Do players need to watch where they hit the ball

[smallball]

C'mon Chin, don't be silly...It is very apparent when a player is rounding second and she picks up the third base coach and either holds or continues to 3 based on his/her guidance, it is another thing when she is watching the left fielder to see if they are making a play and she gets strung out between 2nd and 3rd because she can't decide what to do. All the while, me the base coach has been watching and evaluating the defensive players to measure their abililty to make a play. Kids don't think two and three steps ahead, coaches have to...

Kids who are taught to rely solely on the base coach to make the decision won't think two and three steps ahead because they don't have to. Again, this is a skill that can be taught in practice. Some kids will get it and some won't, but to assume none of them can get it is silly.

This past spring I watched a former player run through 2 different stop signs in one game and advance safely both times. Her coach's response? "Girl, you have a mind of your own out there, I don't know what I'm going to do with you."

 

[FPMark]

So do you recomend taking a peek at the 3rd base coach while going to 2nd if there is going to be a close play at 2nd? Running to 1st on a ground ball, there is always a close play, so getting there as soon as possible is the main priority. The only reason to take a peek is to see if the ball was mishandled. That is the 1st base coach's job, to watch for an opportunity to take 2nd on a mishandled ball. Looking at the play when the ball has not been mishandled is a mistake and will slow the runner down. When going to 2nd, looking at the 3rd base coach is only done when there is a possibility of going to 3rd, meaning the runner is garenteed to make it to 2nd.

Let's be real here. Yes the runner should be taught baserunning skills. But one of the skills they need to be taught is when to depend on the base coaches, and when to make a decision on their own. My determining factor is when looking at the play will detract from running speed and raise the possibility of causing the player to make an out. I also believe that the runner should know when they hit the ball whether this is the case or not. If you teach your runners to never trust the 1st base coach, to not pay attention to the feel of a ground ball verses line drive when hit, and to look at the play for themselves, even when it will slow them down and thus up the chances of the defense throwing them out at 1st, well I just disagree.

 

[Huskerdu]

If you teach your runners to never trust the 1st base coach, to not pay attention to the feel of a ground ball verses line drive when hit, and to look at the play for themselves, even when it will slow them down and thus up the chances of the defense throwing them out at 1st, well I just disagree.

This is probably the defining post for the topic and the initial question in the OP.

 

[chinamigarden]

So do you recomend taking a peek at the 3rd base coach while going to 2nd if there is going to be a close play at 2nd? Running to 1st on a ground ball, there is always a close play, so getting there as soon as possible is the main priority. The only reason to take a peek is to see if the ball was mishandled. That is the 1st base coach's job, to watch for an opportunity to take 2nd on a mishandled ball. Looking at the play when the ball has not been mishandled is a mistake and will slow the runner down. When going to 2nd, looking at the 3rd base coach is only done when there is a possibility of going to 3rd, meaning the runner is garenteed to make it to 2nd.

Let's be real here. Yes the runner should be taught baserunning skills. But one of the skills they need to be taught is when to depend on the base coaches, and when to make a decision on their own. My determining factor is when looking at the play will detract from running speed and raise the possibility of causing the player to make an out. I also believe that the runner should know when they hit the ball whether this is the case or not. If you teach your runners to never trust the 1st base coach, to not pay attention to the feel of a ground ball verses line drive when hit, and to look at the play for themselves, even when it will slow them down and thus up the chances of the defense throwing them out at 1st, well I just disagree.

Its not a matter of mistrusting the 1st base coach. Its a matter of knowing as soon as possible if she should angle out for a turn. If the ball is right down the 3rd baseline and gets past the 3rd baseman, I want that runner starting her route for a turn ASAP so she can be in position to take 2nd if possible. If she waits for the 1st base coach, to tell her she is going to have to make one of those question mark shaped turns which takes more time then she has.

But I suppose me and Coach Candrea will just have to keep doing to the way you see as wrong. I would love for anyone on here to post me a training video or training tip from any college coach or national team coach that says, never peek at the ball just run to first and your coach will tell you what to do.

 

[softballphreak]

Its not a matter of mistrusting the 1st base coach. Its a matter of knowing as soon as possible if she should angle out for a turn. If the ball is right down the 3rd baseline and gets past the 3rd baseman, I want that runner starting her route for a turn ASAP so she can be in position to take 2nd if possible. If she waits for the 1st base coach, to tell her she is going to have to make one of those question mark shaped turns which takes more time then she has.

But I suppose me and Coach Candrea will just have to keep doing to the way you see as wrong. I would love for anyone on here to post me a training video or training tip from any college coach or national team coach that says, never peek at the ball just run to first and your coach will tell you what to do.

Define what peek is and when to peek.

