Baserunning Question

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Runner at first with less than two outs. Fly ball to center field. The baserunner should.......

(A).... get back to the bag

(B).... go part way and go back only if ball is caught

Thanks for your input

 

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Niether. Go part way and then come back only if ball is caught. Of course, how deep the ball is hit could play a roll into whether you would want to try to tag-up.

 

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Thanks for catching my typo

 

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ok. (B).

 

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If the ball is clearly past the Center Fielder, run hard and pick up the 3rd base coach while doing so.

If the ball is looking like it will probably be caught by the CF, go as far out as the base runner can go while still being able to get back to first base in time to beat a throw after the CF catches the ball. Lots of coaches instruct "go halfway", but it's really more about how far you can get out while still being able to get back to first in the event of a catch.

If the ball is looking like it might drop in front of the center fielder, the base runner should go as far as she can while still being able to get back to first if the ball is caught. Once that ball is down, sprint like crazy to 2nd base.

If the ball is looking like it will drop in front of the center fielder, the base runner has to go all out for 2nd.

If the base runner misjudges the fly ball, it's just more data into the memory bank. But sitting on 1st in this situation doesn't make much sense, assuming the ball has cleared enough real estate that the base runner can still get off the base without being thrown out upon a catch.

BTW, we believe that for the data to find a solid home in a memory bank, this process needs to take place without the base coach calling out everything. When the base runner takes responsibility for judging how the play is likely to develop, that's when she gets data that will help her in the future (whether or not she is correct when she judges that particular play). The base coach might yell "that's down" or "she's burnt" to help the base runner, but the base runners on our team know they still have primary responsibility for judging the ball and making the base running decision when, as in this scenario, the ball and the play is in front of them.

 

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CGS covered it well, although "will probably be caught" and "might drop in" are basically the same situation.

The runner has to make a determination whether the ball is more likely to be caught or not, and then take appropriate action. The last thing a runner should do is get caught in the middle where they're likely to be put out, regardless of whether it is caught or not.

I like what CGS had to say about baserunners needing to make their own reads. A few years ago, we recognized may of our 11/12u girls were missing opportunities to advance because they were hesitating, waiting on the base coach, instead of going on their own read. We empowered them to run aggressively on their own reads until they heard a coach tell them otherwise.

We also made a concerted effort in practice for the girls to develop their reads by having them run the bases very aggressively while the coaches hit balls to the defense. We pushed them to test the limits of how aggressively they could run with no repercussions if they were put out. It also provided a great workout for the defense to retire them.