Coaching Third

[Nuwin]

Biggest thing by far is getting that runner going into 2b, to be looking at 3b coach early enough to get the keep coming or stop sign.

I have always liked the mindset that the base coaches are stop signs, not go signs.

Now, I understand that how you actually run the bases varies by situation. I don't want you taking a curved route to first if we're trying to beat a force out. But if you're thinking score as soon as you leave the box, you only have one sign/decision to make and that's stop.

It's not infallible because defenses will do weird things sometimes, but I found more often than not, if they weren't already going when I said go, it was too late. 10U will have a higher margin for error, but you're building for the long term.

 

[cvsoftball]

it's 10U and you are right on the field with your offense. never stop teaching.

 

[GunnerShotgun]

Coach is a terrible name for the job one is doing at 3B. You are simply the eyes on the ball when the runner can't see it. You are there to reinforce ideas or concepts the runner is already well versed in but may not remember at the moment.

Be consistent in your approach.

Don't coach batters while they are hitting.

 

[LION2027]

Every runner remind them, they are excited and tired.
1. outs
2. count
3. whether they have to run or not (force or not)

Runner on/coming form 2b
1. Tell them which lead to take, straight, round, avoid the ss.
2. tell them if you want them to freeze on balls in front of them or not.
3. tell them which side of the base to slide on as the throw comes in.
4. Runners need to run on their own if they can see the ball

Runner on 3b.
1. Tell them what lead to take, walking or aggressive.
2. Tell them whether to tag or not and stay in front of them so you can stop them when they screw it up.
3. Tell them whether you want them running on a hit to 3b or not.
4. Tell if you dont want them going on passed balls or not.
5. caught fly balls are live...tag on all foul balls and look to get home.....teams love watching there catcher run and dive...no one covers.

Coach:
1. must start in the box and can and should leave to direct the runners.
2. Runner going from 1b to 2b the coach should be in the grass so they can pick you up on balls hit to RF.
3. Runner rounding 3b you should be down the line if there is any chance they will have to stop.....run in fornt of them to stop them.
Teach your runners if you run down the line that you are porbably just forcing the throw home and you are going to stop them. IF you are sending them no matter what stay at 3b.
4. Never tell a runner when to go.....its too late by then. Train them to run on their own.
5. Read the defense. If the ss is covering 3b then fake bunt steal. If the 3b is covering 3b then bunt.
6. if your times are close on the steal to 2b then have you batter swing and miss late to buy extra time to steal 2b, or fake bunt steal.
7. Delay steal if the pitcher turns the wrong way, pitcher doesnt pay attention(walks, caught foul balls,pitching changes), catcher lobs it.
Steal home if catcher throws from knees and is deep( move your batter back..this moves the catcher back, if they drop to knees).
8. Pitchers think walks are dead balls, look back rule doesnt start until the runner gets to 1b.....keep your leads on walks until the runner gets to 1b and look for chances to steal.
9. tell your LH batter to stand and freeze deep in box when stealing 3b.
10. dont suck.

 

[CoachJD]

More arms less mouth. Most coaches are the opposite of this and use too many verbal instructions.

Verbal works best with a runner who is ON third. You can give her reminders (not too many) pre-pitch. If it's a tag up situation, you can point to the bag while saying "on the bag on the bag." You can even give them a "Go!" Verbal is important here since you're usually behind them so they can't see you.

In pretty much all other cases, it's all arms/signals. Dedicate some practice time to it. Not a lot. You're not doing anything that difficult for them to understand. Show them what your signals look like. Do you get more animated if you want them going harder? Explain it. Show it. What does your down/slide signal look like? Show it (also, practice this so you're not having them slide at the last second).

At 10u, the biggest thing is teaching them to pick you up as they're approaching/rounding second. Teach them to block out the parents and their teammates and everything and focus on either 1) picking up the ball if it's in front of them or 2) picking up you if it's not. And since it's 10u, they should always be thinking extra bases. If they're on first, you tell them they're going to third (at least) on any ball to the OF unless you give them the stop sign.

Your communication with your players is not that hard, but a good 3B coach does a lot. Good 3B coaches can get their team a lot of extra runs.

Oh, and if you get a girl thrown out being a little too aggressive, take the blame (if you never get a girl thrown out you're not being aggressive enough). Let players know that if they do what you say and it all goes wrong, they'll never get in trouble for it.

 

[CoachJD]

Coach:
1. must start in the box and can and should leave to direct the runners.

And also the box offers you no protection from interference with a fielder trying to make a play on a batted ball. You can't just park your butt in the box and make the 3B have to run through you on a pop-up. You must vacate the area. The trick: Don't play the player, play the ball. The player is going to be going toward the ball. Go whichever way the ball is not going.

 

[Towny9]

To expand on my earlier comment, too many coaches babysit the kids around the bases. We don’t give these kids enough credit. They can figure out every tip and trick to a video game within the first 10 minutes they understand strategy. Coaches need to teach players what the goal is running the bases and then cut them loose let them fail, learn, and improve. Base running is a mentality

 

[daywalkerdad]

Minority opinion I know.
When in doubt do not make an out.
Try to never make an out at home with less than 2 outs.
Be more aggressive with 2 outs.

I would imagine 10u on base if you count in roe is probably north of .500 until you run into a dominant pitcher. At 10u Runner on 3rd with less than 2 outs scores scores a very high% of the time.

 

[Cagman]

It takes experience to coach third, no way to get experience other than the jump in and do it. Rule number one of coaching third, similar to the number one rule of fight club , don’t ever make the first out of the inning at third or home. With two outs, you can be more aggressive, especially if you know what hitters are coming up. For a girl with even average speed, second base is a good base to be on.

Also, make sure your girls are drilled into tagging up when they’re at third. They have to fight the urge to just takeoff for home at the crack of the bat. When a ball was in the air, there’s no reason to break for home until it hits the ground. You don’t want an outfielder to make a diving catch and your girl has to double back to third.

At 10u, you probably don’t have too many outfielders that are going to throw runners out at home, but as you progress in the older ages, you will get a feel for where your runner has to be when the outfielder is approaching a ground ball. I can tell you when you get to high school age, if the outfielder gets the ball at the same time, the runners rounding third, she’ll be out most of the time. at 10 U, I’d send them home almost all the time. Just not with 0 outs .

 

[CoachCeetar]

A lot of this advice depends on how competitive the opposition is.

Obviously first off is to train your runners to know to look at you, or you can't do anything. Depending on what they were doing last year, they may not be.

Depending on if/what you have any stealing restrictions, know if/when they can run.

One thing to look for is if the first baseman even looks to throw anywhere after say a 4-3 putout. And can they reliably reach third if they're reliably even making the catch? If not, first to third should almost always be a given. The 1B has to receive the ball well, and then come up ready to throw. The 3B has to be ready to cover. The throw has to be reasonably good, and the 3B has to catch it cleanly.

They're ~9 and 10 years old. Most of them are going to panic a little in the heat of the moment ,the speed of the game, if you're runners are always moving.