NORTHERN OHIO 13U *All players must know the signs to play or stay in a game - Signs may change throughout the year, but the principles will not *

1. / Hitting Signs These signs will always be communicated via the 3B coach, and MUST be acknowledged by Runner / Batter by touching brim of helmet. Missed signs can result in missed opportunities for runs and cause outs. Please be aware of signs at all times whether batting or as a runner. The signs are only valid when given as the FIRST and LAST signs. a. STEAL Standard - Belt Swipe Delayed - Belt Swipe b. - Bill of Hat Suicide Bunt - Neck Slash Bunt - Forehead Bunt for (push or drag) - Chin Fake Bunt - Ear Bunt & Steal - Top of Hat c. HIT & - Thigh e. TAKE - Closed Fist (under no circumstance will a batter ever swing when given the “take” sign) ------2. / Signs These signs will always be communicated via the catcher. Catcher should turn their legs away from the opposing bench when giving signs to the pitcher. No pitcher will shake off ANY sign sent in by a coach. Catcher & Pitcher can work each which sign will be the valid sign. IE: First, Second, or Third sign. a. LOCATION Inside/Outside - will always be determined by inside Thigh of catcher. Catcher will setup on inside or outside corner of plate. If is 0-2 then setup a good 4-6” off plate. We do not want throw a strike at 0-2. If /curve we may setup on the plate. High Fastball - catcher will give Thumb up sign - Pitcher will throw a chest high fastball. Catcher: should come up into a slightly crouched, but standup position as is thrown. b. FASTBALL - catcher will put down an odd number of fingers (1 or 3) c. CHANGE-UP / CURVE - catcher will put down and even number of fingers (2 or 4) d. PITCHER - catcher will put down 5 fingers followed by the base to throw to (1, 2, 3) - (2nd base is always a fake throw) e. - catcher will display fist ------3. Coach / Catcher Signs These signs will always be communicated to catcher by the Pitching coach. Catcher should always look for signs from coach before every pitch. In the absence of any sign(s), or when the coach is not actively engaged with the catcher, then the default will ALWAYS be a fastball with no pickoff. a. PITCH TYPES Fastball - coach will touch brim of hat (0) or (1) times Change/Curve - coach will touch brim of hat (2) or more times Pitchout - coach will display fist High Fastball - coach will give thumbs up sign, or the hand (palm down) in horizontal position b. LOCATION Inside - coach will wiggle either ear Outside - coach gives no indication for location. This is the default. c. PICKOFFS (pickoff is on only when something follows open hand at chest (five fingers) Pitcher to Bases - coach will give catcher open hand (five fingers) at chest followed by base to throw to -- 1, 2, 3 Snap Throw to a Base - coach will give catcher open hand (five fingers) at chest followed by 4 for lead runner and 5 for trail runner. coach will give indicator to infield (1B or 3B) so they are aware and need to cover the bag. d. Repeat Signs - catcher pats top of head with hand to let coach know to repeat signs. ------

4. 1st and 3rd Defense These signs will always be communicated to the catcher by the Infield coach, then to the entire team by the catcher stepping out in front of the plate and giving the sign openly. These plays are designed to indicate to the infield / what we are going to do defensively when the runner attempts to steal second with a runner also on third. The FIRST sign given by catcher will be the active sign. In the absence of a sign or indication from the coach/catcher, we will always do the fake throw to 3B by default. a. Throw through to 2B - catcher touches arm - SS breaks in as decoy. 2B has bag. CF backs up 2B. b. Throw to 3B - catcher touches thigh - Catcher throws immediately to 3B. LF has backup of 3B. 2B has bag. SS acts as decoy. c. Throw to SS Breaking-In - catcher touches hat - SS breaks in between SS and pitcher’s mound to take throw. LF backs up SS. 2B and 3B have the bags. d. Fake Throw to 3B - catcher touches front of mask. Coach touches nose or face.

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5. Bunt Coverage These plays will be indicated by a verbal indication from the Infield coach. The verbal indicator will be the number “9” followed by the play number. Any other number(s) are a decoy if not preceded by a 9. All are always backing up a bag on any play. a. 91 Standard - 3B stays home or charges if hard hit on 3B side / Pitcher covers 3B line / 1B charges / 2B covers first / SS covers 2B b. 92 - 3B charges / 1B stays home / Pitcher covers 1B line / SS covers 3B / 2B covers 2B c. 93 Wheel Play Pickoff - this is a 3 second timing play. On 1 when batter squares the SS breaks to 3B / On 1.5 the 3B charges / On 2 the 2B breaks toward 2B / On 3 the Pitcher throws to 2B for pickoff. Pitcher should not look at runner and always face hitter. Catcher may drop glove as an indicator to pitcher to turn and throw. d. 94 Pitchout/Pickoff - 1B charges / Pitcher pitches out / 2B Sneaks in to cover 1B / Catcher makes snap throw to 1B e. 90 Decoy - this is a decoy number and we do nothing as we do with any other number sequence besides 91, 92, 93, or 94.

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6. Timing Pickoff Plays at 2B These plays are designed to pickoff a runner at 2B in order to get an out. We will not normally do this if a runner is also on 3B. These plays will be coordinated between the Pitcher and SS or 2B. a. Daylight Play - communicated between SS or 2B and Pitcher. SS or 2B will move towards 2B, and will lead with glove as an indicator to throw. If the glove is not being shown then the pitcher may step off mound or do a fake spin throw. Do not throw if fielder is not expecting a throw. b. Timed Pickoff - Pitcher will coordinate with SS or 2B. After a pre-determined period of time the fielder will break to the bag, and the pitcher will spin move to 2B for a pickoff. Both Pitcher and Fielder must acknowledge this play in order for it to be “on”. Timed Interval: Hat = 1 second, Face = 2 seconds, Chest= 3 seconds, Pants= 4 seconds

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7. Snap Throw By Catcher to 1B or 3B The Catcher will receive the indicator from the Pitching coach. The Infield coach will give indicator to the infield and outfield. With this play the catcher will immediately upon receiving the pitch make a snap throw to 1B or 3B. a. Snap-Throw to 1B - coach will give team the horns sign vertically (up and down). The index and pinky fingers will be displayed with index finger on top and pinky finger on the bottom. a. Snap-Throw to 3B - coach will give team the horns sign horizontally (across from each other). The index and pinky fingers will be displayed with index finger directly across from the pinky finger.