Coaching Third Base

A third base coach must take each situation into account. When the ball is hit, you'll make your decision to send all runners until a fielder changes that plan. The fielder has to field cleanly, then come up throwing on balance and then make a good throw. Wave like crazy and watch were the throw is going befoe stopping certain runners. The runner behind should be following the lead runner, as should be practiced and preached. After a quick wave to the lead runner, you can still put up a stop for the trailing runner if the throw or situation changes. You can't plan much of what you'll do, just react to the situation. However, you can plan scenarios during practice so that you're players are prepared when the situation arises.
Changing signs depends on the age level. Some teams at the youth level will steal signs and still not be able to do much. Coaches can use that to adjust their defense, but may not be able to change the outcome. At older levels, you can also prepare for sign changes in different innings. You can use certain indicators in even and odd innings. You can use certain ones early in the game then change inning by inning. Just don't over complicate anything. At many levels, sign stealing is overrated anyway.

I'm with Coachric in that a lot of this should be taken care of during practice but sometimes things pop up that need to be addressed.

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1. Stealing signs - when you notice a team working hard to pick up your signs (and, for example, pitching out on just the exact pitches you're stealing) do you prefer to change signs between innings, change indicators, add/change a wipe off sign, or what? What's your preferred method?

On this we usually wait until the inning is over to change the indicator. I really don't give that many signs to begin with so it's hard to pick ours. What cracks me up is the 3rd base coach who gives dummy / false signs to the leadoff batter before the first pitch. Teach him what to look for in practice so he knows to do it without a sign.

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2. Multiple runners - if you have runners at 1st and 2nd and a ball is hit to the outfield, how do you handle giving signs to both runners? Say you want to send R2 home and hold R1 at 2nd base?....do you use right arm/left arm or verbal for one and sign for the other?

Always go with the philosophy "you are scoring until a coach stops you". Now you take one decision out of the equation. I turn my guys loose on the bases and they only pick me up when they can't see the ball.

Trail runners are completely on their own until the lead runner passes me. Then I am only going to stop them or tell them how to come into the base.

I got four signs when they approach the third base bag

1. Windmill - they are scoring / advancing
2. Two arms up - stop at third but round it and find the ball
3. One arm up and other arm point at the base - stop on the bag because a throw is coming but it's not a bang bang play that needs a slide
4. I crouch and point at a corner - throw is coming and they have to hurry to the bag and slide. In certain situations I will even have them slide to the side the ball is coming if I feel it will cause the fielder to have a problem catching it (usually this is on direct throws from the OF where the steam has left the ball - if it's a good strong throw with some steam I'm not going to put my guys in the way of that).

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3. Sending/holding runners - do you have a general rule of thumb on sending R2 home on a single (obviously weighing the arms of the outfielders and situation in the game)? For example, do you use the timing of the fielder getting the ball and R2 touching third base as a general guide?

This one is harder to answer because there are so many factors - runner's speed, arm strength, how hard hit, direction hit, field conditions etc... - I guess I look at runner speed and arm strength the most but I'm aware of the other factors too. I guess what I am saying is you will learn this from experience of getting guys thrown out.

There are two kinds of third base coaches - those who got guys thrown out and those who are going to do it shortly. It happens but don't let it get you away from your philosophy.

1. Stealing signs - when you notice a team working hard to pick up your signs (and, for example, pitching out on just the exact pitches you're stealing) do you prefer to change signs between innings, change indicators, add/change a wipe off sign, or what? What's your preferred method?

We have a wipe off, two different indicators, and a repeat. OK it sounds complicated but it is very simple and I have never been picked. (Knock on wood) I will not throw it out into the open but if you PM me I will give you the system.

2. Multiple runners - if you have runners at 1st and 2nd and a ball is hit to the outfield, how do you handle giving signs to both runners? Say you want to send R2 home and hold R1 at 2nd base?....do you use right arm/left arm or verbal for one and sign for the other?

I use verbals and signals. We preach that when the runner is past me that they are gone. If I am going to wave them I get deep (towards home plate) and then work my way up the line towards the bag. Once they are past me I throw up the stop sign and yell for them to get back on the bag or if I want them to go I wave them.

3. Sending/holding runners - do you have a general rule of thumb on sending R2 home on a single (obviously weighing the arms of the outfielders and situation in the game)? For example, do you use the timing of the fielder getting the ball and R2 touching third base as a general guide?

I was taught this at a young coaching age by a minor league coach for the Giants. First, know you players. Second, teach the players to always round hard. Third, when the ball is hit get deep (towards the plate) as fast as you can so that you can see the fielder field the ball as the runner is touching the bag. If they are rounding the bag as the the fielder is loading send them if they have already loaded hold them. This has been highly successful for our program.

My high school you scored from 2nd base on a base hit to the outfield. Plain and simple.. very rarely did you get held up and you probably expect an @$$ chewing unless it was a rocket right at the outfielder.

As far as signs go, teams we play probably know our signs. Any team our junior high plays will know the signs if their coach has been there for more than a couple of years-- haven't changed in a LONG time.

So with specific opponents in specific games our coach will adjust signs accordingly. For the most part though, he goes with the mindset of "let them know the signs; they still have to execute to defend it"

As far as signs go, I think the easiest thing to use and be flexible with is a counting system (1 - bunt, 2 - steal, 3 - hit and run, 4 - squeeze). Whether it is an open and close with # of touches between, or a # of touches of a "hot" signal, you can change them from game to game or even inning to inning with minimal effort. Obviously, you have to supplement it, but the basics can be handled this way. Allows you also to number some defensive plays and use the same system on defense.