Using the Decoy Position
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TRAINING ROOM8 BASERUNNING Using the Decoy Position by Mike Roberts This is an exclusive excerpt from Baserunning (Human Kinetics, 2014) written by Mike Roberts, who spent 23 seasons as head baseball coach at the University of North Carolina, twice leading the team to the College World Series. He is also the father of All-Star second baseman Brian Roberts, one of baseball’s most successful base runners. he base runner’s decoy position is to lean to the left side with the shoulder, knee, head, or entire body. When the pitcher sees thisT position, he thinks the base runner is scared, off-balance, or does not want to be very far from second base and certainly is in no position to execute a great jump to steal third. The base runner is now approximately 18 to 21 feet (5.5-6.4 m) off the base. The pitcher has almost completed a signal position on the mound. The runner anticipates that the pitcher will move after the signal is completed, and the base runner switches from a comfortable athletic position in the base line to a decoy position. As the pitcher’s head moves in one of the three patterns to look at the runner at second base, the runner has already anticipated and beaten the pitcher’s head turn to make sure he is in the decoy position when the pitcher’s eyes fi rst view the runner. The runner shifts his weight to the left side or takes a 4- to 6-inch (10.2-15.2 cm) jab step back toward second base with the left foot. The runner loses a small amount of ground but nothing signifi cant enough to take away the steal of third. Right after the runner’s weight shifts to the left, which fi res up the left leg and especially the left glute, the runner springs back toward the right side. There is no hesitation in the mind or body, no sitting on the left side, just a rhythmic movement as the weight starts in the center, moves to the left, and then immediately moves back to the right side. The pitcher may still be looking at the base runner as the runner begins the slightest movement back toward the right side. This timing is ideal for the base runner. If the base runner waits until the pitcher’s head and eyes are rotating back past third base and picking up the target at home plate, the initial part of the jump lead will be too late. As the base runner begins the jump in an elongated shuffl e movement to the right, the runner takes a short jab step with and springs off the right foot into a small or exaggerated jump lead anywhere from 4 to 10 feet (1.2-3 m) to as far as 30 feet (9.1 m) from second base. Base runner’s decoy position. Page 74 • www.batwars.com • www.baseballthemag.com Many base stealers are uncomfortable with a lead of close to 30 feet (9.1 m). This is understandable. In this case, until the athlete becomes more comfortable with the jump lead, he should shorten his primary or comfort zone lead to about 15 feet (4.6 m). This distance can still work for a base stealer but leaves little margin for error in perfectly hitting the fi rst steps of the sprint when the pitcher’s leg is just coming up to throw home with the pitch. Players can practice the jump lead almost anywhere they have 10 to 20 feet (3-6.1 m) of safe space. Set up two parallel lines approximately 10 to 12 feet (3-3.7 m) apart. In the drill, the runner tries to make a rhythmic leap from one line to the other. When leaping to the right, the runner takes a short jab step with his right foot and leaps with his left knee moving up in the air as it crosses over the right leg. The feet should land in the vicinity of the imaginary line 10 to 12 feet away, with the body still parallel to the fi rst-base line, if the drill is performed between second and third base on a baseball fi eld. Next, the athlete immediately takes a short jab step with the left foot and takes the right knee up in the air as it crosses over the left leg and the athlete lands back near the line he just left. The athlete should practice leaping back and forth several times. During my years of teaching and watching this drill, I have found that few athletes are able to use their right and left feet equally well in sync, at least at fi rst. Every athlete has a dominant foot, but few seem to know which foot it is until beginning the drill. The leaping drill to the right and left is designed to help each foot work equally well and give runners explosiveness in the legs when the glute is fi red for the leap. JUMP LEAD DRILL OBJECTIVES Learn to use the feet equally well in moving to the left or right. Learn which foot is dominant and try to bring the other foot up to that strength and maneuverability. Also learn Exaggerated jump lead from second base. how to gain a lot of ground with the leap. EQUIPMENT None. ABOUT THE AUTHOR EXECUTION Draw two parallel lines on the ground 10 to Mike Roberts is the business development manager at 12 feet (3-3.7 m) apart. The athlete places Athletes’ Performance, where he directs baseball athlete his left foot on a line and leaps to or beyond relations and the sales of major league and minor league the line to his right. A coach can help by training programs. He is also the director of education for saying, “Right foot out and leap” as the SmartKage Sports, a technology system that quantitatively athlete leaps to his right and “Left foot out measures athletic performance. A lifelong baseball coach, and leap” as the athlete leaps back to the he is currently the head coach of the Cotuit Kettleers in the starting point. The athlete can also say this Cape Cod Collegiate Summer Baseball League. Roberts to himself. Repeat the leap back and forth. played professional baseball in the Kansas City Royals’ minor league system. COACHING POINTS Learn to use both feet equally well. Improve Baserunning is now available in bookstores everywhere, rhythm during practice. as well as online at www.HumanKinetics.com. Baseball The Magazine Issue 4 • 2014 Page 75.