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Baserunning

⚾ Base Running Drills

BASE RUNNING BASICS (Machine Pitch, Minors)

  1. Line players up at Home Plate. Have them run to and past 1st base.
  2. Same as above, but have the coach tell players to run to 2nd base (no overrunning). Mix up directions so some stay at 1st and some go to 2nd.
  3. Line players up at 1st base. Have them run to 3rd base. Mix up instructions so runners either stop at 2nd or continue to 3rd (no overrunning).
  4. Create two lines (Home & 1st). Batter swings, drops bat, runs to 1st. Runner on 1st advances to 2nd. After several rounds, mix it up so hitters may go to 2nd and runners may go to 3rd. Emphasize listening to coaches.

ROUND (FLARE) ON BASE HIT (Machine Pitch, Minors, Majors)

Before starting, demonstrate how a runner “flares out” when rounding 1st base on a base hit.

  1. Line players at Home. On coach’s signal, run to and past 1st base.
  2. After several reps, players flare halfway down the line, go about ¼ toward 2nd, then return to 1st.
  3. Coach in 1st base box calls out: “HIT” (flare in foul territory and round base) or “THROW” (run straight through 1st).

Variation:

Runners at Home, 1st, and 2nd. On signal: runner from Home rounds 1st and returns; runner on 1st rounds 2nd and returns; runner on 2nd rounds 3rd and continues home.

PRIMARY & SECONDARY LEADS (Machine Pitch, Minors, Majors)

  1. Pitcher on mound, catcher behind plate. Players line up at 1st base.
  2. On release of pitch (Majors) or when ball crosses home plate (Machine Pitch/Minors), runner takes lead, then rotates to back of line.

Note: Emphasize correct timing of leads based on league rules.

MAJORS ADVANCED VARIATION

  1. Add a 1st baseman covering the bag. Pitcher takes sign and goes into stretch as runner takes primary lead.
  2. If runner is too far off, pitcher makes a controlled throw to 1st to push runner back.
  3. After several rounds, pitcher either attempts a pickoff or delivers home. If ball goes home, runner takes a secondary lead.

Teaching Tip: This is a great time to teach proper pickoff mechanics and introduce a “Catcher’s Call” system for signaling pickoff attempts.