Under NFHS rules, when may runners advance on a fly ball that is caught?

• A. before the catch
• B. never
• C. after retouching their base
• D. only after the inning ends

Answer: (C)

When a fly ball is caught, runners can advance to the next base only after they retouch the base they were on. The ball is live once it is touched by the fielder, but a runner must return to and touch their original base (retouch) before leaving toward the next base. This retouching establishes a legal starting point for the advance and helps prevent unfair plays or appeals. Once the base is retouched, the runner may advance, typically on the catch or on the throw from the fielder.

The other options don’t fit: you can’t advance before the catch because the ball isn’t in play yet; you aren’t forbidden from advancing entirely (you can advance after a catch); and you don’t have to wait until the inning ends to try to advance.