What is defined as a 'hard tag'?

• A. A tag made with the ball in hand or glove touching the runner.
• B. A tag by a coach.
• C. A tag after the runner is on base.
• D. A tag that does not touch the runner.

Answer: (A)

A hard tag means the runner is retired by the defender touching him with the ball in hand or in the glove. In other words, the tag must involve the ball actually making contact with the runner (the glove or hand that has the ball counts). If the ball isn’t touching the runner, there isn’t a tag. A tag by a coach isn’t part of the play, and a tag occurring after the runner reaches base wouldn’t be the way to retire him. The essential idea is that a hard tag is a tag delivered with the ball in hand or glove touching the runner.