If a ball is hit down the 3rd base line and is a bang-bang play at 1st do you want the runner turning to look at the 3rd baseman?

So the 1st base coach should be yelling "Look behind you!" to pick up the ball?

 

[softballphreak]

Define what peek is and when to peek.

If a ball is hit down the 3rd base line and is a bang-bang play at 1st do you want the runner turning to look at the 3rd baseman?

So the 1st base coach should be yelling "Look behind you!" to pick up the ball?

I'm certain Candrea would tell you taking a peek is not an absolute.

 

[smallball]

What I teach

First, it's a foregone conclusion that the player should be able to feel whether she hits a ground ball, a line drive or a fly ball. I just don't know what to say to anyone who assumes otherwise, or assumes other people think otherwise.

Some of you have said that the runners should know when it is their decision to run, and when it should be the coach's. I agree 100%. To me the test is simple: if the ball is in front of the runner, it's her decision; if it's behind her it's the coach's.

Every ball that batter hits is in front of her.

On ground balls she's taught to "take a peek" after about 5 steps to see whether the IF plays it cleanly, bobbles it, or it gets through. On clean plays, bobbles, or if it hasn't reached the fielder it's through first. If the throw is errant, the 1B coach will be her eyes and dictate whether or not she goes 2. If it the ground ball gets through, she's automatically thinking two and doing the ole banana. Again, the ball is in front of her so she makes the decision whether or not to try for 2, depending on what happens in the OF.

What is "taking a peek"? Let's be real here, the runner doesn't have to turn her head one iota to see whether the IF makes a play on a ground ball; she can move her eyes left or use peripheral vision. I will concede that balls right up the 3B line are tougher, but you can see the 3B bag without turning your head until you're about 15' up the 1B line. Don't believe me? Look for yourselves when you go to the field this afternoon. By the time the runner is 15' up the baseline, the decision has been made, so there need not be a head turn, or just a slight one if she waits a little long to peek.

I understand that players run faster with their heads straight forward than they do with them turned to the side, but they don't have to turn their heads to find the ball. Besides, the reality is even if the runner does have to turn her head once for a ball up the 3B line, the amount of time that takes off the time to first is negligible when you consider a human is making the safe or out call.

I don't want to get off topic here, but I'm really curious to know: those of you who say the runner should know when it's her decision and when it's the coach's, by what criteria do they make that determination?

 

[softballphreak]

First, it's a foregone conclusion that the player should be able to feel whether she hits a ground ball, a line drive or a fly ball. I just don't know what to say to anyone who assumes otherwise, or assumes other people think otherwise.

Some of you have said that the runners should know when it is their decision to run, and when it should be the coach's. I agree 100%. To me the test is simple: if the ball is in front of the runner, it's her decision; if it's behind her it's the coach's.

Every ball that batter hits is in front of her.

On ground balls she's taught to "take a peek" after about 5 steps to see whether the IF plays it cleanly, bobbles it, or it gets through. On clean plays, bobbles, or if it hasn't reached the fielder it's through first. If the throw is errant, the 1B coach will be her eyes and dictate whether or not she goes 2. If it the ground ball gets through, she's automatically thinking two and doing the ole banana. Again, the ball is in front of her so she makes the decision whether or not to try for 2, depending on what happens in the OF.

What is "taking a peek"? Let's be real here, the runner doesn't have to turn her head one iota to see whether the IF makes a play on a ground ball; she can move her eyes left or use peripheral vision. I will concede that balls right up the 3B line are tougher, but you can see the 3B bag without turning your head until you're about 15' up the 1B line. Don't believe me? Look for yourselves when you go to the field this afternoon. By the time the runner is 15' up the baseline, the decision has been made, so there need not be a head turn, or just a slight one if she waits a little long to peek.

I understand that players run faster with their heads straight forward than they do with them turned to the side, but they don't have to turn their heads to find the ball. Besides, the reality is even if the runner does have to turn her head once for a ball up the 3B line, the amount of time that takes off the time to first is negligible when you consider a human is making the safe or out call.

I don't want to get off topic here, but I'm really curious to know: those of you who say the runner should know when it's her decision and when it's the coach's, by what criteria do they make that determination?

When they can see the ball/play as clearly as the coach; most of the time when it's hit to the right side.

 

[chinamigarden]

Define what peek is and when to peek.

If a ball is hit down the 3rd base line and is a bang-bang play at 1st do you want the runner turning to look at the 3rd baseman?

So the 1st base coach should be yelling "Look behind you!" to pick up the ball?

A peek is a peek, a quick look to locate the ball at about 2 steps out of the box. Just like the video I posted shows.

 

[chinamigarden]

I'm certain Candrea would tell you taking a peek is not an absolute.

I am certain he teaches it. But of course nothing is absolute, which is what those who say it should NEVER happen are saying.