By Abigail Gannaban · Last updated October 30, 2026
A good throw to third still needs a fast tag, and most slow tags come from catching the ball in the wrong place. This drill trains the right one alone: straddle a throw-down base, throw into a ball rebounder set where the catcher or outfielder would be, catch the return like a throw, slap the tag down in front of the bag, and show the ball. The steps come from a standard youth coaching drill; the rebound net plays the thrower.
What is the straddle, slap tag, show drill?
It's a three-part tag play drill. Dugout Captain's Tag Plays drill teaches it as straddle the base, catch and slap the tag along the ground in front of the base, then show the ball. Bobby Valentine Sports Academy teaches the same idea in how to take a throw at the bag: straddle, drop the tag and know where the bag is, because catching out in front and chasing the runner with the tag wastes time. Straddling lets the runner slide into the tag instead.
How do you run the drill alone with a ball rebounder?
Put a throw-down base in front of you, stand the rebound net 10 to 15 yards away where the throw would come from, and repeat: throw, straddle, catch, tag, show. The setup values are our adaptation.
| Setup item | Value | From |
|---|---|---|
| Ball rebounder | The Varsity Multi Sport Ball Rebounder, net upright for chest-high returns | Our adaptation |
| Base | Throw-down base at your feet, net 10 to 15 yards away | Our suggestion |
| The throw | Throw firmly into the middle of the net, then step into the straddle | Our adaptation |
| The tag | Straddle, catch, slap tag down in front of the base, show the ball | Dugout Captain (Tag Plays) |
| Variation | Tilt the net forward for throws that arrive in the dirt | Our adaptation |
| Reps | 10 chest-high, 10 in the dirt | Our suggestion |
Move the net to the plate side for steal-of-third throws and toward left field for relay throws, so you practice turning to each.
What should a third baseman fix first on tag plays?
Fix where you catch the ball first. Valentine's academy points out that reaching out in front for the throw, then swiping back to the runner, takes longer than catching at the bag and dropping the tag. Get to the base early and straddle it, so your body is between the throw and the base. Keep the glove low and let the runner slide into the tag, then show the ball to the umpire, as Dugout Captain's "show" step teaches.
What does the net version train, and what needs a runner?
The net version trains the straddle, the catch at the bag and the tag motion, alone, on throws that arrive chest-high or in the dirt. It can't give you a sliding runner, a full-distance throw from the catcher or an outfielder, or the timing of a steal. Use the net for the mechanics, then add a catcher and runner at practice. All Ball Pro makes steel-frame, multi-sport ball rebounders, also called rebound nets, in St. Louis, Missouri, and the Varsity rolls on 10" spoked wheels, so moving it between the plate side and left field takes seconds.
FAQ
Should a third baseman straddle the bag on a tag play? Yes. Straddling puts you between the throw and the base, so you can catch at the bag and drop the tag in front of it as the runner slides in.
What is a slap tag? After catching the ball, you bring the glove down to the ground in front of the base so the sliding runner tags himself, then pull it away and show the ball.
Can you practice tag plays alone? Yes, for mechanics: put a throw-down base in front of a ball rebounder, throw into the net and tag on the return. Live tags with a runner need teammates.
Fast tags start with catching the ball at the bag, and a rebound net lets a third baseman rep it alone. See The Varsity Multi Sport Ball Rebounder.