In softball, what does tagging up mean?

Your softball team is trailing by a run but you're standing on third base when your power-hitting teammate comes to bat. She takes a mighty swing and drives the ball to deep left field. read more

Tag-Up Rule. In softball and baseball, the tag-up rule requires baserunners to hold their base until an opposing player catches a ball hit in the air or the ball drops. If the opponent catches the ball, the runner must return to touch the base and then has the choice of remaining on the base or attempting to legally advance. read more

So when a fly ball is hit, and appears catchable, the runner returns to their base and waits. Once the ball is caught, the runner taps the base with their foot and decides whether to try to advance. The act of returning to the base to touch ("tag") it is called tagging up. read more

In softball, to tag up is for a baserunner to retouch or remain on their starting base (the time-of-pitch base) until (after) the ball either lands in fair territory or is first touched by a fielder. By rule, baserunners must tag up when a fly ball is caught in flight by a fielder. read more