Reading the ball in the dirt

Setup

1. A coach or feeder kneels or stands about eight to ten metres in front of home plate with a bucket of balls, so no pitcher's arm is used.
2. A catcher in full gear sets up behind the plate. Rotate catchers every few minutes; this doubles as blocking practice.
3. Runners in batting helmets take leads at first and third (third-base leads stay in foul ground). Spare runners wait in foul ground well away from the plate.
4. A second baser and shortstop cover second, and a third baser plays near third. Nobody stands between the feeder and the catcher.

How it runs

1. The feeder mimes a pitcher's set position. Runners take their primary leads, then shuffle into a secondary lead as the feeder throws.
2. The feeder throws a mix: strikes, balls in the dirt in front of the plate and balls that bounce to either side. Start throws at moderate pace and with reduced-injury balls.
3. As soon as the runner on first sees the ball heading down into the dirt, they shout 'Down!' and break for second. The runner on third goes only if the ball gets well away from the catcher.
4. If the catcher blocks the ball in front, runners stop and get back. If the ball gets away, the catcher recovers and throws to the base the runner is going to.
5. Runners slide feet-first into second and are safe or out on the tag. Rotate runners after three throws, and swap fielders and catchers every few rounds.

Coaching points

• Read the angle as the ball leaves the hand: a pitch heading down early will bounce. Go on the read, not on the bounce.
• Secondary lead first. A runner standing still has no chance of making it.
• Runner on first: if it's down and the catcher has to block it, go. The catcher needs to find the ball, get up and throw, which is usually too slow.
• Runner on third: be more careful. Go only when the ball gets past or well to the side of the catcher; a blocked ball right in front is an easy out at home.
• Commit fully once you go. Half-going and stopping is how runners get caught off base.
• Remember the dropped third strike: with first base open, or with two outs, the batter can run if the catcher doesn't catch strike three cleanly.
• Any slide at home must avoid the catcher, and the catcher must not block the plate without the ball. Check your competition's collision rules.

Common mistakes

• Waiting to see where the ball bounces before going.
• No secondary lead, so the runner can't reach second even on a ball that gets away.
• Runner on third going on every ball in the dirt and getting tagged at home.
• Stopping halfway and getting caught in a rundown.
• Fielders standing on the base path waiting for the throw (obstruction).