Base running question

for you base running gurus....what's a term that you use when you have a runner on base, fly ball hit to the out field but not deep enough to tag up but instead of using "halfway" as the word do you use another term because it's not always "halfway" in that situation. Hopefully you understand my question...thanks

RF they can go half way, CF maybe, LF probably not. Assuming they are on 3rd.

I think they need to figure it out themselves, each player is going to be different.

If OF catches ball and they go back to tag up I yell at them, one of my many pet peeves.

I think you can use "halfway" as a cue as long as they understand it's a nebulous term that just means "get off the base, but not so far you can't get back." If you explain that "halfway" doesn't literally mean 30 feet, they'll get it.

The important thing is for them, individually, to understand what their personal "halfway" is in various game situations. This is also why it can be hard to teach. There are general rules of thumb, but every player is going to be different. For most, this takes a lot of practice reps and even then they're going to make mistakes in games.

One important point about practicing this: Encourage them to make mistakes. If you don't let them know that making some outs during practice is OK, a lot of them will play it super conservative. You don't want that. You want them testing their own limits (both reaction/processing time and speed). Maybe it's a problem if the same girl makes the same mistake over and over, but I think it's a good thing if you see a mistake and then, on their next rep, you test to see if they learned from it.

A lot would depend on the base the runner is on and the OF position the ball is hit to, of course. I usually tell my girls to go as far as they feel comfortable going, knowing they need to be able to switch direction quickly whether the ball is caught/missed. If it's caught, depending, they had better sprint back. If it's dropped, they're on their horse and finding me at 3B to tell them what next. If there's a runner at 3rd, ANY fly ball they are tagging up on and sprinting regardless. I'll risk the out for the aggression.

lynx said:

for you base running gurus....what's a term that you use when you have a runner on base, fly ball hit to the out field but not deep enough to tag up but instead of using "halfway" as the word do you use another term because it's not always "halfway" in that situation. Hopefully you understand my question...thanks

Click to expand...

We use “as far as you can”. We tell the girls to get as far off as they can so that they can get back safely if the ball is caught.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I tell them to "Hang"

You can vary the number of steps based on the speed of the baserunner. Faster runs may get "5 steps", slower runners "3 steps". The strength of the outfielders arm can also vary the number of steps allowed. When outfielders are warming up, good base coaches watch to see who has a cannon!

Our coach uses the term "press" to express what everyone else has described above. The girls are taught that "press" means to get off as far as the ball will let them get without the possibility of getting doubled up. The base coaches can say this quickly and repeatedly while the ball is the air to remind them of what they are supposed to be doing. Works well for our team.

Off, work on how far off is for each girl. If i dont feel like they are "off" far enough then i will be a little more direct with "offofffoff" otherwise it is off....off... back/go

Never really thought about what I say. But it's "give me a little bit" "halfway" ..."stick on the base or stick" is I want them to stay.