Help with offensive signals

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Jun 18, 2012
3,183
48
Utah
While there are a lot of offensive signals, there are a select few that I really like.
We use wrisebands and I call out a color and a number.

Age group..16U

Batter: Hit Runner: Normal base-running.

Batter: Hit Runner: Ball down, you GO!
I like using this on when I have runners at second and third. I've proven time and time again in practice that odds are pretty good (better than 50-50) that the runner at third can score on any ball/bunt that hits the dirt.

Batter: Fake Bunt Runner: Half-way (GO! or Back!)
I like this one when I have runners at first and second because it gets the catcher to either throw back to the pitcher (we GO!) or she throws down to the third-baseman (we go BACK!), I like it's great to force them to throw to third in hope of an errant throw (we get to third or home).

Batter: Fake Bunt Runner: STEAL!!!

Batter: Bunt Runner: Take off on the pitch (Bunt-n-run)

Batter: Sacrifice Bunt Runner: Big lead-off; take off if ball down.
I like using this mainly when I have runners at first and second. However, if I use this with only a runner at 1B and she is fast, I have another option where it says Batter: Sacrifice Runner: You're going all the way to third if the ball is bunted down.

Batter: Surprise bunt Runner: Ball down, you GO!

Batter: MUST BUNT! Runner: Take off on the pitch (Suicide squeeze)


Given there is limited space with wristbands, are there any you'd dump and replace with something better???
 
Jul 10, 2014
1,283
0
C-bus Ohio
I was just looking for some info on how/why use wristbands in softball and came across this. I guess at higher levels, the number of plays gets pretty large, but I haven't seen MLB use wristbands on O, so I'm not sure they're really needed?

Anyway, I can see the utility, given the number of plays here. I think you could easliy drop the 1st play, just assume normal play unless otherwise instructed. You could call out bogus color/number combos to hide when a play is actually on. I also think you could combine bunt-n-run (really run-n-bunt), sac bunt, and suicide squeeze: on all of these the batter MUST get the bunt down and the runner is already going (sac bunt isn't really a sac if the runner holds). JMO and all that.
 
Jul 10, 2014
1,283
0
C-bus Ohio
Apparently other teams steal signals (usually pitching) more often than they do in baseball, but it has expanded to wristbands for all signals. Softball runners are not as intuitive as they used to be either.

Sounds like too much control from the dugout to me. But I'm just a rec coach and I green light my girls at all times. I totally get the intuitive comment - kids don't pop over to the park for pickup games like they used to, and they don't play pickle when only 3 or 4 show up. Lost art there.
 
Jun 18, 2012
3,183
48
Utah
Sounds like too much control from the dugout to me. But I'm just a rec coach and I green light my girls at all times. I totally get the intuitive comment - kids don't pop over to the park for pickup games like they used to, and they don't play pickle when only 3 or 4 show up. Lost art there.

It is very rare, at least from what I've seen, when a coach doesn't give offensive instructions through signals each pitch.
 
Jul 10, 2014
1,283
0
C-bus Ohio
It is very rare, at least from what I've seen, when a coach doesn't give offensive instructions through signals each pitch.

Agreed, I see it a lot even in our rec league. I start every season with the intention of using signals, and I even teach the girls simple stuff (either indicator or sequence), and then find that I don't use them. But I do see it all the way up to MLB, and I question whether or not there is any utility other than shifting fielders on D and calling for a bunt, steal, or run-n-hit on O.

I think OiLF hit the nail on the head with the lack of intuitiveness on the base paths. Whether that is caused by the constant control issued from the dugout or the dugout has to do it due to the lack of intuition I don't know. Very chicken and egg there.
 
Jun 18, 2012
3,183
48
Utah
I just love it when I come across a player who is so smart on the bases that I don't have to tell her what to do and when to do it. I often refer to these as "green-light" girls.
 
Jul 10, 2014
1,283
0
C-bus Ohio
The one play that gets forgotten (and I saw a great video from a private HS game with a pitcher who is now at MO, where this got screwed up), is running to third from second after the deep 3B or SS throws a regular or hard hit ground ball they picked up to first. Why don't the HS players know this?!

I often use the same play at 3B with a fast runner when a deep 3B or SS throws to 1st on a hard hit ground ball. Can't make a signal for that. I tell them this before every game and also on the field, even IF the other team can hear me. Pet peeve.

I teach my rec girls (10U and 12U) this as standard base running: On 2B, if the ball is hit in front of you wait for the throw then advance. On 3B, wait for the throw then go. This isn't normal?

My girls are taught to be ridiculous aggressive. I talked about the ol' "steal home on the throw back to the pitcher if they lob it" play at practice once, and next game had a girl pull it off on her own. I was laughing so hard I didn't even hear how upset (raging, actually) the opposing parents were. The opposing coach wasn't too happy, but her DD asked to play for me this fall lol!
 
Jun 18, 2012
3,183
48
Utah
The one play that gets forgotten ... is running to third from second after the deep 3B or SS throws a regular or hard hit ground ball they picked up to first. Why don't the HS players know this?!

I agree, and often forget to work on this in practices. Yet I think it should be a no-teach--THEY SHOULD KNOW THIS! I want thinking players
 

obbay

Banned
Aug 21, 2008
2,199
0
Boston, MA
I read this wrong- I thought you were talking about signals that were rude or could offend others.
I couldn't think of too many signals in that category, but they were all pretty clear...
 

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