Baserunning: reading the ball off the bat

Setup

1. Fielders at 1B, 2B, SS and 3B; a catcher in a helmet and mask beside the coach collects returns.
2. Runners in helmets line up at second base, one on the base at a time.
3. The coach hits ground balls, line drives and fly balls from beside home plate. Nobody stands near the coach's swing.

How it runs

1. The coach mimes a pitch. The runner leaves the base only on the release and takes two or three hard steps, then reads the hit. No leaving early.
2. The coach hits a ball. The runner reads it and reacts: ground ball behind (to the right side): go to third. Ground ball in front (to SS or 3B): hold, then go only if the throw goes across to first and the coach waves.
3. Line drive: freeze, then get back to the base if it's caught. Fly ball: halfway if shallow; tag up on deep balls in the outfield.
4. Fielders play it live: throw to first, or to third if the runner goes on a ball in front.
5. Each runner gets two balls, then goes to the back of the line. Rotate fielders and runners every few minutes.

Coaching points

• Eyes on the ball off the bat, not on your feet or on the base.
• Ball behind you (right side of the infield): go straight away, the throw to third is long and across your back.
• Ball in front of you: make the fielder look you back; don't run into an easy tag at third.
• Line drive: freeze. A double play on a caught liner is the worst outcome.
• Fly ball: deep means tag up and go on the catch; shallow means halfway and read.
• Never run into a fielder who is making a play on the ball; that's interference and the runner is out.

Common mistakes

• Running on every ground ball and getting thrown out at third on a ball to the shortstop.
• Watching the fielder instead of the ball and reacting late.
• Running on a line drive and getting doubled off second.
• Leaving the base early in live reps, before the release.
• Fielders standing on the base line without the ball and blocking the runner.