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Jun 11, 2013
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I have a few situation that I am wondering about. I had to guest coach on my DD's team this weekend and wanted to see how you guys handle this situation.

We are a 14U B team if that makes any difference.


1. How many have 2nd backup on steals.

2. How many have SS back up on pickoffs to 3rd.

3. For lack of a better term we don't have good 2B so does anyone just consider leaving 1st home on the bunt in most circumstances

4. Do you have 2B run over and cover 2nd on every pitch if there is a runner on 2nd.
 

Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
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1. How many have 2nd backup on steals.

Yes, unless the batter is trying to bunt, and then the first priority of 2B is to cover 1B.

2. How many have SS back up on pickoffs to 3rd.

Yes...

3. For lack of a better term we don't have good 2B so does anyone just consider leaving 1st home on the bunt in most circumstances

Been in that situation, and if your P and 3B are reasonably quick, there's a good argument for doing just that. From what I see at the younger ages, a crashing 1B is usually the least likely to field the ball.

4. Do you have 2B run over and cover 2nd on every pitch if there is a runner on 2nd.

Not so much cover 2B, but make sure that the throw back to P is actually caught by the P.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
I have a few situation that I am wondering about. I had to guest coach on my DD's team this weekend and wanted to see how you guys handle this situation.

We are a 14U B team if that makes any difference. - Makes all the difference in the world.


1. How many have 2nd backup on steals.
Sometimes 2B has the coverage, sometimes SS. Both will go toward bag and CF always has backup.

2. How many have SS back up on pickoffs to 3rd.
This is the responsibility of LF. On a good pickoff no way SS gets there in time. We will have the 3B play up and SS try to come in from behind, but you better have a competent pitcher.

3. For lack of a better term we don't have good 2B so does anyone just consider leaving 1st home on the bunt in most circumstances.
That is certainly an option. Depending on who I have where, and who is at the plate sometimes 1st crashes, sometimes 1B stays back. Last weekend we played a small fast team. Put one of my athletes at 2B and played 1B back and which shut them down.

4. Do you have 2B run over and cover 2nd on every pitch if there is a runner on 2nd.
No. Depends on situation. Either SS or 2B may get them moving toward bag. Or we may seemingly ignore them to setup a pickoff to a charging CF.

This is for a pretty experienced 18U team. YMMV. There is no right answer. You need to do what is right for your team and make no apologies. IMO one of the biggest mistakes coaches make is to attempt to coach it like they see it done in the WCWS. Most teams cannot execute at that level. If they do they end up at the WCWS.
 
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Jun 11, 2013
2,619
113
Just to add to this here is my opinion.

1. It does't make sense to get 2 kids in motion on a steal attempt. If they don't leave early they just can't get there.

2. I don't have a problem with SS moving over there as long as it's after the the swing and doesn't affect her positioning. In rec it's a different story, but if our
number 1 catcher fires there is zero chance SS gets there. If we throw to 3rd I assume a bad throw is a run and LF needs to prevent other BR's from moving up.

3. Ideally I would prefer to get a better 2B, and last year had 2 real good ones, but I see more balls missed than I see 1B making the play on the ball. Of course a good team
will make you pay if they notice you doing this so you need to change it up a little but for standard bunt I like keeping her back.

4. I don't like to cover every pitch although I would prefer my middle look to backup. We haven't had an overthrow with runners on base in 4 tournaments but need to be thinking about it. There is no chance I'll fire from C down to 2nd to try and pick her off. I would if I was on an A team and had the players, but I just see it as a waste of time.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
The reason I want both my middle infielders near bag on #1 is in case the ball gets away from whoever has the coverage. If it dribbles into the grass then the runner will probably get to 3B. Meanwhile the CF is there back in the grass for an errant, missed, or redirected throw.
 
Jun 11, 2013
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113
riseball, do you teach the one not covering to vacate on the pitch or wait until the ball is by the batter? I really appreciate your responses.
 
Sep 29, 2014
2,421
113
I think a lot of people forget or fail to understand that if your outfielder have not run the most during the half inning on defense they are not executing properly, they have LOTS of back up responsibilities.

