Signs

I disagree with the strict simplicity approach. There are four main sign considerations:

(1) What are your standard instructions (what should players do if they get no signs)?
(2) What information do you want to signal (what things do you want the signs for)?
(3) What part of the body do you want to use for signs (distance and eyesight are prime considerations; chin for steals and nose for hold won't work if a 1B runner can't see your face from across the diamond);
(4) What do you want to use as a trigger/hot signal?

Signals can be verbal as well as by body motion, of course, and the verbal signals are the ones that most often change. I do agree that once the signals are established, I won't change them for the rest of the season; the verbal signals change every game. Using this framework, let's look over a few signal systems.

First, I want my batters to hit away and my baserunners to steal only on a passed ball (ordinary circumstances). If I give no signals, or if I give no hot signals, that's what they are to do.

On offense, I want my runners to recognize a steal sign, a hold sign, and a steal on an overthrow sign. My batters need a take sign, a bunt sign, and a swing away sign. You may also want a hit and run sign, a hit behind the runner sign, and a squeeze sign. (I favor telling the batter about such special circumstances, but there are, as you can see, different views).

The most visible parts of the body are the arms and the trunk. I'll usually tell the players at the beginning of the year that "body stands for baserunning (or batting)" or that "hands stand for hitting" or something of that nature. The alliteration jogs the memory. We then set a fixed set of signs, for example:

Batting (body):
Swing away: belt a(rub left hip to right hip);
Take: neck (rub left shoulder to right shoulder -- looks like the "cut the throat" signal);
Bunt: diagonal (rub left shoulder to right hip).

Stealing (hands)
Steal (tap shoulder)
Steal on overthrow (tap elbow)
Stay put (clap hands)

Another system you can use is to give steal signals after all the other signs -- coaches will assume you've finished when you simply stand in the box and look at the batter. For example, arms:
Steal (arms at side)
Steal on overthrow (hands on hips = offside signal in football)
Stay put (arms folded across chest).

Hot sign -- is usually either a number (third sign is hot, for example) or a sign (clap, hat, nose, chop [like the personal fould sign in football], leg, or the like). Verbal signs are always hot, but change (go to town, go to school, go to the car, go to the dugout -- only "go to school" means steal on this day).

Make at least five separate signs (3=hot, so cap, rub beltleft to right, rub diagonal from shoulder to hip, rub nose, clap hands means bunt). If you want a running sign, too, hold hands at side after all signals given (steal).

The key for offensive signals is for them to be seen and to be remembered, which means PRACTICE. Your H.S. players will be concentrating on the pitcher & such (perhaps the blonde in the stands), so don't just tell them the sins, go over the signs and use them every day.

Finally, there is, at your level, the issue of defensive signs. These include covering 2B on steal (usually done by SS with open/close mouthed signal to second baseman), bunt defense, 1st & 3rd defense, and some other plays (pickoffs, throw overs, fake breaks, and the like). My advice is to find a catcher you REALLY trust -- you know, the team leader/fireplug/quarterback/strategist we're all looking for, and let him arrange with you some set of signals he wants to set the play. Then forget about it. (The usual signal systems involve things like one player rubbing a part of their uniform with a response of "picking" at a shirt, but there are others). Your catcher and the other players will enjoy setting their own signs and baffling the other team. They also have ways of encouraging each other to remember to pay attention -- one C almost hit a 1B in the face when he missed the C pickoff sign -- the 1B never missed that sign again. (Watched a catcher defense a 1st and 3rd situation by standing on the plate and rubbing himself all over before each pitch. The other coaches were intent on stealing the signs. Actually, just before each pitch the C would either adjust his facemask or his chest protector, but no one caught that).

In sum, you need to identify what information you're goiing to sign. Then, you need to set the actual hot signs for the season; they hould be specific, easy to see and remeber. You then MUST constantly drill them; if they're worth having, they're worth spending time on.

Let us know how it goes.

Ciao,

Chip