Running the Bases Speeds

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Thanks rdelawder: Been a long week at Nationals. Ask Larry , and he will tell you Swifty's speed after playing against you. His comment " How do you defend her". It was 2.84 at WSU slapper camp and they time them you home to first as a sprint. Only one kid under 2.8 at the camp. Can't wait when they move the rubber back to 43 and bunt 1/2 back to the pitcher, it will be a field day for the swift runners.

Spoken like a true slap hitting guru, that 3' makes a huge difference for slappers. I got to watch our slappers @ 40 and 43' this year and not only is the drag much more effective but the valley increases for the slaps.

I love watching good slappers @ 43'.

 

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I agree speed is a great thing to have on the team.

You know what the college coaches say, "Speed, you can't teach it so you have to recruit it."

 

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Uber good point. Few think of that 3' and the impact between third and the pitcher and first and pitcher. . It puts even more emphasis on speed and why the colleges are all looking at speed as Dave posted. If you have the punch/power slap also , almost impossible to play them.. DD did that over third , since they were playing the bunt/slap. Next pitch they were foolish enough to throw a change up and she didn't even need to slide into second. Now the power hitters were drolling ever time she got on, since it takes away the change up.

 

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SPEEEEEED Kills.... Nothing like a Kid Beating out a two hopper to 3B from the Right side to boot. Puts Much Pressure on the D !!

 

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There are 3.281 feet in 1 meter. Having watched many of my daughters peers run at her track meets, it seems that a very good 100m time for 7th and 8th graders is about 13.5 seconds. (she has run it 13.5) If you convert that back to feet per second it is about 24.3 feet per second. That would equal about a 2.47 time for 60 feet. Now, this doesn't account for the time it takes to reach full speed. I know my daughter is right around 3 seconds home 2 1st with me timing her. My reaction time being a huge variable... but anyhow, this tells us what to work on. Explosiveness out of the box, and reaching top speed as quickly as possible. Even the ones with average speed can make huge improvements by working on this.

 

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There are 3.281 feet in 1 meter. Having watched many of my daughters peers run at her track meets, it seems that a very good 100m time for 7th and 8th graders is about 13.5 seconds. (she has run it 13.5) If you convert that back to feet per second it is about 24.3 feet per second. That would equal about a 2.47 time for 60 feet. Now, this doesn't account for the time it takes to reach full speed. I know my daughter is right around 3 seconds home 2 1st with me timing her. My reaction time being a huge variable... but anyhow, this tells us what to work on. Explosiveness out of the box, and reaching top speed as quickly as possible. Even the ones with average speed can make huge improvements by working on this.

Excellent points! To expand on this, there is a distinct difference between quickness and "running speed". To improve on home-to-first times, it takes a combination of technique, quickness and running speed. Genetics gives you the quickness and running speed. Technique is a learned method for maximizing your genetic-based abilities. Body SIZE isn't necessarily a limiting factor (Bustos). There are 100 lb. kids that are FAR slower than kids weighing 160 or more. However, body TYPE is a determining factor, which usually involves muscle fiber types, body fat, etc.

You can improve the "out of the gate" time by using better technique (weight shift), but flat out running speed is coded in - PROVIDED the kid is using optimum running mechanics (pocket-to-ear style, etc.). IMO, time spent on improving the start phase is the most productive. Greater gains can be made there than trying to become a faster runner.

 

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From my experience in talking to coaches at various levels and college "scouts," it all depends on when the person with the stopwatch hits the "start" and "stop" buttons. Some hit "start" right when they say "go" and some wait til the runner takes their first step toward 1st.. But 2.2 seconds home ot 1st... is that with 60 foot base paths? Our starting SS ran in the Home-to-Home event at the All-Sanctioned World Series, and she was timed at 10.2 seconds... I had her at 10.55 during the same run, so the person hitting the buttons matters, IMO.

Might want to get a new stop watch lol. I assume 2.25 is another typo :lmao:

 

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WOW! 10.55, home-home? that girl can wheel!

 

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From my experience in talking to coaches at various levels and college "scouts," it all depends on when the person with the stopwatch hits the "start" and "stop" buttons. Some hit "start" right when they say "go" and some wait til the runner takes their first step toward 1st.. But 2.2 seconds home ot 1st... is that with 60 foot base paths? Our starting SS ran in the Home-to-Home event at the All-Sanctioned World Series, and she was timed at 10.2 seconds... I had her at 10.55 during the same run, so the person hitting the buttons matters, IMO.

10.2 I would have to see that

 

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it might take my 10U daughter 15 seconds to get to first...

:lmao:i was thinking the EXACT same thing about my 10U DD!

 

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From my experience in talking to coaches at various levels and college "scouts," it all depends on when the person with the stopwatch hits the "start" and "stop" buttons. Some hit "start" right when they say "go" and some wait til the runner takes their first step toward 1st.. But 2.2 seconds home ot 1st... is that with 60 foot base paths? Our starting SS ran in the Home-to-Home event at the All-Sanctioned World Series, and she was timed at 10.2 seconds... I had her at 10.55 during the same run, so the person hitting the buttons matters, IMO.

