Not a coach, but the biggest thing I'd offer is to know exactly how the kids have been trained to run. Very frustrating for a kid to be taught one thing all week then have something else expected during a game.
New to coaching bases. I need help
- Thread starter teamM
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All good advice. Stress the little things. Make sure they know how many outs there are. Watch out for line drives. Make sure runner on 3rd leading off in foul territory. Pay attention to warm ups and see who can throw and can't. When situations are obvious like 3 and 2 2 outs have runners go on pitch (if forced). Make sure they are running with 2 outs. Had a girl last year on 14U A team who constantly would hold with 2 outs.
- Feb 7, 2013
- 3,188
- 48
In general, be aggressive on offense and conservative on defense.
With a runner on 3rd base, if the batter walks, send her to 2b without stopping at 1st, every time. At this level, few teams know how to defend this situation.
Big leadoffs. If the catcher is not frequently throwing down to 1st or 3rd, you are not taking a big enough lead.
Talk to your baserunners. Remind then how many outs, to look for the steal sign, go home on passed balls if home is hot.
If you are coaching third, you are likely giving signs to the batter and baserunners. Learn the signs and practice giving them. There is a whole art to giving the correct signs in certain situations. Takes many, many games to perfect and what separates the great base coaches from the good ones.
Good luck.
With a runner on 3rd base, if the batter walks, send her to 2b without stopping at 1st, every time. At this level, few teams know how to defend this situation.
Big leadoffs. If the catcher is not frequently throwing down to 1st or 3rd, you are not taking a big enough lead.
Talk to your baserunners. Remind then how many outs, to look for the steal sign, go home on passed balls if home is hot.
If you are coaching third, you are likely giving signs to the batter and baserunners. Learn the signs and practice giving them. There is a whole art to giving the correct signs in certain situations. Takes many, many games to perfect and what separates the great base coaches from the good ones.
Good luck.
One thing I do is let them know where the ball is, e.g. on a steal of second let the runner know that the ball is at second base after the catcher's throw, and let her know when it has gone back to the pitcher. Also, if the ball is back on the infield after a hit to the outfield, make sure they know it so they don't get too crazy rounding bases.
Lots of good advice, but I think the primary concern hasn't been addressed: what does the HC want? Know exactly what your HC expects of you, then apply all of the advice in the thread.
- Aug 15, 2014
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Don't teach stupid aggression, be smart and don't expect players to miss throws and tags
Being a good base runner is about ARR. Anticipate-Read-React
Runners should always "follow ball back "to the pitcher
Look for lazy catchers , know where the strong arms are
Being a good base runner is about ARR. Anticipate-Read-React
Runners should always "follow ball back "to the pitcher
Look for lazy catchers , know where the strong arms are
- Nov 8, 2014
- 182
- 0
Lots of excellent advice on this thread.
I would add this....10U and 12U..you should be taking the pitch and stealing 2nd on the first pitch until they can nail you 3 times out of 5. And that WILL rarely happen. RUN!! At third...the kid takes home on a wild pitch or PB every time the kid thinks she can make it. If you said GO, the runner waited too long. Let 'em play the game, it's their decision!! Their instincts get very good when you let them test themselves.
And one other must do at 10U and 12U..runner at 3B ALWAYS leads in foul territory and NEVER goes back to the bag until P has the ball in the circle. And never have a lead that's so aggressive you get picked off, ever. Coaching third I say, "watch the throw......back you go (when the pitcher catches it). It trains them to always pay attention to a live ball.
You WILL score runs on bad throws back to pitcher. Guaranteed.
I would add this....10U and 12U..you should be taking the pitch and stealing 2nd on the first pitch until they can nail you 3 times out of 5. And that WILL rarely happen. RUN!! At third...the kid takes home on a wild pitch or PB every time the kid thinks she can make it. If you said GO, the runner waited too long. Let 'em play the game, it's their decision!! Their instincts get very good when you let them test themselves.
And one other must do at 10U and 12U..runner at 3B ALWAYS leads in foul territory and NEVER goes back to the bag until P has the ball in the circle. And never have a lead that's so aggressive you get picked off, ever. Coaching third I say, "watch the throw......back you go (when the pitcher catches it). It trains them to always pay attention to a live ball.
You WILL score runs on bad throws back to pitcher. Guaranteed.
Along with all the other suggestions, I would refrain from using NO... with the crowd yelling, the girls yelling, the coaches yelling, and their 10, NO and GO sound too similar.
I use GO and either STOP or BACK I have learned to not say NO
I use GO and either STOP or BACK I have learned to not say NO
I agree with this...you want to keep pressure on the defense, but not be aggressive to the point you are giving up runners for no reason. One thing to add is when should a runner leave the base. You will typically her they should leave the base when the pitcher releases the ball. This is true, but if they wait to see that their reaction time is not fast enough to where they are actually leaving the bag when the ball is released.
At a camp DD attended, Chenita Rogers (former Cal-State Fullerton, USA National Team, etc.) taught the girls to watch the pitchers back foot and to push off the bag when the back of the pitchers foot lifted off of the mound. She said by doing that the reaction time will match that they will leave the bag at the same time as the ball is released.
If it's 10U rec and you have dropped third strike do whatever it takes to clear first base unless catcher is a stud. The other thing I ignored earlier is to coach to the situation.
If you have 2 outs you might be willing to gamble at home versus no outs,etc.
Aggression is great, but don't make them get out versus running into foolish outs. Going for 2 when you have a 50-50 shot when you can steal 90 percent of the time.
If you have the bases loaded and pitcher just threw 9 straight balls don't try and score on a pass ball with a short backstop when the count just went to 3-0.
I may not have the total killer instinct, but it's also nice to know when to call of the dogs. If you are up 12-0 don't delay steal, have your runners only go on a passed ball,etc.
The other thing I've learned is just because it didn't work doesn't mean you are wrong. Sometimes a kid slips or the fielder makes a great play or there is a bad call. If you can get your kids to not hesitate you will be right more often than not.
If you have 2 outs you might be willing to gamble at home versus no outs,etc.
Aggression is great, but don't make them get out versus running into foolish outs. Going for 2 when you have a 50-50 shot when you can steal 90 percent of the time.
If you have the bases loaded and pitcher just threw 9 straight balls don't try and score on a pass ball with a short backstop when the count just went to 3-0.
I may not have the total killer instinct, but it's also nice to know when to call of the dogs. If you are up 12-0 don't delay steal, have your runners only go on a passed ball,etc.
The other thing I've learned is just because it didn't work doesn't mean you are wrong. Sometimes a kid slips or the fielder makes a great play or there is a bad call. If you can get your kids to not hesitate you will be right more often than not.
