The ball rolls to the fence. The outfielder grabs it and heaves it toward home. It bounces three times, rolls past everybody, and the runners keep going. If you coach or watch 10U to 12U games, you have seen this play. Cutoffs and relays fix it, and kids can learn them.
A cutoff or relay is an infielder who lines up between the outfielder and the base, so the outfielder makes a short, strong throw instead of one long one. Teach kids where to stand, to put both hands up and yell, and to throw chest high to that teammate.
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Young arms can't throw a ball all the way from the outfield to home on the fly. So we put a teammate in the middle. That teammate catches the ball and either throws it on or holds it.
- Cutoff: an infielder lines up on a throw going to a base. If the throw is good and there is a play, they let it go through. If not, they catch it and stop the runners.
- Relay: on a deep ball, an infielder runs out toward the outfielder, catches the throw and turns to make a second throw.
- The idea: two quick, short throws beat one long, bouncing one.
Coaches who teach this call it damage control. The goal isn't always an out. Often it's just keeping a single from turning into a triple.
Who goes where? A simple setup for 10U–12U
Every team does this a little differently, so follow your coach's plan. Here is a simple version many youth teams start with.
| Ball hit to | Relay or cutoff | Covers the bag |
|---|---|---|
| Left field (deep) | Shortstop goes out | Second baseman covers second |
| Left-center (deep) | Shortstop goes out | Second baseman covers second |
| Right-center (deep) | Second baseman goes out | Shortstop covers second |
| Right field (deep) | Second baseman goes out | Shortstop covers second |
| Single, throw to home | First or third baseman lines up | Catcher at home |
For younger teams, keep it even simpler: "If the ball gets past the infield, the closest middle infielder runs out with hands up." One rule they remember beats five they forget.
The four jobs of the cutoff player
- Get in line: stand in a straight line between the outfielder and the base. Teammates behind can yell "left!" or "right!" to help them line up.
- Hands up and loud: both arms high, yelling "Hit me, hit me!" so the outfielder can find them fast.
- Turn the glove side: stand sideways a little, glove side toward the base. That way they catch and turn without spinning all the way around.
- Listen for the call: a teammate behind the play (often the catcher) yells what to do.
Keep the calls to two at this age. "Cut!" means catch it and look to throw or hold. "Let it go!" means let the throw go through. Older teams add more calls later.
What the outfielder does
Outfielders have one big job: get to the ball fast, grab it, and get it in quickly. They don't need a cannon. They need a quick, accurate throw.
- Find the hands: look for the teammate with arms up, not the far-away base.
- Throw chest high: aim for the cutoff's chest. A throw on a line is easy to catch. One that bounces in the dirt is the worst case.
- Step toward the target: feet pointed where the ball is going, like any good throw.
- No hero throws: a throw that sails over the cutoff lets the other runners move up.
Here's a Coach BK line we use with outfielders: "Two choices: A. Do everything in your control. B. Anything but A." For a 10-year-old, that means you can't control where the ball is hit, but you can always sprint to it, throw to the hands and back up the play.
Three cutoff and relay drills for practice
Warm up arms first and keep the distances short for younger players. Stop any player whose arm hurts.
- Line relay race (5 minutes): split into two lines of three or four players, about 30 feet apart. Pass the ball down the line and back with a catch, glove-side turn and throw. First team done wins. It teaches the turn without any pressure.
- Hands-up hustle (5 minutes): a coach rolls a ball to the outfield. The outfielder runs it down while the right infielder sprints out, hands up, yelling. Throw to the chest. Rotate spots.
- The call game (10 minutes): add a runner and a catcher. The catcher yells "Cut!" or "Let it go!" late in the throw. The cutoff has to listen and react. Kids love it when the coach tries to trick them.
Run one of these every practice for a few weeks. Kids learn cutoffs by doing them, over and over, not by hearing a speech. Our free Baseball IQ Intro Course has more parent-led game-sense lessons, and Game IQ Playmaker ($49) is our four-week, 16-session Level 2 program that builds where-to-go and what-to-think habits for baseball and softball.
One thing to remember
Short, strong throws to a teammate with their hands up beat one long, wild throw every time.
What to do this week
At your next practice, teach the two calls, "Cut!" and "Let it go!" Then run the line relay race for five minutes and finish with the hands-up hustle.
Parent questions
What age should kids learn cutoffs and relays?
Most teams start teaching them around 9 or 10, when kids can catch and throw on purpose. Younger players can learn the simple version: throw the ball to the nearest infielder with their hands up.
Is the cutoff the same in softball?
Yes, the idea is the same in softball: a teammate lines up between the outfielder and the base so throws are shorter and more accurate. The bases are closer, so plays happen faster and the throws are shorter.
Who should be the cutoff on a throw to home?
Many youth teams use the first or third baseman, lined up between the outfielder and home plate, with the catcher calling the play. Follow your coach's plan, because teams set this up in different ways.
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Sources: American Baseball Coaches Association, Inside Pitch: Execution of the Cutoff and Relay System · American Baseball Coaches Association, Inside Pitch: Making the Cut