What age if I may ask?

 

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Three of our girls from OFC Blast 97 entered the "run the bases" competition at the USSSA 11U & 16U World Series yesterday in Columbus, IN, and the best two did home to home in 12.5 and 12.7. They did a ready-set-go before hitting start on the stopwatch.

 

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16u

what age if i may ask?

 

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McQueen - It is a sight to see. Just make sure you don't blink. I have asked the event's TD to email me a copy of the results, so if I get that, I will find a way to post it on here for all to see. I wish we woulda thought to VIDEOtape it - that would be good for recruiting footage.

10.2 - I would have to see that

 

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Actually, UNALTERED digital video is the most accurate timing device you can use. Knowing it runs at 1/30 second, you can easily do the math. So if you do a skills video for your DD, don't cheat on her speed, because the video doesn't lie! This also goes for pitching speed.

 

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My kid had not been timed for a couple years --coach told me she barely broke 3 (2.9....) home to 1st and 12 flat home-home. was nearly identical to the fastest girl or two on his current team at 14u .

I searched this thread to found out just how quick that is. guess she is pretty quick (even though she eats like a starved wolf at a golden coral LOL) MD

 

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My kid had not been timed for a couple years --coach told me she barely broke 3 (2.9....) home to 1st and 12 flat home-home. was nearly identical to the fastest girl or two on his current team at 14u .

I searched this thread to found out just how quick that is. guess she is pretty quick (even though she eats like a starved wolf at a golden coral LOL) MD

Dan did ya ever think maybe those COACHES just really like ya and the those bodyguards"so I've been told" you brought might have been able to shave a tenth off or so????:lmao:

 

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Okay, again, how do college camps & recruiters usually time players at camps & combines? I am asking because we are getting ready to hit the Fall camp circuit and then on to the 16u "college sweepstakes" years, over the next few years.

My dd is a right handed batter. Just timed her casually with very little warm-up during a younger team's drill at our try outs this past weekend:

3.12 ... H-1B (from right side) - from bunt "contact" to thump at 1B - didn't allow for 1st step out of box ... just "ping to thump")
3.01 ... H-1B (from left, same as above "ping to thump)

12.06 ... H-H

So do college coaches ask you to time from your normal "playing stance" in box (L vs R?), or just an "equal stance" to gage "apples to apples" speed? She has long legs, stealing bases is MUCH easier that getting out of box and down the line due to "starting" positions. She would do well if it were football, and everyone lines up the same for 40's.

Footwork out of the box from right side kills my kid's time, but she steals bases pretty easily due to a rocker start that gets her up to speed quickly (like a sprinter), at pitch release.

Why wouldn't everyone go from left side to gain 1.0-1.5 tenths?? Just trying to understand & make sure that her "speed" shows well, without resorting to trickery or witchcraft??

 

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Come on SBFamily your ruining for the 12yr old's above that can get it done in less time than Whatley!!! If you are pulling off 2.25's at 12 for a total of 60' which is 20yards, does that mean they can run 11.25 100 yard dashes;&, man that is flying, almost world record pace for women. Had to have a little bit of fun with this one, but thanks for pointing out realistic times SB!!!:lmao:

Bull ...Nobody is running 2.25... I love this thread its one big Fish story !!

 

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Okay, again, how do college camps & recruiters usually time players at camps & combines? I am asking because we are getting ready to hit the Fall camp circuit and then on to the 16u "college sweepstakes" years, over the next few years.

My dd is a right handed batter. Just timed her casually with very little warm-up during a younger team's drill at our try outs this past weekend:

3.12 ... H-1B (from right side) - from bunt "contact" to thump at 1B - didn't allow for 1st step out of box ... just "ping to thump")
3.01 ... H-1B (from left, same as above "ping to thump)

12.06 ... H-H

So do college coaches ask you to time from your normal "playing stance" in box (L vs R?), or just an "equal stance" to gage "apples to apples" speed? She has long legs, stealing bases is MUCH easier that getting out of box and down the line due to "starting" positions. She would do well if it were football, and everyone lines up the same for 40's.

Footwork out of the box from right side kills my kid's time, but she steals bases pretty easily due to a rocker start that gets her up to speed quickly (like a sprinter), at pitch release.

Why wouldn't everyone go from left side to gain 1.0-1.5 tenths?? Just trying to understand & make sure that her "speed" shows well, without resorting to trickery or witchcraft??

Very Nice speed. And this is what you will see by the quicker Kids out there. The 2.7 and 2.8 s are fish storys. or Poor equipment. Best time I ever seen and I have been clocking girls to 1B and Home for 6 years. The best is 2.98 from Left side on Contact 3.01 from Right side (No Contact ...whistle start) Home to Home 11.9 ( and that Kid was Usually in the 12.1 range) That kid smokes about any kid I have ever seen ( In Basketball Line drills I have seen her Hitting the Baseline at the end of the drill before the rest have hit the Foul line in the opposite direction and thhat is a very good basketball team with Good athletes on it.))