Are there any coaches who don't claim to be aggressive at base running?

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Oct 22, 2009
1,532
0
PA
At the younger ages, I teach aggressive base running as a precursor to teaching team defense. The more they understand what base runners are trying to do, the more they anticipate and pay attention.
 
At 10u we were very aggressive stealing bases more times than not 2nd is a easy steal just cause the catchers we're inconsistent and usually not strong enough to get ahead of the runner (factor in pitching talent also) another thing we worked on at 10u-12u quite regularly was if a runner was on 1st bunt the batter bringing in 3rd and 1st stealing 2nd and 3rd by the player on 1st 9 times out of 10 3rd is wide open and free for the taking which really helped in developing their base running, in that situation on defense we would have left field burn in to cover 3rd so we didn't have that happen to us. I couldn't tell you at those ages how many games we won completely due to base running and being aggressive sure we got caught a bunch of times but overall the aggressiveness out weighed the negatives by along shot. I should add this is comp ball not rec.
 
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Jun 7, 2013
984
0
As a coach, I've found that with many teams that the quickest way to increase the total number of runs scored is to teach proper baserunning skills, whether considered aggressive or not. This means on an infield groundball running full speed thru 1st base and then stopping on the foul line within 5 or 6 steps and looking for an overthrow. It means properly rounding bags to increase speed around the base paths. It means using a rocker start and leaving the base a split second before the pitcher releases the ball. And it means proper tag ups and knowing that on potentially catachable fly balls that you get as far off the base as possible must still able to get back if caught. There's more to it, but I'm sure that you get the drift.
 
Apr 22, 2015
103
0
N.C., USA
Coogan, I agree with looking for opportunities and a real delay steal once is awhile isn't the problem. It's the coaches that just go 20 feet up the line just hoping for a bad throw on every pitch or doing it 5 times in an inning to a new pitcher starting out at 10U where you are just taking advantage of the other team. It forces coaches to keep the starting catcher in the whole game to stop it so they don't get to develop another. To me it's the equal to knowing a pitcher will never throw 3 strikes before 4 balls and telling your players to not swing.

That is my problem with our 10U rec league. The good teams (have a pitcher) basically do this every runner they get to third. Not only can we not get them out (C, P, 3B can never get everything right) but they run up the score without actually hitting any balls into the field. It also waste time with your catcher and pitcher having to walk/run them back to 3rd on balls they actually catch. Ruins the game IMO.

Soon as our county gets to all-stars... they can't hit and the teams are too good to do that 3rd base crap. In addition, the 'good' pitchers in our league haven't had any experience in dealing with the same strategy. In all stars they have girls hitting them and alot of baserunners flying around. Hard to prepare them for that when they think they are hot stuff already.
 
Oct 22, 2009
1,532
0
PA
Hard to prepare them for that when they think they are hot stuff already.

That is the typical mentality of rec league players and parents. It is a mindset that is impossible to change until they play real teams and get beat badly.
 
Nov 8, 2014
182
0
" It also waste time with your catcher and pitcher having to walk/run them back to 3rd on balls they actually catch. Ruins the game IMO."

You're ruining the game, coach, and you need to know why. When the catcher catches a pitch with a runner on third ..throw it back 30 feet to the pitcher in the circle. The runner at third will either go back immediately or take home immediately. One or the other..if u run 'em back, you're ruining the game. Learn the look back rule.

As for running on opponents who are too weak to defend the steal or the extra bases....that's the NAME OF THE GAME. Get 60 feet every chance you can until you can't anymore. This isn't baseball where base hits and advancing runners is the key..this is softball. the bases are 60 feet away, the ball is bigger, it isn't as lively, and you have to win on the basepaths. Steal WHENEVER you can and let the kids decide if they can get another base. If you say go, they waited too long.
 
May 18, 2009
1,314
38
I refrained from aggressive base running in league until the playoffs. In league you can steal on most teams at any point in the game. I wanted the runners to learn to go when the pitch was in the dirt. I wanted them to learn to take a lead at the release of the ball and make a proper decision on what they were seeing the catcher do. Depending on the type of team and the quality of the opponent base running should be subjective.
 
Apr 22, 2015
103
0
N.C., USA
Exactly... I guess PP doesn't realize the catcher has to throw the ball accurately back to the pitcher and the pitcher has to catch it. Our league is a beginners 10U rec league and they struggle with the basics. I like to teach them correct baserunning too and since that stuff doesn't work in the tourneys why run up the score in rec league regular season... the girls are too good there. Even telling them the correct way to defend it doesn't mean they will remember what we just told them.

As for learning rules... no comment.

I also said it ruined the game to me (and my team)... not for everybody everywhere.
 

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