10u rec/LL rady for signs

Rocketech1 · Nov 24, 2015

quincy said:
Rant,

None of my players will do a fake bunt, they will be on the bench and out the next game.

At the younger levels, I have no problem faking a bunt, especially with a steal attempt at 2nd. Have the batter position themselves all the way to the back of the box, so its a slightly farther throw for the catcher and show bunt, which will be a little more distracting to the catcher and brings the defense in.

The only thing I don't like about the fake bunt is when the batter waves the bat around like a crazy person in an attempt to distract the pitcher, especially on an 3-0 count. To me this is "bush league". It always seemed like a desperate technique employed by the weak hitting teams. In 8U all-stars, one team tried this almost every pitch against my DD and she struck out the side. After that, they stopped doing it.

JAD · Nov 24, 2015

quincy said:
Rant,

None of my players will do a fake bunt, they will be on the bench and out the next game.

...............

quincy · Nov 24, 2015

Fake bunt is fine, showing bunt then hitting the ball I have an issue with.

Nothing anyone posts will change my position.

CPEM · Nov 24, 2015

bmakj said:
or sweats, I wear sweats or shorts depending on temperature, but good idea, belly for bunt, will try to find some other mnemonics, anyone got a good one for "take", "swing away", not certain yet if I will bother fake bunting (might let my more advanced girls do this at their discretion on swing aways or takes)

Take (or hold): make a fist with your hand, like you're holding something, and hold it up at shoulder level.

Swing away: left hand touches right shoulder and swipe across to left shoulder, like you're swinging.

Straight steal: Right hand to left forearm, slide down towards hand, as if to remind them to slide into the base.

Delay steal: swipe down on front side of both legs, as if to remind them to dust themselves off after sliding into the base.

Again, this is what I use with my younger kids to just get them the idea of signs and indicators. It's hard enough to have them try to remember something so I like to give them "clues" in the sign itself. If the opposing coach wants to use it against us, so be it.

marriard · Nov 24, 2015

For 10U rec I don't have a take sign. Even in travel we didn't have one until 12U-A and we didn't use it much that season. Even now in 14U we rarely take pitches. You get a good pitch - you hit it.

Really bunt, hit, steal, 'your choice' is about all you really need in 10U rec. Hit is the default if you don't see a sign, bunt is something obvious (belly for bunt is a good one) and elbow or fist is a good one for steal.

Oh we did have one where I just wave my hand over my head. That it is the sign for 'hit it over the outfielder's heads'. That is a good one.

Eric F · Nov 24, 2015

marriard said:
For 10U rec I don't have a take sign. Even in travel we didn't have one until 12U-A and we didn't use it much that season. Even now in 14U we rarely take pitches. You get a good pitch - you hit it.

This reminds me of a story from my DD's 10U select team last fall...

Down by 1 run in the bottom of the last inning against a team that we had clobbered multiple times before. Our bottom 2 batters (both speedy runners) get on base on a BB and an E, and we have runners at 1st and 3rd. #1 batter in the box (high average, consistent hard contact), followed by another good contact hitter, and our very best batter in the 3-hole. No outs. Things are looking good for a possible walk-off win.

For the first pitch, HC gives a take sign to the batter, and a steal sign to our runner at 1st. Pitch comes, runner goes. Batter sees a meatball down the middle and swings. Fly ball to RF, catch made. RF throws to 1B to double off the runner who was already at 2B by this time. 2 outs. Ball comes back to the circle. For no reason at all, our runner at 3rd steps off the base. 3 outs. Game over.

Moral: When the coach give you a take sign, you take.

CPEM · Nov 24, 2015

Eric F said:
This reminds me of a story from my DD's 10U select team last fall...
For the first pitch, HC gives a take sign to the batter, and a steal sign to our runner at 1st. Pitch comes, runner goes. Batter sees a meatball down the middle and swings. Fly ball to RF, catch made. RF throws to 1B to double off the runner who was already at 2B by this time. 2 outs. Ball comes back to the circle. For no reason at all, our runner at 3rd steps off the base. 3 outs. Game over.

That's got 10u written all over it. Nothing you can do but smile and hustle to the handshake line.

Eric F · Nov 24, 2015

CPEM said:
That's got 10u written all over it. Nothing you can do but smile and hustle to the handshake line.

Yep......That one still burns, though.

Terror Coach · Nov 25, 2015

Signs at this age are rough. Some just don't understand. I start every practice giving them a sign. They get it right they run to 1st. Wrong and they head to back of the line. This year I have an older 10u team. We have both physical and verbal signs. Coaches and parents in this area have no problem stealing signs. Once they start I go to verbal signs while giving them physical signs. The verbal sign for a bunt is my favorite. Great for when the other coach thinks we are swinging away and backs his 3rd basemen up.

FrozenRope · Nov 25, 2015

bmakj said:
will be coaching 10u rec/LL, with a mix of 8-10 yr olds, with a wide range of skill level, and also a fairly widespread range of passion for game, awareness of the game, etc.

my question is is a team like this ready for even rudimentary signs. If I use them, plan is to introduce one a week (we only have about 2-3 weeks of practice before opening day, so not all will be in place for every game), and to not change them game to game. not really worried about teams trying to steal them (although I bet some parents will!), I know I am too busy coaching my team to worry about trying to steal signs. Just would like to be able to signal very basic things to hitter and baserunner(s) (hit away, take, bunt, maybe fake bunt, steal, that would be about it). just worried that at my lower end of game awareness, it will be overwhelming. I will have some girls who also play travel ball, and they are used to signs, but I will also have a few first year players probably as well. at this level, i don't want any of the girls to feel bad by missing or getting a sign wrong, just would like to be able to signal bunt/take without the other team absolutely certain what is coming.

Hmmm... just out of curiosity, I assume LL means Little League? As far as I know, Bunting and Stealing are not allowed in the "Minor" division.....as least not here in PA. If it's not LL, or you have a local rule that overrides the LL rule and allows it....I say absolutely do it. Even if it's for NO OTHER REASON than to teach them to step out of the batters box and LOOK AT THE 3RD BASE COACH after every pitch. My first year of coaching LL Major division, I couldn't get them to look down the line, never mind know what the hell it meant if I slid my hand across my chest, or touched my ear.

10u rec/LL rady for signs

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Rocketech1

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Eric F

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Eric F

Terror Coach

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