Pick-off play and bunt coverage signals

[bowlegs]

What's the best way to to signal in bunt coverages and pick-off plays? I need a fairly simple system. We have 3 bunt coverages and maybe 5 pick-off plays.

[Diamond]

What's the best way to to signal in bunt coverages and pick-off plays? I need a fairly simple system. We have 3 bunt coverages and maybe 5 pick-off plays.

This is what I do. For pickoff plays I will give a verbal signal. For a pickoff at first I will say let's get dirty. For pick off at second using the shortstop and 2nd baseman I'll say "Let's play a little defense out there". It also gives the center fielder the heads up to backup the throw.

For straight bunt coverage I just remind the players how to make the play. On a wheel play I have a signal using my hat.

Hope that helps

[Jake Patterson]

What's the best way to to signal in bunt coverages and pick-off plays? I need a fairly simple system. We have 3 bunt coverages and maybe 5 pick-off plays.

Bow - Here's what I used this year:
SIGNALS (April 2006)

Overall:
1. Third base coach is responsible for giving batters and runners offensive signals.
2. Batter is responsible to look for a signal every pitch.
3. Batter steps out of box for every signal.
4. The catcher is responsible to relay defensive signals from the dugout.
5. Keys will change as necessary.
6. Offensive signal will follow immediately after the key.
7. The catcher is responsible to relay pitch signals when called from the dugout.

OFFENSIVE SIGNALS:
1. Straight steal Key - Shirt across
2. Delayed steal Key - Shirt down
3. Sac bunt Key – Belt
4. Drag bunt Key - Arm up and down
5. Hit and run Key – Hat
6. Take a pitch Key – Watch
7. Swing away Double clap
8. Go on me Double fists to chest – right hand on hip – go on right hand release
9. Do over First finger roll
10. Acknowledgement Touch helmet

DEFENSE SIGNALS

3 & 1 COVERAGE:
1. 3 and 1 - SS, 2nd base cuts behind mound. Object- cut the ball and watch third. Also allows for straight throw through to second. Catcher yells “Here we go!” – Head – glove slap – (Last touch)
2. 3 and 1 - Pick at 2B. “Here we go!” – Chest – glove slap – (Last touch)
3. 3 and 1 - Pump fake to 2B - get the runner at 3B. “Here we go!” – Thigh – glove slap – (Last touch)

On the above the catcher stands and moves to the front of the plate. He yells, "Here we go!" to get the attention of the infield. With his glove hand he signals from head to chest to thigh in random order. The last touch followed by a glove slap is the signal.

5 SERIES (These come from the bench and go to the infield through the catcher. They are used to communicate pick attempts. These signals are done discretely out by the knees.)

1. Pick on first 5-5-1
2. Pick on second 5-5-2
3. Pick on third 5-5-3
4. Pick on first - second pitch 5-2-1
5. Pick on second - second pitch 5-2-2
6. Pick on third - second pitch 5-2-3
7. Wipe off - Fingers down – hand shake

BUNT COVERAGE:
1. Bunt 3B covers- Pitcher covers 1B side - “51!” or left hand out with fist down
2. Bunt 1B covers - Pitcher covers 3B side - “31!” or right hand out with fist
3. 2 and 1 Shortstop - “621!” or right hand up with fist (THIS WILL NEED FURTHER EXPLANATION)
4. Any pick to the bag – Pitcher Initiated - Hat wipe- Arm stretch

PITCHES:
Number............Sign From The Coach.................Number from the Catcher
1. Key ....................Ear........................... ................None
2. Fast ball .............Nose................................. ........ 1
3. Curve..................Chin....................... .................. 2
4. Change up...........Forehead ................................. 3


4- ZONE System:

2 - High & Out........... 1 - High & In
4 - Low & Out............ 3 - Low and In

Location signals from Coach (Right Hand Hitter):
1. Left temple - High and in (Zone #1)
2. Right temple - High and out (Zone #2)
3. Left cheek - Low and in (Zone #4)
4. Right cheek - Low and in (Zone#3)

Hope you can follow this. If you need anything more let me know. We would of course alter this every game depending on who was playing and whom we played.
Hope this helps.

