Base-running

http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/2407/baserunning.html

Dan Pastor gave me this drill on baserunning: "It is called BURMA'S. Divide the players equally among the four bases. One at a time from each base will be running, with the others waiting their turn. At 'go' from the coach, the four take off. Proper technique is a must and the goal would be to do a certain amount right in a row before going on to something else.
Player at the plate: Simulates a swing. Takes off as if hitting a double and possibly a triple. Makes a good turn at first. Picks up the 3rd base coach half way to 2nd. Rounds 2nd hard, 'picks up the ball' and returns to 2nd quickly. Player at first: From a lead, goes from 1st to 3rd. Picks up the 3rd base coach half way to 3rd. Makes a hard turn at 3rd then returns quickly. Player at 2nd: From a lead, goes from 2nd to home. Picks up the 3rd base coach and makes a good turn. Runs hard through the plate. Player at 3rd: From a lead, goes back to the bag to tag. Takes off for home, rounds it, then takes off for 1st as if beating out a single. Looks inside towards the 1st base dugout as he crosses the bag for possible overthrow." QOC Email Dan Pastor

 

Here's an outstanding baserunning drill that my assistant coach brought to me.
Runners start at home plate. Swing and round first properly taking a wide, aggressive, turn and dive back into the bag. Runner gets up quickly, takes an aggressive lead, takes off to steal 2nd sliding into the bag. Runner then gets up takes an aggressive secondary lead and dives back into the bag. He then steals third repeating the slide, getting up and taking an aggressive lead off third, in foul ground, dives back into the bag, coming back on the foul line. He gets up and sprints home (no slide at plate). The next runner takes off from home when the previous runner completes his dive into first and touches the bag.
The focus of this drill is to make our runners very aggressive and not be afraid to get dirty!!! It also gets players practice in sliding and diving properly, which will hopefully keep us from injuries and out of court. It also tends to develop players who want to work hard and get dirty.
QOC Email Barry Traynor

 

Instead of the traditional "run the bases before we end practice" routine, we let our kids do the following:
RELAY RACES

Split the team in half, with one group of kids behind home plate and other half behind second base. Give the first kid of each group a ball (this will be the "baton" for the relay race). At "GO!" the first kid from each team begins running the bases, ball in hand. After making a complete lap around the bases (back to each kid's starting point), that kid hands the ball off to the next kid in line, who continues the relay race. First group of kids to finish the race wins.
Our kids often beg for rematches and will VOLUNTARILY run the race ALL OUT at least three or four times! Even the coaches participate on occasions. The kids love it!
QOC Email Jerry DeGuzman
 

A big part of our baserunning program is "reading ball in the dirt." This drill helps the players earn how to read the trajectory of a pitched ball that will bounce in the dirt. Players are set up at all three bases.  They are independant of each other because different bases have different rules for a ball in the dirt.  A coach pitches from the rubber and mixes in strikes and balls in the dirt to the catcher.  Any time the ball is about to bounce the whole team must yell "DIRT."  This helps you make sure everyone is paying attention.  Baserunners on first should automatically go when they know the ball is going to bounce. If they leave after the ball has bounced, they left too late.        Runners on second need to react to the ball in the dirt and then decide if they would be safe. We tell them to read and decide.  If the ball kicks away from the catcher they should've gone.  If the catcher blocks the ball in front of him the base runners should stay.     The runner on third base is similar to the one on second.  He takes his lead, gets a good crow hop as the ball nears the plate and reacts to the ball in the dirt. Again, he reads and decides.
Coaches should emphasize that each base is independent of each other.  Just 'cause the runner from first goes to second doesn't mean the runner on second has to go.   Coaches should also emphasize good secondary lead technique.    It also helps if you have at least 2 catchers.  You don't want one catcher getting tired and picking up bad or lazy habits.
Jery Berkson, San Mateo High School, Ca
 

I coach 1st and 2nd graders. Many of them slow down before they get to first base instead of running through the bag. During practice, I have the kids run to a base I place about 15 feet past first. This way they keep up their speed through the first.
Kevin Nickelson