2.0 Definition of Terms -  Catch/No Catch:

A catch is the act of a fielder in getting secure possession in the hand or glove of a ball in flight and firmly holding it before it touches the ground providing such fielder does not use cap, protector, pocket or any other part of the uniform in getting possession of the ball.  It is not a catch, however, if immediately following contact with the ball, the fielder collides with a player, or wall, or the fielder falls down, and causes the ball to drop.  It is a catch if the fielder drops the ball in the act of pulling out the ball from his glove, to throw following the catch.   To determine this, watch where the ball lands, if the ball lands directly under him, then the ball slide out from the glove making this a no catch.  If the ball falls out away from the fielder, then that would constitute the fielder pulling the ball out of his glove and in the process drops it….thus making this a catch.

Now, clearly, in the smaller ages, you have entrapment of the ball.  The child must be able to pick up the ball and show you it WITHOUT grabbing the ball with the other hand.  If he can’t do this without touching it, then it is not a catch.

If the ball is halfway in the glove, and the half of the ball lying on the ground, and child can not pick up his glove without any help, it is not a catch. 

So the key is to “wait” on your call….before deciding whether the runner is out, ask the fielder “show me the ball”, then make your call.