| As Little League baseball coaches, sometimes we | | | | is actually a second back up because either the |
| try to teach too much in too short a period. I've | | | | second baseman or shortstop (whoever does not |
| coached three youth sports and have found that | | | | field the throw) is the first back up. A very |
| youth baseball is the most over-coached and | | | | important key here and mistake that often |
| under-taught sport I've seen on the youth level. A | | | | happens is that the center fielder comes in too |
| good example is teaching back-up situations. It is | | | | far and on a really wild throw, the ball will skip |
| especially beneficial to teach back-up situations to | | | | past him also. I teach my centerfielder to be |
| your outfielders. Remember that if you try to tell | | | | about 10-15 feet behind the first back up, and if |
| a player during a game what to do instead of | | | | the ball gets by the first backup, the |
| practicing the situation, the rate of success will | | | | centerfielder's goal is to keep the ball in front of |
| diminish. I'll go over three different back-up | | | | him with his body and not to necessarily catch it. |
| situations that I always practice, which have come | | | | The third situation is really a base coverage by |
| up during the game. | | | | the outfielder. If there is a man on first and the |
| The first one is the right fielder backing up on a | | | | batter bunts to third, many times a smart and |
| bunt. Yes a bunt. With no one on base and the | | | | aggressive coach will have the base runner at first |
| batter bunts, the play is going to first base. Drill | | | | continue to third knowing the third baseman might |
| your outfielders in practice (have all take turns) | | | | be out of position to get back to the base after |
| that with no one on base and when the batter | | | | fielding the ball. So with a man on first and the |
| squares to bunt, the right fielder will sprint to the | | | | batter squares to bunt, the third baseman will |
| first base foul line and come up to back up the | | | | move in to cover the bunt, and I have the left |
| throw from whoever fields the bunt. It is | | | | fielder run in to cover third. We practice this with |
| important that he tries as best he can to line | | | | all players and make sure the left fielder runs in |
| himself up with the fielder and first base. The goal | | | | right when the batter squares to bunt, not on the |
| here is to hold the base runner at first base in | | | | bunt it self. |
| case of an overthrow. | | | | There are numerous back up situations involving |
| The second back up situation is with the center | | | | both infielders and outfielders. These are just |
| fielder and with a man on first trying to steal | | | | three of them, which involve the outfielders more |
| second. When the pitch is thrown and the runner | | | | in the game. But like everything else, you can tell |
| at first takes off (when the pitch crosses home | | | | the players what to do during a game, but if you |
| plate), the center fielder will sprint toward second | | | | practice the situation, your odds of success |
| base to back up the throw from the catcher. He | | | | increase! |