Rules to discuss in practice

Reporting in as a substitute. We always say that they aren't in the game until I tell the ump that they are in the game. Stand on deck and wait for me to tell the ump. Don't assume I've reported it because I might want to do something different.

Delayed Dead Ball

How bout catcher interference on a swing so the cather and batter know about it incase an ump misses or something.

Great topic. I too assumed some things when I first started coaching HS baseball. And I learned the hard way. I think the dropped third strike is the most confusing to HS players. There is a reason we want all our hitters to run out a dropped third strike. We want the catcher or the opposing team to not know the rules. Maybe the catcher pops up and throws to first with less than two outs first base occupied and the ball goes into right field. And if you get in a habit of running it out everytime regardless of the situation then you know you are running everytime the rules allow for you to run. You dont have to think about it and that causes just enough hesitation for the defense to recover. Great thread so many situations kids do not understand. And I might add alot of situations that some coaches do not understand.

quote:

by B25: Reporting in as a substitute. We always say that they aren't in the game until I tell the ump that they are in the game.

that's a great one to cover ...
several times in hs tournament games I've seen a runner reach base only to be put out during live ball by anticipating the "pinch runner" sub who had not yet been entered into the game ...

tho coach prolly could have headed the situation off by requesting time as soon as play action stopped, THEN given last minute instructions to his pinch runner/sub.

guess he never would'a anticipated one of his guys could do something dumb so fast

we lost a hs district championship because a baserunner passed his team-mate on the base-path ...
he thought it ok, as long as they didn't touch each other - he's in pro ball now

quote:

Originally posted by Bee>:
....a baserunner passed his team-mate on the base-path ...
he thought it ok, as long as they didn't touch each other - he's in pro ball now

And after pro ball he'll probably have a long career as a TV announcer, explaining to everyone who will listen how the tie goes to the runner, on a check swing it's a strike if the wrists break, and so on.

Good discussion Coach L. I started going over rules with our youth team a couple of years ago at practices, and I appreciate this thread for additional suggestions on what to talk about. It's frustrating though to talk about the infield fly rule at a practice and then in the next game see a runner caught between bases with that deer in the headlights look. You can lead a horse to water....

Time outs is a good one to cover... especially the one where the batter raises his hand (my biggest pet peeve) says Time and steps out (thinking HE has called time out).
Another one is foul balls/fair balls...

good topics guys

Believe it or not, we have had to discuss not throwing the glove to try to stop a ball before.

If there is a runner on third and less than two outs and a foul ball goes to right field foul territory, tell the right fielder to not catch it unless he's got a cannon for an arm and can get the runner out.

Runners can advance on an infield fly at their own risk... (One time our second baseman was asleep and um the runner from third scored...)

This is not a rule per say, but encourage the players to know when they are up to bat and to put their feilding equipment in the same spot all the time, to save time and stuff...

Captlid,
Thanks for adding those. It's good to get a players perspective.

Coach Labeots, check pm

You are welcome, a couple more situations come to mind in terms of baserunning.

When a runner gets walked he can advance to the next bsae at his own risk. I dont have enough fingers on my hands to count how many times I have seen this happen to sleeping pitchers. Basically the fielders should never assume play is stopped unless the umpire says, "Time!"

The baserunner should never assume he was given "time" to dust himself off at the base while NOT touching the base. An alert pitcher has picked runners off for this.

That also goes for foul balls. One field I play on the thirdbase side of is not in the best of condition. More than a few hitters have hit hot choppers that are initially in foul territory and then hop right back into fair terrority. Thats one more reason for players to run out every ball hit. Dont assume its foul until the umpire says "Foul!" That goes for fielders too.

Most kids think that the baseline is the straight line that goes 90 feet between the bases instead of the path the runner establishes advancing to the next base.

For instance if a runner round second to far and tries to get but gets caught in a rundown. Well the chances he is directly in the middle of the two bases are slim - he is probably deep in the IF towards the OF. Now he has establshed his baseline and has three feet from it to avoid a tag.

To go along with that teach the kids not to assume he has went out of the three feet to avoid the tag. Their opinion of three feet doesn't matter as much as the opinion of the umpiers definition of three feet.

I am going to be putting each of these rules on a slip of paper and in our first meeting each player will draw a slip then have to find out the rule and know it well enough to explain it to the team. I will of course interject if there is something explained wrong. It should be interesting if nothing else.

That home plate is in FAIR TERRITORY!!!

Absolutely cannot believe that people actually think if the ball hits homeplate is a foul ball.

One thing I would definitely suggest talking about and maybe even doing is the appeal process. Runner leaving early, etc.

We had one last year where I was catching with a runner on second. Fly ball to the outfield so rather so I was watching the baserunner at 2nd. I thought he left early and told my coach right away. The base umpire was signaling safe so I let it go. After the next batter, the plate umpire asked me why I didn't appeal it. Somehow, something got screwed up.

So defintely something to look at.

You can fake a throw or a catch but NOT a tag.
Also the running lane btwn 1st and home needs to be reviewed.