Stealing signs

[muskies11]

On a few occasions this year at 12U tournaments, we encountered a couple of other teams blatantly stealing our signs as they were relayed from coach to catcher. The person would position themselves behind the back stop at an angle to view the coach calling in the signs to the catcher and then he would tell their batter, while she was in the batter's box, what type of pitch was coming.

On one occasion, I questioned the head coach of the opposing team and his response was that it was a parent and he couldn't do anything about it. He's still a reflection on your organization.

I know that you can mix up your signs or even use the wristband sleeves that are becoming more popular, but really? Do you have to cheat like that to get that extra edge? What kind of example are you setting for these young girls?

Am I overreacting or is this par for the course?

 

[SpinnerPitch]

When it happened to us, my DD would just change her pitch in mid throw. Do that once or twice and I assure all the stealing will stop.

 

[GeneralsDad]

Is it any different if they are being picked up from the opposing dugout? Right, wrong or indifferent, it's become part of the game. As you get to higher levels, you will notice the girls themselves are stealing your signs. It could be your catcher setting up early, and the runner at second is tipping the batter, or the girls on the bench have figured out your wristband system. IMO it's the coaches responsibility to effectively communicate their intentions to the field. It's much easier to control what you can, than to expect others to change to your expectations.

 

[FastBat]

Part of the game, it will always happen, it gives the girls something to do!

 

[ApogeeDemon]

Try this. Always works. Tell the catcher to look over like she is getting the sign but she is really the one giving signs. Flash rock/paper/scissors over and over. They usually stop looking soon after.

 

[Westler33]

It's one thing if the kids are trying to do it but it's not right if it's a coach or a parent saying where the catcher is setting up or what the pitch is.

 

[Chad Strahler]

Am I overreacting or is this par for the course?

Yes for both... You will get better educated if you stay in it long enough. It gets worse as they get older..I.e. 2nd base waving hand in direction of pitch location, stuff like that. Old phrase...you ain't seen nut tin' yet.

 

[Westler33]

I like the rock paper scissors thing would love to see the faces of the other team or coaches as your doing that lol.

 

[crystlemc]

Teach your catchers to call the game. Problem solved.

 

[LakeErieHillbilly]

Seen it, many teams do it.

Only one time I said something where my oldest dd was playing with the Doom down in a Pigeon Forge tournament years ago. 2 parents from the other team sat toward our side of the backstop and was telling their batters every pitch and location. By the 2nd inning I stood up (as a parent) and told the ladies to knock it off. Surprisingly they both moved and stop.

 

[coachjwb]

That's why God invented wristband systems!

In all seriousness though, it is extremely classless for non-participants (i.e., parents) to try to steal signs in a kid's game. And yes, if a coach is made aware that the parents are doing that, they should tell the parents to quit doing it.

By the way GeneralsDad, if the other team has "figured out your wristband system", the team either has a crappy wristband system or they're not using it right!

 

[GeneralsDad]

I started to throw in a shameless plug for you but decided against the highjack. lol

 

[FastBat]

Seen it, many teams do it.

Only one time I said something where my oldest dd was playing with the Doom down in a Pigeon Forge tournament years ago. 2 parents from the other team sat toward our side of the backstop and was telling their batters every pitch and location. By the 2nd inning I stood up (as a parent) and told the ladies to knock it off. Surprisingly they both moved and stop.

That's so pathetic! I wouldn't want to win that way.

 

[Blue Ice]

I would recommend calling coach Jeff for his wristband system...problem solved.

 

[Westler33]

You still see the young catchers set up a little to early and parents, players and coaches will tell the hitter location. It is a little harder to have the young catchers moving when the pitch is being thrown.

 

[BulldawgsDirector]

You should be able to mix up the signals on the fly. Like putting an indicator in there before the real sign.

If one of our parents or coaches were doing this I would simply tell them to cut it out, we don't need to win that way. For the players, they need to be up there reading the pitch not hearing someone tell them what is coming. So you are not benefiting the players at all, you are sacrificing them trying to win a dusty trophy. Busch League.

 

[Really]

Stealing signs is part of the game. In reality 90 0/0 of the girls don't know what to do with the pitch even if they know what is coming.

And by the way if the pitcher throws the pitch properly that other 10 0/0 won't hit it either.

 

[mike_dyer]

We played a team this summer, 14u, and they got a runner on 2nd base. She started leaning off the bad to see where the catcher was setting up and announcing it to the batter. It worked great for 1 pitch, after that the catcher started setting up real early, the girl on 2nd would say "up up up" and the batter would swing high at a drop ball. It was good for 2 or 3 Ks in that inning. The coach at 3rd caught the girl who was on 2nd before she got to the dug out and chewed on her a little bit about it, she told him she was calling out where the catcher was setting up.

 

[BBinto3B]

Gamesmanship! Part of the game.... I'm always looking to steal signs, but won't go out of my way of trying to do it. (Ie standing behind backstop, having parents angle theirselves so they can see the catchers sign- I won't do that.. etc) If u don't want them stolen, come up with better ways to hide it... -- I can't count how many times I saw in the LLWS this year that you saw the batter take a quick look where the catcher setting up... Is that wrong?... No.. It's gamesmanship---

 

[Westler33]

If the kids are able to pick up the signs then I could say that's part of the game because it's between the lines but when parents, fans and coaches start doing it I don't think that's gamesmanship. Just let the kids play the game on the field just my opinion.