Leads and secondary leads

Setup

1. Check your league's rules first: some junior leagues don't allow runners to lead off until the pitch reaches the batter.
2. A pitcher on the mound throws from the stretch at light effort, or a coach plays the pitcher. Count the pitcher's throws, including throws to first, and swap pitchers after about 15.
3. A catcher in full gear, a first baser holding the runner, and runners in batting helmets lined up in foul ground behind first base.
4. A coach stands in the first-base coach's box. Any player acting as a base coach wears a helmet.
5. Lay a cone where each runner's primary lead should be, to start with.

How it runs

1. The first runner stands on first, then walks off the base with eyes on the pitcher, and shuffles out to a primary lead: about one step and a dive from the base.
2. The pitcher comes set and either delivers home or throws over to first.
3. On a pitch home, the runner takes two quick shuffles (the secondary lead) and lands on the right foot just as the ball reaches the plate, ready to go or come back.
4. If the catcher catches it cleanly, the runner shuffles back to the primary lead and resets, watching the catcher in case of a throw.
5. On a throw to first, the runner steps back with a crossover and gets to the back corner of the base. Each runner takes three pitches, then goes to the back of the line.

Coaching points

• Primary lead: walk off the base without ever taking the eyes off the pitcher. Feet a little wider than the shoulders, weight on the balls of the feet, hands relaxed.
• Lead distance: a step plus a body length that the runner can get back from with a crossover step and a dive. Start shorter and stretch it as the reads improve.
• Right-handed pitcher: watch the front shoulder and the heels. If the back heel lifts first, they're throwing over.
• Left-handed pitcher: watch the front leg. Once the front leg swings past the back of the rubber towards home, the pitcher must deliver home or it's a balk.
• Secondary lead: shuffle, don't cross the feet, and land as the ball reaches the hitting zone so the weight is balanced either way.
• Getting back: return standing up to the back corner of the base. Older players may learn the dive back; check your league's rules on head-first slides.
• Base coach: call 'Back!' on a pickoff and remind the runner of outs and the situation before each pitch.

Common mistakes

• Looking down at the feet or back at the base while taking the lead.
• Crossing the feet in the secondary lead and getting caught leaning.
• Leaning towards second on the pitcher's first move and getting picked off.
• Secondary lead so short that the runner gains nothing on a ball in the dirt.
• Drifting back to first too casually after the pitch and getting picked off by the catcher.