Add the next layer after the first assignment works at game speed.

A 12-minute cutoff and relay block

1. Put an outfielder, relay player, and target in one line. Make four throws from each outfield side. The outfielder throws through a visible relay near head height.
2. Add both middle infielders. Call left, left-center, right-center, or right before eight reps. The ball-side player goes out and the other trails.
3. Add a target call of second, third, or home before eight more reps. Players must name the target and move to the Rundown assignment.
4. Add a catcher and one runner for six live reads. The catcher calls through, cut, or a redirect base using the team's own vocabulary.
5. Score the rep only when the throw, target, front link, trail support, and backup are covered.

Quick answers

What is the difference between a cutoff and a relay in fastpitch?

A cutoff handles a one-throw ball that can reach the target but may need to be stopped or redirected. A relay adds another arm on a deep ball. In Rundown's system, cutoffs go by target and deep relays go by field side.

Who is the cutoff on a throw home from left field?

The third baseman in Rundown's system. The catcher lines up the throw and makes the call. The pitcher backs up the plate.

Who is the cutoff on a throw home from center or right field?

The first baseman in Rundown's system. The catcher makes the home call and the pitcher backs up the plate.

Who is the relay on a ball in the right-center gap?

The second baseman is the front relay in Rundown's system, and the shortstop trails. On a left-center ball, those jobs reverse.

Who makes the cut call on a throw home?

The catcher. The catcher faces the play and can judge the runner and the throw. The cutoff still intercepts an off-line throw without waiting.

Where should the throw go when there is no play on the lead runner?

Use the team's early call to control the next threatened base. Second base is a sound default when there is no better live play, but the runner positions and the called defense decide the target.

Put the call into a game situation

Practice cutoff and relay decisions in Rundown's free IQ Game preview. Players see the runners, outs, and ball location before making the call.

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