By: Joe Zander,
This is a fun, instructive, and quick-paced base running drill that I call the "Base Circuit Drill." Equipment: 4 Bases, 1 Bat, Batting Helmets, Stop Watch is optional. Setup: To begin, place one player in the coach's box at first base. Put the first runner in the batter's box at the plate with a bat. All other players line up in the home plate vicinity. Execution: Pitching coach simulates throwing a pitch. Batter executes normal swing mechanics, breaks from batter's box and sprints to first base. Instruct your first base coaches to be animated and to loudly encourage the runners to run full-speed through the bag at first. After the batter has sprinted to first, he becomes the first base coach. The first base coach becomes the runner at first. The next player in line steps to the plate with a bat. Again, the pitching coach simulates a pitch. The batter swings and breaks from the box to first. The runner at first is in a ready running position: knees flexed, back straight, head up, arms loose and hanging down. As the batter swings, the runner at first executes a crossover step and steals second base with a slide into the base. If the coaches have taught the players the pop-up slide, they can use it here. If not, the runners should use the bent-leg or the hook slide. Before the third pitch, the batter and first base coach exchange places, and the runner at second base assumes a ready running position to advance to third base. The pitching coach simulates the next pitch. The batter swings and breaks toward first. The runner at first steals second with a slide into the base. The runner at second executes a crossover step and races toward third. The mission of the runner at second base is to score. The third base coach is urging the runner to the bag and waving him around. He also instructs the runner to make the proper arc and hit the inside of the bag for the final sprint home. At home plate the runner slides into the base to score a run. The players in line at home plate greet th
e runner with excited shouts and high-fives. Each runner runs the base circuit in three stages, and a full circuit includes three runners running separate stages. Base Running Skills: Proper break from the batter's box, start low. Run with head erect, eyes on base, and arms pumping like pistons. Ready running position from bases followed by explosive first step with crossover. Sliding techniques include the bent-leg, hook, and pop-up slides. Running with a mission "to score". Also, runners are learning to be responsive to the base coaches. Coaches: Distribute coaching staff around the diamond. One coach is on the mound acting like the pitcher. One coach (or a player) is in the third base coach's box, and another is in the second base vicinity. Another option is to have the coach on the mound observe the second base area, and have a third coach use a stop watch to time the runners from home to first. Variation: To work on other base running techniques, the circuit can be changed. For example, the first stage can be home to second base. The batter breaks from the plate with the mission to "take an extra base". Doing so, he works on executing a proper arc through the bag at first base. The second stage in this variation might be to have the runner at second base steal third. The last stage is tagging up at third base on an outfield fly ball. This could be simulated with the base coach simply shouting "GO", or have a coach throw a fly ball up to an outfielder. The outfield station could be rotated into the base running stations. Comments: Kids enjoy practicing this drill. It is a good conditioning drill, but mostly it prepares them to run the bases properly and with a mission. Adding some team spirit to the drill with cheers and high-fives helps to keep the pace energetic and focused. Players can steal several bases and score a lot of runs in just a short period of time. This is an excellent 6-10 minute drill to run as a full or half-team drill.
Date: April 07, 1998 at 12:04