[bowlegs]

My biggest concern was relaying defensive signals discretely without alerting the other team that a pickoff attempt may be on. It's just kind of hard to get a good yet simple system to relay these coverages.

[Diamond]

My biggest concern was relaying defensive signals discretely without alerting the other team that a pickoff attempt may be on. It's just kind of hard to get a good yet simple system to relay these coverages.

Exactly, if you are like me I am constantly talking to the defense and offense. The team knows when I am giving them a signals or just encouragement. Like... Knock it down make an out, get on that agget, Put it in play, and shake it off stuff like that. So when I say get dirty it sound like I am just taking. I will change them up if I use it more than twice in an inning, but the kids find it fun and talk back to me. I have a great relationship with my teams so I let my third baseman get in on the act. I will give a verbal signal to him of a pickoff play and he will start whistling and singing "the old mans crazy, the old mans crazy" that's a signal or he will turn to the SS and say hey “checkout the blond" then SS turns to the 2nd baseman and he repeats it to the first baseman, where the pickoff play will be. Hee hee, that one works the best because everyone starts looking for the blond. I even use a signal with a runner at 2nd to steal third. While the runner takes an aggressive lead I will say “hey get back" that is my signal to steal 3rd. It relaxes the pitcher and usually the third baseman will take a step back. Try to find the art of deception while making the game fun. If you follow everyone else’s way of signaling you’re going to be like everyone else. And team will start to see you from the dugout moving your arm up and down across the chest etc, etc and may not 100% pickup a signal but they know something is up. The idea is to do something they have no idea what you’re doing. Think outside the box. They will think your new to the game and can’t coach but that’s ok it’s what you want.

During a NJCAA Div III Championship series I saw it done the best. A coach acted like he was furious. He walkout from the dugout and yelled something I don’t recall exactly but it sound like he was mad at the pitcher. And walk back in the dugout. The pitcher wipes his face made it look like he was getting over the abuse. Then the dugout yells “Second” the pitcher turns and throws the ball to second base. The runner dives back to second. The ball appears to go into the outfield because the shortstop and second baseman both yelled “OH NO pass ball, pass ball!” and runs into the outfield chasing the ball. The runner gets up and broke for third in all the excitement. All the while the pitcher never threw the ball. It was so well performed it fooled half of the stadium watching. That was a great signal!

[Jake Patterson]

My biggest concern was relaying defensive signals discretely without alerting the other team that a pickoff attempt may be on. It's just kind of hard to get a good yet simple system to relay these coverages.

Bow, If you get your team used to you calling plays all the time the other team won't know what to expect. They get curious when you call a play sporatically.

3 and 1 plays are easy
Establish a key to signal the plays out to the catcher. It has to be upper body if you're in a dug out - say the ear.

1. So a cut at second is Ear - Head
2. Throw at second is - Ear - Chest
3. Pump fake throw to third is - Ear - Thigh

After the catcher gets the signal from the coach he does the above (see yesturday's post). We review signals when we are in the gym or when its raining. The kids can really have a blast at it and it prepares them for HS. You also need to establish BS signals.. You can drive another coach crazy as he thinks something always on...

[bowlegs]

I am with you Jake. It's getting the keys and the signals together that takes a while. Dummy signals are a great idea but getting the kids to look for a sign after every pitch may take some work:) . Thanks for all your help

[bowlegs]

What does 3 & 1 refer to Jake? Is that just the name you gave you coverages?

[deaconspoint]

This was kind of funny. Not a signal, but good communication between coach and catcher.

High school game and the ball gets fouled back to the fence. Runner on first. During this game whenever this happend the player on deck or in the hole would always go and retrieve these balls. On one occasion it happened and no one from the opposing team stepped out to get the ball. Seemed like about ten seconds went by without any effort from anyone on the team at bat. Our coach was forced to step out and walk all the way around the plate and near the other dugout and retrieve the ball. As he came back by he whispered something to the catcher. I don't think anyone saw this but me. Next pitch was a pitch out and snap throw to first to nail the runner there. Needless to say our coach did not have to retrieve any other foul balls that night.

[Jake Patterson]

What does 3 & 1 refer to Jake? Is that just the name you gave you coverages?

man on 3rd and 1st. Runner likely to go.