Running through First Base

• Every fair ball is an opportunity to reach base and to put pressure on the defense. 

• Run full speed on every single play no matter how obvious it is to you that you will be out.  

• Watch the first baseman’s feet as you approach the base. If the first baseman’s feet start moving down the line toward the plate, dive away from him and into the base to avoid any tag attempt. If the first baseman’s feet start moving up the line toward right field, run through the base.

• When running through the base, try to hit the front part of the base without lunging. 

• After you get one step past the base, chop your steps and widen out to come to a controlled but quick stop. 

• As you breakdown, look over your right shoulder for an overthrow. 

Rounding First Base

• Make your turn by veering out toward foul territory and then cutting back in toward the infield. 

• Start your turn when you are about 15 feet from first base. Drop your left shoulder as you cut back toward the base.

• Hit the inside corner of the base with whatever foot is there, get your hips square, and push off towards second. 

• Maintaining stride is more important than making sure you hit the base with a specific foot. 

• Round it hard! Get out there and make the defense pay attention to you. 

• If you know the ball is headed to the outfield as soon as you hit it, bow out earlier so that you can make a smooth tight turn around first. 

• The perfect base running path is a tight and smooth circle, not a set of straight lines.

Decision Making at First Base

• On a ball hit in front of you into the outfield between center field and the left field line, it is your decision whether or not to try for third. 

• On a base hit behind you, pickup your coach on your way to second base and trust him to make the right decision. 

• If the ball is hit in the air with less than two outs, get off as far as you can but close enough that you can still get back safely should the ball be caught. 

• Be aggressive on balls in the dirt. You can try to read the angle and spin of pitch out of the pitcher's hand. You can also watch and react to the catcher. If the catcher's knees begin to shift towards either batter's box, you know it is going to be an angle block and that you can take second base even if you are not fast.

Decision Making at Second Base

• On any base hit to the outfield you are going full speed and looking to score until the coach holds you up.

• On a line drive hit towards an infielder with less than two outs, your first step must be back. Do not get doubled up!

• When there is no force, move up on any ground ball hit at or behind you. See it through in front of you. If the ball is hit softly to left side and you see that it will be fielded in front of the base path, you can advance to third. Make sure balls up the middle get past the pitcher.

• On a routine fly ball, look to tag up. If you do not think the ball is deep enough, still tag but fake hard to try to draw a throw. 

• On a deep fly ball that you are unsure will be caught, what you do depends on the number of outs.... With 0 outs, "look to move up" by going back to tag. With 1 out, "look to score" and go at least halfway but if you see early enough that the outfielder is going to catch it, try to get back to tag. With 2 outs, go immediately on contact, but do not run into a tag on a grounder to 3B.

Decision Making at Third Base

• Know how deep the infielders are playing before the pitch. Look to score on all grounders past the pitcher to the shortstop or second baseman if they are playing back. On balls hit to 1st or 3rd, it depends on how deep the fielders are playing. Be aggressive with 1 out and more conservative with 0 outs.

• With a trail runner on 2nd, go on all grounders no matter where they are hit. As soon as you read the down angle of the ball, take off for the plate. If you are clearly going to be out at the plate, get into a run down and stay in it long enough for the other runners to advance as far as they can.

• Tag on all routine and deep fly balls to the outfield. If the ball is not deep enough to tag, bluff to try and draw a throw. If it is questionable whether a shallow fly ball will be caught, do not tag. Stay off the base so that you have a chance to score if it drops. 

• Tag on all foul balls.

• On all line drives, your first step must be back.