Rundowns at 1st

Throw ahead and get the ball into the hands of my shortstop. He is the captain in the infield, best decision maker. Hopefully he can cut distance and apply the tag without another throw

I tried to work on this Sunday with my U9's. What a treat! I had the P throw the pick off to 1B. 1B then threw to my 2B who then threw to my P who backed up 1B then he threw to my SS who backed up my 2B and so on an so on.
There are a couple different methods from what I understand.
Good luck

If the runner has passed the half way point, fire to 2nd. The middle inf's are usually fast enough to chase down the runner and tag him going back to 1st. Worst case is another throw to 1B for the tag. Always practice to make as few throws as possible. We always practice 1 throw and then the play will unfold. Big key is to teach the fielders to create throwing lanes and never throw over a runner.

We have always had the first baseman chase the runner toward second unless all he saw was butholes and elbows, then he fired the ball to second. This week we tried letting the first baseman stay near 1st and read the runner. When the runner was close enough to the second baseman, he threw him the ball. Everything else stayed the same, receiver creeping, clear throwing lane, etc. It seemed to work as well or better. Just wondering what you guys thought.

One of our keys has always been to throw early to second, and run them back to first. Always ensure that if the runner gets back to base safely, it is 1st base, and not 2nd base.

d8 that is the worst thing you can do. Trying to time your throw to 2B to tag the runner is a disaster waiting to happen.
You always throw down to 2B in plenty of time to turn the runner back to 1B. If you are going to lose the runner you make sure he is heading back to where he came from.

First baseman must run toward 2nd, make sure baserunner is headed full speed toward 2nd, at the point of no return 2B or SS (depending on RHH or LHH) calls for ball in time to secure ball and apply tag. Should only take one throw, SS or 2B either tags runner or should be able to catch runner if he decides to change direction. Key is practicing "point of no return" Shouldn't be a problem, kids love this drill. KISS... don't make it harder than it is, they are giving you an out, take it. Even if you give runner first back you are still in the dreaded "4 out inning" Enough of these and you'll be depressed enough to take up golf!

I agree.....a rundown is an automatic out (or at least as automatic as they come) so I am not worried about chasing him back to the bag he came from in case we mess up. Our goal is to make one throw and out (point of no return). Most times that a runner is picked at first, that is not diving back, he is already running to try and make second. If that is the case, why chase him or get rid of it early and have to make another throw?

What we do on our High School team is get only 3 fielders in the run down, if the rundown starts at first the 2nd basemen goes to first also and the SS calls ball and is moving as he catches it so the runner has to change directions when your already moving at him. The first basemen gets behind the SS just in case you dont get him in 2 throws which you normally get. (run him hard no guessing games) then the 2nd basemen is at first ready for a throw also. The key part to get use to is make sure you are moving when you catch the ball. If it is between the 2nd and 3rd base than the same thing happend but the 2nd basemen goes to 2nd to be your 3rd guy behind the SS and so on. if you get a guy in a squeez situation the first basemen backs up the cather and the 3rd basemen is charging with the runner so he backs up the first basemen in case of bad throws, so the SS has to sprint to 3rd for he is the next guy to get the ball coming back to third. If you error with calling ball make sure you error early (HE SCORES IF IT IS ERROR LATE)

I have seen so many games lost because of that approach. It just happened yesterday at my sons game. I can tell you every team we were involved with practiced the back to 1st approach. Even the best players make errors. You get the ball to 2B and run the guy. The SS and 2b guys are usually the quickest guys on the team.
Many times I have seen the ball launched into the out field or the runner hit in the back,arm etc. You throw the ball when the runner is commited but not too close to make it a hard catch. We play American league rules with full contact. Makes abig difference when the runner can take you out.

How exactly does making a longer throw to 2nd improve your chances of getting the out?

Bobblehead....Good points and you are correct even the $10mil/year guys make mistakes. That is why we want to have one throw. This is something that has only come up once in 16 games so far this year. I still believe most times that if you get picked while stealing the runner is going to try to make it to second, and you will only have time to make a throw and tag at the bag

What do you guys teach your runner to do if he is picked while stealing? Go back to first, stop and get in a run down, or sprint for the bag at second?

The closer the runner gets to 2B the tougher it is to throw to second. There are times when you have no choice because of a good jump. In a true PO where the guy is cuaght in the lights and has to run our 1B chases the runner to about 1/2 way mark and throws well in adavance of the runner. Depending on LH or RH he steps off line and throws to 2B chest high. Pitcher moves in to cover 1B. SS or 2B chases runner back for the tag and if he can't tag throws to pitcher covering 1B. The ideal is to make 1 throw and occasionally 2 but a good runner can make you do more throws.
I have seen screw ups at all levels. Our kids have been trained by Pros and they like 1 throw but that is not realistic in all cases. They also stress losing the runner going back to where he came from. If your throw is early you have a better chance of the 2B keeping his eye on the ball and less of a chance of hitting the runner or launching the ball into the outfield. Once the 2B guy has the ball he chases the runner, a couple fakes and usually he tags the runner because the SS and 2B guys are usually very quick. If our guys hold onto the ball too long they get blasted. The whole objective is to keep the runner from advancining to 2B where a single will score him and the double play is taken away.

"a couple fakes"


I teach my kids NEVER to make fake throws, but to "show the ball" to your teammate. Fakes tend to fake out the receiver as much as the runner...

good call goMO i am taught the same thing by my coach at my High School

IrishDad, Bobble, GoMo, good stuff. Get rid of the ball after creating a throwing lane, right to second. If you have a play there you get the out. If not and the runner is agile, he may reverse, then you can fake him. Most teams I've coached had quick middle inf's. They can fake him back, tag him or if they have to, throw to 1st. If the runner makes it, he's back at 1st. We are going to get the out with 1 throw 99% of the time.