The Running Game

[cartersball]

Coaches,

How important is the running game at the u10 level? I have seen guys totally ignore it, and I have seen them take as much advantage from it as they possibly can. I teach what I call smart base stealing. We steal when the situation calls for it. But I have seen teams that use a delayed steal or steal on almost every pitch until they are thrown out.

[Jake Patterson]

Running is a basic skill of the game and is generally undertaught at the youth level.

This is a section on running from my book 11706

In addition to the attached we teach straight steals, delayed steals and "go on me" steals (We have a sign that tells the runner when to go), usually used when leads are allowed. At the HS level we time the pitcher/catcher/2B times and compare them against our 1B to 2B speeds.

[Hawaii]

I think it's very important, especially if the other team's pitcher throws strikes (e.g., fewer passed balls). It's important to get that runner to 2nd, to stay out of the force at 2nd base (a much easier play than having to throw over to 1st). Once runner is at 2nd, you get to have fun with bunting down the 3rd base line and (often) watching chaos ensue.
But it partly depends on what your base distance is, and whether you can take leads. Ours was 60 feet, and leads were allowed. With those parameters, very few catchers could consistently throw out a runner going to 2nd with decent speed, so we stole a lot. The risk-reward ratio was almost always favorable. Not much different at third base, because runner could get larger lead, and catcher has to deal with the RH batter standing in the batter's box. About 25% of the time, not only would you get the base, you'd get the next base when the throw sailed past the fielder. Sure, every once in awhile there is a stud catcher who can throw our guys out, but you adjust accordingly. BTW, in my experience, kids LOVE stealing--another good reason to do it--it's FUN.

[Whitesoxnut]

Its never to early to work on base-running, even at an age where lead offs aren't allowed yet. This is probably the most over-looked aspect of the sport at little league levels, and thats a shame. At 12 yo, where full leads are allowed, it all becomes even more important. As are the defensive skills needed both to hold runners on and to throw off their timing.

Rule #1 is for the opposing team to try and read the pitcher they are facing when they are on base. Conversely #1 for pitchers is to become un-readable and use different hold times when coming into their stretch and to be able to "read" a runner when they are going to steal. At pre-high school ages, and you'll see if you watch, youngsters often get real antsy, or take an extra lead, when they are going to steal. Its important to teach pitchers how to watch for this.

Another huge defensive skill, while were talking running, is teaching a pitcher to come to home quickly out of their stretch. As is the pick-off move and the pitch out. Another trick I like to teach is go into the stretch, hold for an extra 2 seconds, and then suddenly take your foot off the rubber making no other move. y boy has caused base runners to break doing this, and caught them in a run down. So with every base running Yin there is a defensive Yang to teach.

I'm glad to see folks talking about it. The art of base-running, and the defense against it, is way to over-looked at kids levels.