1. Depends if the lefty slapper is slapping I'm not pulling my SS a good slapper will just kill you by just hitting it to SS position that was just vacated, but normally YES, although if CF is doing her job and the ball does not take a really crazy bounce the runner should not be able to make it to 3B.

2. On pick off plays to ANY base your outfielders are the backup that is why they always need to be ready and if it is called by C they better be watching for the sign.

3. Depends but if you are playing 14U and your 2B can't cover first on a bunt you need a new 2B, this is really basic stuff all my 12U rec girls could do, even the ones that were at the bottom skill wise.

4. usually yes its only a couple steps and keeps you moving
 
Feb 3, 2011
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I do not coach anymore, but even at 14u, I would still have 3B as the primary on bunts. In your situation, I would expect 1B to get anything that's about halfway down the line. I don't want to sound dismissive, and understand that you have to coach the personnel you've got rather than the personnel you want, but I don't think it's that hard to train an average player to get from position at 2B over to 1B to receive the throw. If your 2B is very slow and you think there's a greater than 50-60% chance the batter is going to bunt, have 2B cheat over a step or 2.

I agree with Rise on why you have both middles move to the vicinity on a steal attempt at 2B. There's just too much real estate out there and there's no reason not to have the other standing and doing nothing while giving up a free base off a deflection.

Both SS and LF are backing up the pickoff at 3.

What I have observed is that there are more free outs available with a runner on 2B than some teams will take advantage of. I don't think it's an absolute necessity for 2B to try to beat the runner back to the bag on EVERY pitch, but I think playing a little cat-and-mouse can lead to an easy pickoff or simply result in limiting the size of a runner's lead. As you describe your team, however, there may be a teaching advantage in having your 2B candidates get there every time.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
riseball, do you teach the one not covering to vacate on the pitch or wait until the ball is by the batter? I really appreciate your responses.

If they do not have the coverage they should not vacate with the runner as the pitch is probably to their side of the field and should expect the ball. One if the hardest leaps of faith for a MI is find that balance of when to break with the runner and not get caught by a ball right at them. At some point the intended pitch location may dictate which MI has the coverage at 2B. If you have a runner on 1st and are going inside on a RHB trying to get a 6-4-3 then having the SS cover on an attempt is a bad idea. With some teams all you have to do is show bunt or have the runner take a hard lead and the infield immediately shifts and you can turn it to your advantage. Like some teams if we see it we will go with a hit and run and go right at the vacating MI. Properly executed it is a beautiful thing that sucks the life out of the opposing team. :)
 
Last edited:
Jun 11, 2013
2,619
113
I think a lot of people forget or fail to understand that if your outfielder have not run the most during the half inning on defense they are not executing properly, they have LOTS of back up responsibilities.

1. Depends if the lefty slapper is slapping I'm not pulling my SS a good slapper will just kill you by just hitting it to SS position that was just vacated, but normally YES, although if CF is doing her job and the ball does not take a really crazy bounce the runner should not be able to make it to 3B.

2. On pick off plays to ANY base your outfielders are the backup that is why they always need to be ready and if it is called by C they better be watching for the sign.

3. Depends but if you are playing 14U and your 2B can't cover first on a bunt you need a new 2B, this is really basic stuff all my 12U rec girls could do, even the ones that were at the bottom skill wise.

4. usually yes its only a couple steps and keeps you moving

Agree on 1 I guess I'm just not a fan of having 2 players in motion

on 3, I don't know how these girls got to be on this team, They have speed to cover the bunt, but are short and just can't catch the throw unless it's perfect. I have never
seen a worse defensive team. But we can hit. We only have a few more months before we split up 16 and 14 so we'll add some players for 16 that can play. We really aren't any better than a 12U all star team on D. I don't know if the coaches even realize how bad they are. I knew it, but was force to coach this weekend and had to try and make lineups and had our backups SS who is an upgrade at 2nd get hurt in the first game. I would say we have 2 plus defensive players with a couple average.
 

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