While coaching third at one of our games, something occurred to me that never had before: Are there universal mechanics used for the different instructions a third base coach gives a base runner?
This mostly occurred to me as a runner was cruising into third and I had both hands up, which is something I've seen hundreds of times from a coach (or a player at home) telling his runner to come in standing up. I also found myself just pointing at the base to remind them to stay on the base (some of our new girls occasionally overrun a base). And of course we all know the windmill arm motion to send a runner home.
As I thought about it, I realized there might be some other instructions I'd want to give in a quick hand signal (the difference between "hold at second," which I've always figured was the "talk to the hand" move and "easily come to a stop on third," which is the aforementioned two hands up).
And, as I type this, I realize that maybe some of you use different signals than what I've always done. And I'm not sure WHY I do some of these, other than I've either seen it or it just seems like the natural thing to do. But if there's a uniform set of signals, I'd prefer to start using those so I can teach them to the girls so they know what to look for.
This mostly occurred to me as a runner was cruising into third and I had both hands up, which is something I've seen hundreds of times from a coach (or a player at home) telling his runner to come in standing up. I also found myself just pointing at the base to remind them to stay on the base (some of our new girls occasionally overrun a base). And of course we all know the windmill arm motion to send a runner home.
As I thought about it, I realized there might be some other instructions I'd want to give in a quick hand signal (the difference between "hold at second," which I've always figured was the "talk to the hand" move and "easily come to a stop on third," which is the aforementioned two hands up).
And, as I type this, I realize that maybe some of you use different signals than what I've always done. And I'm not sure WHY I do some of these, other than I've either seen it or it just seems like the natural thing to do. But if there's a uniform set of signals, I'd prefer to start using those so I can teach them to the girls so they know what to look for.