More Baserunning Treats!

In Baseball Chronicles 1, I wrote how baserunning can be considered baseball’s 10th man. My point is that not everyone practices baserunning and every coach should. There are an endless number of drills and techniques coaches can and should practice. Here are a few.
1) Turn to the Turtle
I’ve told this story many times about how a number of years ago we were in the first base dugout. Outside the fence I heard some commotion and between innings went out to see what was happening. At our field the spectator stands are separated by two fences, one for the field and another for the woods and stream that abutt our field. Anyway when I went outside, there were about 10 people looking at the base of the fence bordering the woods and stream. I moved to the front and saw what everyone was staring at. A big turtle the size of a large pizza was stuck under the fence desperately trying to move but the poor guy couldn’t as the fence spikes were digging into his shell. I bent down and pushed gently on the shell and loosened the fence. The turtle moved unlike a turtle going down to the stream. He was in “Sprint mode.” The reason I tell this story is because I repeat it every year to my team emphasizing this happened on the first base line. So I always tell my team when running out a ground ball or an infield hit, always turn to foul territory or “turn to the turtle.”. Now before you say “Boy Coach Schupak doesn’t really know the rules about baserunning and intent.” Well I do know the rule states that the player can turn to fair territory as long as he doesn’t have the “intent” to go to second base. The reason I take the extra precaution is because every year in our league we have an umpire who misses this call and will call the baserunner out on a tag even if he doesn’t have the intent to go to second base. And many times it is the young umpires who are intimidated by some coaches who yell out “tag him, he turned into fair territory.” Are there umpires that don’t know all the rules? You bet! So I teach my team when they are running out an infield ground ball or an infield hit, “turn to the turtle” and they all know what I mean.
2) Stealing Second Base
Though baserunning is a strategy, we always try to make it into some kind of a drill. Stealing second base is probably the easiest of the bases to steal in youth baseball. I am very aggressive as a coach trying to get my baserunner into scoring position. Even though in most youth baseball leagues the players cannot run until the ball passes home plate, it really takes an excellent throw on line to get the base runner out. To throw from the catcher to second base is the longest throw to any of the bases and most catchers don’t do it correctly. The baserunner should make sure he is on the furthest edge of first base toward second with his knees bent.. His first step should be with his foot on the base which might seem counter productive but this will give him an explosive first step. I also like my players to learn to move their left arm in a quick motion toward second base. And coaches need to reinforce that players should aim toward the back part of second base, the furthest point from the catcher (remember baseball is a game of inches). And to always slide. This is what I consider the most important aspect of base running. Sliding! In this drill, the coach will set up three first bases as well as three second bases so three players can go at once. I like doing it on the outfield grass so the players can slide easily. They line up and the coach will pitch and the players will run when the ball crosses the home plate. There is no throw or any defenders. Just baserunners getting repetitions.
3) Fake Steal
The purpose of the fake steal is to draw a throw to the next base hoping there is an overthrow and the base runner will get that base or more. I usually practice the fake steal
with the baserunner going from first or second. We line players at first base with one or more lines. A second drop down base behind the regular first base is fine. As the ball crosses home plate, the player will turn and sprint as hard as he can if he is attempting to steal the next base. He will count to himself up to either four, five or six steps. Whatever number of steps ( it can vary from 4-6) the coach has practiced with and run and say it is 5, count up to 5 and stop short and peak quickly, with square shoulders toward the catcher’s direction and try to pick up the ball which hopefully is in mid-flight going toward second. If the ball is overthrown at second or mishandled, the base runner may try and proceed toward the next base. This is a good strategy playing other leagues when the skill of the catcher is unknown and you want to see how quick and accurate he is getting rid of the baseball. Now “caveat emptor” if the catcher is a smart twelve year old and throws behind the baserunner to first. Your player will be in a pickle. But usually if the baserunner sells the steal attempt well and the coach yells something like “slide” from the dugout, the catcher will usually throw the ball.
4) Running From Second to Home
I always have my team practice running from home to second and first to third. But running from second to home is practiced more than any of the other two just mentioned. This is because of the wide turn the players always take round third. I’ve even had players running so hard they go around me coaching third base. I also always like the players to round the base and stop. When practicing going from second to home always have a third base coach in the coaching box.
These are just a four baserunning drills and techniques I have my team practice. The one thing I urge you all to do is to practice baserunning. Most other teams don’t and this will put your team in an advantageous situation.