For more on baserunning and base stealing, check out the Mental and Situational Guide.

Every fair ball is an opportunity to reach base and 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. Your first steps should be in a straight line to the base not the baseline. For a right-handed batter, the first step out of the box should be with your right foot. It needs to be a big enough step to build momentum but should not be so big that it throws off balance. For a left-handed batter, the first step out of the box should be a cross over step with your left foot while pivoting on your front foot. Stay low out of the box until you reach stride. After the fourth step, turn your head to pick up the baseball.

On a groundball that will be stopped by an infielder, run hard through the base. 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. It is your responsibility to determine whether or not you need to slide, not the first base coach’s. Do not slide into first base unless it is to avoid a tag.

After getting the sign from the 3rd base coach and with both eyes on the pitcher the entire time, take your primary lead when the pitcher toes the rubber. For your primary lead, go "Right, Left, Pivot, Shuffle". When the left foot lands, pivot around to square up with the baseline. With your knees bent into a good athletic position, take controlled balanced shuffle steps until you are a step and dive away from the base (approximately 12 to 15 feet). Your head should not bounce up and down when you take your controlled shuffle steps. Primary leads should typically be between the bases, with your feet lined up between the back corners of first and second base. If there is a runner in front of you, you can lead off a little deeper to make it easier to round 2nd base on a hit.

After the pitcher commits to the plate, get your secondary lead by taking two strong balanced shuffles towards 2nd base while staying square to the plate. Time your move such that your right foot hits the ground just as the ball crosses the plate. Go HARD and HARD! Get as far off as you possibly can but still get back. Once the ball is caught by the catcher, hustle hard back to the bag. Never get back picked!

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. Don’t be afraid to go past second base on deep balls in the outfield, just be sure to retouch second on your way back.

The primary and secondary leads are more or less the same as at first base but you can get a little further off because there is no one holding you on. The coach will let you know where the fielders are so you can be confident when extending your lead.

On any 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. You are in scoring position and cannot get doubled up.

When there is no force (first base empty), move up on any ground ball hit at or behind you. On balls up the middle, make sure the ball will get past the pitcher. On a ball between 3B and SS, see it through to the outfield before moving up. 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.

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 about whether or not it will be caught, what you do depends on the number of outs. With 0 outs, tag up ("look to move up"). 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. A simple way to think about this is that the more outs there are, the further off the bag you get... with 0 outs stay on the base, with 1 out go part way, and with 2 outs run as soon as the ball is hit and go all the way to third.

There are a couple things to cue on when reading if a ball will be in the first. 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 do not have great speed. If the catcher's knees drop straight down the ball will likely be blocked right in front of the plate giving him a chance to recover and you less time to get to second. You can still move up in that scenario but it comes with more risk. You need to factor in the strength of the catcher's arm and you better have some speed and have gotten a good secondary lead.

It is important that you always expect the pitch to be in the dirt, especially in curveball counts, then react to what you see. This way, you are never surprised by a ball in the dirt. We want to take advantage of every opportunity to move up 90 feet.

At third base, take your primary lead just off the foul line and in foul territory. Get as far off the base as the 3rd baseman while keeping your eyes on the pitcher. As the pitcher goes to the plate, take a walking secondary lead (right, left, right) toward home to create a little momentum towards the plate. Land on your right foot with chest square to the plate. You can get an extra step on your lead if a right handed batter is up. If the ball is not put into play, come back in fair territory to block the catcher's throwing lane.

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

With 1 out and either a runner also on 2nd or a runner also on 1st, go on all groundballs 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 should be back. Never get doubled off at third base on a line drive. If the line drive gets through to the outfield, you will have plenty of time to run home.