Food For Thought!

Things that often go under the radar.....

*****IF You are a Middle Infielder......and then some

**Make sure you know who should be covering second base on a pitch out.....LHH (2B should cover), RHH (SS should cover) for obvious reasons.......only sign needed is pitchout sign from catcher to pitcher....Middle Infielders should be taught what to do.....

**Make sure you know what to do on an Intentional Base on Balls / know how to defend it.....LHH, 2B on bag, SS very deep. RHH, SS on bag, 2B very deep (only if you have to throw four wide)......No sign needed....should be taught....

**On defense....men on 1st and 2nd......make sure everyone knows what they are doing if they run.....only cover one base...as you can only throw the ball to one base......a middle infielder and thrid baseman should not be covering on the same play.....sign will come from catcher (after you give to him of course....or from you to entire team)..simple first and third signs from the catcher will be fine......

**Make sure the pitcher knows what he is doing on fly balls to the infield (fair and foul) w/ men on 1st and 3rd w/ less than two outs....No sign needed, should be taught...

**Make sure your offense knows what to do on fly to balls on the infield fair or foul if nobody is in the middle of field (so to speak) w/ men on 1st and 3rd and less than two outs.....No sign needed, should be taught...

**Make sure that a middle infielder does not cover second base w/ men on 1st and 3rd when catcher is not throwing through (to second base) if they run.....(must be a sign from catcher)....also the same in a blow out game when not throwing if they run...Simple first and third signs will be fine

**Most often will happen w/ runners on 1st and 3rd......Make sure your firstbaseman follows runner to second in steal attempt only after ball has gotten by the hitter.....but not too close...only to close the gap and more often than not to prevent the double steal w/ two outs.....try to get the out between 1st and 2nd before run scores (w/ two outs obviously).....No sign needed, should be taught

**Make sure your outfielders know how to play NO DOUBLES.......and make sure you know how to tell them other than yelling to them "NO DOUBLES"........play deeper and take away the gaps...ball down line is a double any way...esp if you chose to play NO DOUBLES on the infield.....Wave hand over back of head to outfielders

**Make sure you know how to tell your outfielders that all throws will go to second base....again....without yelling "Throw the ball to second base".....Place hand on top of head as sign

**When coaching first base......(at an age when they can lead off only)......firstbaseman playing behind.....do not turn you back to hitter........get in a position where everyone is in front of you...you can see fine from there....in fact you can see much more and more importantly you may not get killed by a foul ball..........Intelligence needed.....no sign required

**Teach your catchers to STAND UP and throw the ball back to the pitcher (esp youth catchers)...throwing from their knees is a bad habit to get into that can be taken advantage of......Should be taught....

Just a few pet peaves that I have observed at Youth, High School and College games.....


Hope it triggered some thought.....