Intermediate

Jeu de coupure

Also known as: homme de coupure, coupure de relais

Definition

Un jeu de coupure achemine un tir du champ extérieur à travers un joueur de champ intérieur (l’homme de coupure) placé entre le voltigeur et le marbre, permettant à la défense de rediriger les tirs ou d’améliorer la précision sur de longues distances.

Les tirs depuis le champ gauche ou droit profond perdent de la vitesse et de la précision sur plus de 200 pieds (60 m). Un homme de coupure — généralement l’arrêt-court ou le deuxième but — se place à un point intermédiaire où le tir peut être capté et redirigé pour couper un coureur suiveur au deuxième ou au troisième si le coureur de tête va marquer de toute façon. Une bonne exécution de la coupure exige que le voltigeur tire directement dans le gant de l’homme de coupure, que l’homme de coupure annonce « coupe » ou « laisse passer », et que tout le champ intérieur communique les cibles primaire et secondaire avant le jeu.

Beginner tip

Set up in a straight line between the outfielder and home, at a depth where you can still catch something slightly off-target and make a strong redirect from where you stand.

Advanced note

Make the catcher the decision-maker. They see the whole field and should be calling "cut three" or "let it go". At the same time, the ball is still travelling. This is. This is because the fielder in the lane usually cannot see the runner they would be throwing out.

Example

Un coureur s’apprête à s’élancer du troisième ; le voltigeur de gauche tire à l’arrêt-court de coupure, qui lit le jeu et tire au troisième pour retirer plutôt le coureur suiveur qui avance.

Why it matters

Those scoring rules put unusual pressure on a single decision. When the play at the plate is a touch rather than a tag, a ball redirected a step late is a run rather than a close call.

How it shows up on video

Look for an infielder. This means usually the shortstop or second baseman. This means stepping into the lane with hands raised as a target, then either intercepting and redirecting or letting the ball pass based on how the play at home is developing.

Common mistakes

Setting up too near the outfielder, which leaves the second leg to the plate longer than the arm can handle
The catcher failing to call the play early enough for the fielder in the lane to act on it
Letting every ball pass through without reading whether the runner is actually going to be safe
Outfielders aiming at home on balls where the run is scoring comfortably anyway, giving up the trailing runner for nothing

In SwingVantage Motion Lab

SwingVantage focuses primarily on swing mechanics, but supports team review of uploaded video to check interception positioning and outfield throw accuracy.

Frequently asked questions

How does the commitment line change the decision?

Once the runner crosses it — commonly marked about 20 feet up the third-base line — they cannot return, so the defence knows their destination. Many rulesets then make the play at the scoring plate a touch play, so the ball only has to arrive, not arrive somewhere taggable.

Who steps into the lane when a team plays four outfielders?

The rover changes the geometry. With a fourth outfielder covering the gaps the ball is retrieved closer in. As a result, the middle infielder can set up shallower and the play at the plate becomes genuinely makeable rather than a hopeful heave.

Related guides & benchmarks

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