How do get a better jump off a pitcher, besides watching his back foot?
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you gotta watch both feet! if the front foot comes up you gotta steal!
time the pitcher, pick up on tendencies. he might get into a habit of looking over once, pause 1 second, and then throw the pitch. if you can pick up on something like this you can get a super jump. pay attention when others are on base.
also on lefties most people are taught to steal on first move. only on hit and run should you wait until you know pitcher is going home.
time the pitcher, pick up on tendencies. he might get into a habit of looking over once, pause 1 second, and then throw the pitch. if you can pick up on something like this you can get a super jump. pay attention when others are on base.
also on lefties most people are taught to steal on first move. only on hit and run should you wait until you know pitcher is going home.
Coaches will always tell you to watch the pitchers back foot but I don't like that. I watch both feet like Rock 44 said. When I watch the back foot, I always get frozen up on the first movement because I can never tell which moved first.
On a lefty watch a pitchers left shoulder when their foot comes up. If it stays the even ur good if it leans away towards third get back.
I say this because in HS there is 1 ump and they cant tell whether you cross the plane or not
I say this because in HS there is 1 ump and they cant tell whether you cross the plane or not
To some people, like me, they just have an instinct and can tell if he's picking off or not. I don't even have to watch his feet
Be careful with the front foot, because balk moves are becoming more prevalent in the game. Generally, if you pay attention each high school pitcher either has a habit that gives it away or is a rhythm pitcher (easiest pitcher to steal off of). It's your responsibility to pick up on this and exploit the pitcher.
While on the bench watch to see if the pitcher mixes up his looks to the runner. If not, you know when to take off. I've been amazed to see some pitchers never look twice an entire game (until yanked). Some always look twice. See if the pitcher is giving away a pattern.
**this is from our handbook. My teams have been great basestealers! Last year we stole 84 in 87 attempts.
stealing 2nd: RHP we focus on the feet, particulary the front heel. Once it lifts we are gone!! If its a slide stepper I make sure I check his time to the plate, but if he lifts at all we are safe! If he's a 1.2-1.4 make sure its a good runner, anything over we feel pretty good! LHP we go on 1st movement. When he lifts his front foot we break for 2nd. Even if he picks behind they needed another good throw to get us. We slide to the inside on 2nd, again either blinding fielder or getting further from the tag if he goes outside. To read a lefty, teach your kids to look at the gap in his crotch. Wide gap he's picking, no gap he's going home (loading the hips.)
Stealing 3rd: We take our usual lead. We check for one lookers, any patterns to the plate, and mostly the middle infield. My kids see 2nd basemen, I have the shortstop. If they hear silence they step. Or we go on voice (you're alright, you're alright) and they step. The faster I say it the quicker they get, and get good jumps.
Stealing home: People generally don't go windup on us, if the do, we get our walking lead, once their glove hand foot moves, we are in a dead sprint! Slide to pitcher side of plate head first. Also, look for lazy catchers who drop to their knees throwing the ball back, once we see their elbow to flip it we go, been lucky more than out with that!!
Most important...READ THE CATCHERS KNEES!! Unless he's a stud few catchers will throw you out from their knees on a good pitch, but the pitch in the dirt or blocking...NEVER!! WE read low knees and green light whenever we see the catcher drop. Sounds risky, but now that kid behind the plate never relaxes. Helps with 1st & 3rd, but can get slower runner going too!
stealing 2nd: RHP we focus on the feet, particulary the front heel. Once it lifts we are gone!! If its a slide stepper I make sure I check his time to the plate, but if he lifts at all we are safe! If he's a 1.2-1.4 make sure its a good runner, anything over we feel pretty good! LHP we go on 1st movement. When he lifts his front foot we break for 2nd. Even if he picks behind they needed another good throw to get us. We slide to the inside on 2nd, again either blinding fielder or getting further from the tag if he goes outside. To read a lefty, teach your kids to look at the gap in his crotch. Wide gap he's picking, no gap he's going home (loading the hips.)
Stealing 3rd: We take our usual lead. We check for one lookers, any patterns to the plate, and mostly the middle infield. My kids see 2nd basemen, I have the shortstop. If they hear silence they step. Or we go on voice (you're alright, you're alright) and they step. The faster I say it the quicker they get, and get good jumps.
Stealing home: People generally don't go windup on us, if the do, we get our walking lead, once their glove hand foot moves, we are in a dead sprint! Slide to pitcher side of plate head first. Also, look for lazy catchers who drop to their knees throwing the ball back, once we see their elbow to flip it we go, been lucky more than out with that!!
Most important...READ THE CATCHERS KNEES!! Unless he's a stud few catchers will throw you out from their knees on a good pitch, but the pitch in the dirt or blocking...NEVER!! WE read low knees and green light whenever we see the catcher drop. Sounds risky, but now that kid behind the plate never relaxes. Helps with 1st & 3rd, but can get slower runner going too!
RJM touched on an important point: scout the pitcher from the bench. Don't wait until you are standing on first to try to learn his moves. You might get 20-30 pitches with runners on to "read" the guy.
Also, outstanding info from turnin2.
Also, outstanding info from turnin2.