Base Coaching
Your team is up and someone yells... Someone coach 3rd... We need a 3rd base coach... Does that sound like your team? So you think anyone can coach 3rd base? If you said yes! You're right. Is just anyone a good 3rd base coach? If you said NO! You're right again! How many times have you heard a player say he can play short or play left? Only to find out they can't. Yeah anyone can stand at short or in left field, most routine plays are easy, but it stops there! Just like coaching 3rd base. It's important to have a coach who knows the players/runners! Not all runners run fast or can take the extra base. Some slide some don't. Most runners need some kind of help when rounding second base going to 3rd and home.
Things you don't want. You do not want a 3rd base coach who does not pay attention, not watching the play all the way through, talks a lot to the bench players or telling jokes to the other team! If you want a serious team, you need a serious base coach on both sides of the diamond. Remember this rule. Take the first base dugout when you can, have your 3rd base coach in front of the other teams dugout. The players in the dugout can confuse you and the runners with their loud mouths! Slide, go, stop, stand up and on they go! You've heard it and I've heard it. The point is, to many coaches! You only need one at 1st and 3rd.
This is just what I like, and how I coach 3rd base. You have to know the players who can run, who can slide, and who can take the extra base. Nothing wrong with being aggressive, but do it with the right runners. This will keep some pressure on the other teams. But be smart. Use hand signals and be verbal on close plays. If you use only your hands for the runner to slide or go home, he might miss something, use both. Some will say you don't want the defense to know what you're doing, I feel yelling go home can put some pressure on the defense to make the play. Also, WATCH the play to the end. Say there's a runner on first base, he takes off on a hit to right, he can see the play in front of him as he heads to second base, but as he rounds second going to 3rd, he can't see the play any more. Now he thinks he's stopping at 3rd, but the fielder bobbles the ball, now as a good 3rd base coach would, he sends the runner home, that is if the runner has some speed, run scores. Now if the coach isn't paying attention and holds his arms to stop the runner, and then tells him to go home, ugly things can happen. The runner could get hurt or thrown out at the plate. Pay attention!
Tag ups. The coach should know if the ball is hit deep enough for the runner to score from 3rd. The runner should be ready to go as soon as the coach says go! No need for the runner to watch the play and then decide to go for it. Sometimes just a little step is the difference from scoring or being thrown out at the plate.
One more point to make. KEEP your ears open! You can pick up information from the players on the bench. I've found out about players being hurt, can't run, can't throw ect. Managers moving players in and out of the line up, without reporting to the umps or score keepers! Batters batting out of order. Players that are, are you ready for this? Illegal players! Non roster players. That could come in handy during the game. I've used it more than once! Remember it's a war out there, You're there to WIN.
I could go on and on about how important the base coaches are and their jobs, but I won't. Just a few things to remember when coaching 3rd base. In closing I want to mention one last thing. DO NOT have a revolving door for your 3rd base coach. This way the players can get use to the coach and the 3rd base coach can get to know the runners better. A good 3rd base coach can pick up some easy runs for his team throughout the season. That could lead to more wins!
Is a good 3rd base coach that
importaint to your team? Some players think anyone can do it. Thing
again!
The Basics - Batting Tips - Play Defense - Managers Tips - Practice Drills - Base Coaching - Lineup Ideas
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