Many times when a runner reaches 1st base he is talked to by the 1st base coach. Among the items of business are how many outs, what to do on line drives, ground balls, fly balls. They remind the runner about not being tagged out on balls hit to the 2B. They remind the runner about tagging on potential "can of corn" fly balls.
I contend that one item of interest should be the tag ball at 1B.
Here's what I mean.
If the ball is hit down the line where the 1B fields it, he will likely tag the bag. This takes the force play off. The runner heading to 2B does not need to continue to advance.
The 1B coach could say "listen for the tag shout by the 1B." If he yells tag you may want to reverse field and come back to the bag if you think you're out by a lot. In amateur baseball this would require two throws and a tag to record the out.
I like the play. However, the play would need some foresight by the 1B coach. Amateur baseball players simply aren't going to think about this on their own.
I haven't actually seen this play but somewhere down the line someone will do it and I'll certainly be impressed.
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Another consideration under these conditions is to encourage the amateur player to 'run' into a defender who does not have the ball and try to encourage an obstruction call from the umpire, granting the player 2nd base.
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