10U 2018 Study Guide Coach Sarah Johnson DEFENSE: Ready Position and Communication: All players are responsible to be in ready position and communicate on EVERY play. Knowing your responsibilities on each pitch is the greatest part of being READY. Each player has 3 responsibilities on EVERY PITCH: 1. Understand where to go if the ball is hit to you. If the ball is not hit to you THEN your additional responsibilities become 2. Cover a base for a possible play or to keep runners from advancing and/or 3. Position yourself to cover a possible overthrow. You will have one of the 3 responsibilities on each play regardless of your position – “Ball, Base, Back‐up”. Fielding the Bunt: The bunt will be covered by 3rd base and 1st base along with the catcher and pitcher. Second base will be responsible for fielding the throw to first on the bunt at all times. Right field will work to back up the throws to first. Short stop will cover 2nd base if NOBODY is on base. If there are one or more baserunners on base at the time of the bunt, short stop will cover 3rd base. Centerfield will cover 2nd base if short stop is covering 3rd base. If short stop is covering 2nd base, centerfield will back up 2nd base. Left field is responsible for backing up 3rd base. Defending the Steal: Shortstop will cover the throw to 2nd on all steals. Center field will back up the throws. 2nd base should be the lead communicator on the steal yelling, “she’s going” but should not become involved with the throw down. Covering Home: The catcher is responsible for protecting home plate. On a pass ball the pitcher will come to cover home plate and 1st base would enter the pitching circle. With a runner on 3B the third base player should move to cover 3rd upon seeing the pitcher begin to cover home as there may be a chance to run down the runner. LF should be prepared to back‐up 3rd on an overthrow from catcher. Backing up Throws: All throws anywhere in the field need to be backed up at all times. If you are not directly involved in the immediate play, you will either be covering a base or preparing to back up a throw. Overthrows = RUNS. No yellow SNOWBALLS. The ball must be in the pitchers circle in order to stop the runner. Communicate and back up all throws. RF backs up all throws to first, CF backs up all throws to 2nd, LF backs up all throws to 3rd and shortstop and 2nd base back up all throws to the pitcher. Runners on 1st and 3rd: We will not worry about the runner stealing in this situation. Doing so could cause the runner on 3rd to score. The pitcher and catcher will communicate and the catcher will control the play by looking the runner on third back to 3rd and making a clean throw back to the pitcher ignoring the runner going from first to second. Shortstop and 2nd base will back up the throws from the catcher to the pitcher and 3rd base will cover 3rd just in case a play develops. Left field will be prepared to back up a play at third base as necessary. Outfield Cut‐Off Throws: Shortstop will be the cut off to all balls hit to LF. 2nd base will be the cut off to all balls hit to RF. A ball to straight CF will be cut off by the short stop. The cut off player will have both hands HIGH and be LOUD about calling for the ball. If there are runners on base either SS or 2B (who ever is not involved in the cut off) will be the CONDUCTOR positioned on 2B to line up the cut off and yelling either CUT 2 or 2. If 2 is called the throw is not CUT by the cutoff, if CUT 2 is called the cut off will catch the throw and directly throw to 2B for the needed tag play for the out. 3B may also be the CONDUCTOR if the attempted play is going to be at 3rd base by a ball hit deep to LF. If you are not directly involved in the cut off play you should be looking to cover a base or position yourself to back up a throw. ALL players are moving and communicating on each and every pitch/play. No BALLS will be thrown in from the outfield to the pitcher. ALWAYS use your cut off players. Playing the Drop 3rd Strike: If the catcher drops the ball on a swinging 3rd strike or if the batter fails to swing on the 3rd strike and the ball is dropped by the catcher the batter can RUN to first. All players help the catcher by yelling “she’s going”. If the catcher is able to pick the ball up and immediately TAG the runner this is our safest play for the out. Otherwise, 1B must be prepared to take the throw down from the catcher in attempt to get the out. RF must be in position for overthrow. The rules are tricky and coaches will help but here they are: If there are less than two outs the batter can run to 1st base if 1st base is empty. If there is a runner on 1st base, the batter is automatically out. If there are two outs the batter can run to 1st base whether or not 1st base is empty. OFFENSE: Signs: All batters must receive their sign from the 3rd base coach prior to stepping into the batters box. Signs will be given before every pitch – batters should step out of the batters box with her front foot, keeping the back foot planted, to receive the sign between pitches. Players are expected to nod to let the coach know they received the sign. Runners on all bases are responsible for knowing the signs as well and will have help from the base coaches. If you miss the sign that was given, tap the top of your helmet and the coach will give you the sign again. The Lead Off: Runners can leave the base once the pitch is released from the pitcher’s hand. Be in an athletic stance, L arms and ready to run. Each lead will be 3‐4 STRONG steps off the base followed by a “turn and look”. With less than 2 outs all runners must tag up on a fly ball before advancing to the next base. All runners should expect to run on a wild pitch or with any overthrows in the field. Base Running: WE WILL BE aggressive on the bases. Expect to run. Each runner will slide if a play is involved at the base they are running to. The exception is 1st base. NEVER slide into 1st always RUN THROUGH stepping on the orange base. If there is not a play on the base NEVER stop on the base you are going to. We teach “Round and look” as another chance to run may happen. Always look, expect and be ready to SCORE. Bunt: Move to the front of the batters box, square early, barrel higher than handle, bat at top of strike zone, arms in L formation, move to meet the ball by bending your knees. GOAL is to advance the runner not necessarily be safe at first yourself. Steal: The RUNNERS JOB: Athletic stance, L arms and ready to run HARD. Do not be looking at the ball as it is thrown down. Your job once seeing the steal sign is to steal without hesitation. Slide at the base if a play is being made. Following your slide or arrival at base be prepared to get up quickly and run to yet another base if an over throw happens. THE BATTERS JOB: Move to the back of the box so the catchers throw becomes more difficult (longer) and “take” the pitch (DO NOT SWING=Take the pitch). Drop 3rd Strike: All batters should be prepared to run on the 3rd strike. If the catcher drops the ball on a swinging 3rd strike or if the batter fails to swing on the 3rd strike and the ball is dropped by the catcher – RUN. The rules are a bit tricky but leave it to the coaches to help you– JUST RUN. Walk: There may be a time when the first base coach sends the runner to second following a walk. As long as you do not stop your motion as a runner, you can make your turn and run to 2nd base on a walk. This command will come from the first base coach. .