Chapter 23. Baseball Coaches and Coaching the Bases

Good baseline and baseball coaches are invaluable. Baseball coaches are particularly important to the younger players. When a 10-year-old gets on base, he's too inexperienced and too excited to do much thinking about his next move. He needs calm, clear, concise instruction.

At the higher age levels, the base runner needs just as much instruction and assistance because the game is getting faster and more complicated.

The baseline and baseball coaches have three basic tasks:

1. Direct the traffic on the base paths
2. Keep the base runners alert to the tactical situation
3. Give Signs

The most important "traffic cop" is, of course, stationed at 3rd, some 15 feet in foul territory. When the ball is out of a runner's line of vision, the coach, through the use of hand and arm signals, tells him what to do-slide, round-the-base, stop on the base, or go on to the next base. Here's a set of signals that is simple and distinct: Slide!

Baseball Coaches will extend both arms downward with palms facing the ground, (to the left if he wants runner to slide left, to right if slide is to be to the right). Take a Turn!

Baseball Coach extend left arm over head with palm facing runner. He extends right arm toward runner and rapidly cranks right hand in small circle.

Stop on the Base! Coach points at the base.

Keep Going! Coach swings right arm in full circle.

The 3rd base coach should always adjust to the position of the oncoming base runner, so that he is constantly in the runner's line of vision. As the runner circles toward 3rd, for example, the coach should go down the base line toward home plate, keeping well in front of the runner.

After waving one runner on, the baseball coaches should immediately look for the next one and not turn to see whether the boy who just passed has scored.

There is some traffic direction involved at 1st base, too. Especially on ground balls hit to the left side. The batter, after taking that first look at the ball, should have his eyes glued on the 1st base area and concentrate on running. If the baseball coaches makes no sign, he assumes the play will be close and that he has to run "through" the base.

If, however, the ball has gone through the infield, the first base coach should make several quick arm jabs toward 2nd as though to say: "Go there! Go there!"

One other person coaches base runners. He's the "on deck" batter, the boy next scheduled to hit. He has the very important assignment of coaching the runner racing from 3rd to home.

TALKING TO THE RUNNER

Once a runner gets on base-and before the pitcher takes to the rubber-the baseline and baseball coaches should quickly go over the situation, like this:

"There's one out. Go hard on a ground ball. Go halfway on a fly. Don't take too much of a lead. Watch out for line drives!"

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