Newbie First Base coach needs some help!

Hi Chief

Possibly another approach is called for.
First of all, a well trained and well coached pitcher will give NO warning of a pickoff move. (I were one)

That being the case, until your kids enter a league where they play an opponent five, ten, or more times per year, (pro ranks), they should maybe be given an approach that does not count on scoping the pitcher, but rather gives them an edge on their own.

When stealing, ONE single thing gives them an edge. "Momentum"

That is...they need to be moving toward the next base at the earliest possible moment at the most possible acceleration.

I teach:
1. Act fat dumb and happy.
2. Take a short lead (one or two or even three steps closer to the retrograde base than the guy who stretches his lead as far as he can and is trembling with "go-itus" thus alerting everybody in the stadium).
3. "BREAK WHEN HE WIGGLES" meaning and teaching that after the pitcher comes to his/her set position...the very first wiggle he/she makes...GO FOR THE GOLD MEDAL!!!

By teaching and PRACTICING this technique, you give your runners the inititive. A conscious decision takes a LONG TIME... whether to go back or to GO!!! This technique allows your runners to get the "MOMENTUM" toward the next base which gives them three to four RUNNING steps on the other end of that 90 foot sprint. It also sets up the mindset in the opponent that allows delayed steals, (deadly), and half-steals, (funny), and invisible steals, (behind the infielders).

Another fun thing to do is lead off straight toward the pitcher, (when no steal is intended), or straight toward the right fielder, (just to wierd the opponents out), but also to set up the invisible steal.

I will sacrifice an out to "wierd" the opponents out any old day.

If I can get the pitcher thinking about a base runner instead of the strike-zone, then my runner gets to trot to second base as a result of a walk. (Then he is always safe). Perhaps even better, the opposing pitcher floats in a waist high fence-ball due to being distracted, and we score a couple of runs.) :~)

This stuff works, Newbie, and everyone will think you are nuts until they figure out that you are a genius. (caution: maybe never in this lifetime. Instead, they will think you and your runners are simply "lucky") (heh heh)

Best regards
Uhh...I forget