Coaching Youth Baseball Getting Ready to Play What the players need to do to prepare their bodies for playing baseball. Also, what the coach needs to do to to help them. Organizing a Practice Assistant Coaches The good, the bad, … Read more

Judgement Calls Most of the calls made by umpires are judgement calls. Safe or out, ball or strike, infield fly, running outside the base line, and fair or foul are all judgement calls. An umpire’s judgement may be poor or … Read more

The hard part of the rundown is catching the runner off base. Once that is accomplished, the rundown itself is simple. Few teams at the 11-12 year old level do it well. Rundown Rules Wait at the base for the … Read more

Priorities Popups require a set of priorities since so often more than one fielder can get to the ball in time to catch it.It is easier to catch a fly ball while moving forward than while moving backward. It is … Read more

Where do you Stand? The right fielder should be midway between the first and second baseman about half way from the infield to the outfield fence for the average batter. The distance from the foul line to the right fielder … Read more

The center fielder has priority over every other fielder on all fly balls. Anything they think they can catch they should call for and make the play. On balls hit to left or right field, the center fielder should go … Read more

Priorities The left fielder gives way only to the center fielder on balls they can get to. They should go toward the infield calling loudly for the ball if they can catch it. They should go quietly toward the center … Read more

Where do they Play? The third baseman has a long throw to first. If they are playing behind the baseline the throw not only has to be strong and accurate but quick. Only hard hit balls will be routine plays. … Read more

Where do they Play The shortstop has a long throw to first. Therefore they play just a step behind the baseline. If your shortstop has an unusually strong arm and/or the batter is a power hitter, the shortstop might back … Read more

Where do you Stand? The second base man lines up deeper than any other infielder. The throw to first is short and the second baseman backs up second on attempted steals of second. Also, since the first baseman is rather … Read more