| Adding variety and preventing boredom is an | | | | player to score 7 runs. |
| attribute of great coaching. Little league and youth | | | | 6. Coaches are well advised to put the stronger |
| baseball practice can be both fun and productive | | | | players in the high number positions to start the |
| at the same time. Great coaches know the | | | | game. The weaker or younger players are |
| importance of having a pure fun day every one | | | | allowed to have the first at-bats. |
| and a while. The game "Shove-Up" is definitely not | | | | 7. There gets to be some strategy involved |
| an activity that you would use every day, but as | | | | because players will always try to get the leading |
| a "change of pace" activity, it serves well to | | | | scorer out. They will make a play to the base |
| motivate kids and teach competitiveness. How is | | | | that will cut that runner down and remove that |
| "Shove-up" played? Coach Dixon fully describes | | | | runner from the base, thus taking away his |
| the rules and procedure for playing this fun | | | | immediate chance to score. That runner would |
| baseball practice game. Every player on the team | | | | merely go back to his regular batting order. |
| will compete against every other player. Each | | | | 8. Players that hit into fielder's choice outs are out. |
| player will keep their own score. Every player will | | | | The runner that is out if he is not the batter will |
| play every position except pitcher and catcher. | | | | bat again, the batter that caused the out goes to |
| This is a coach-pitch game. | | | | right field. |
| Here are the rules and procedures of Shove-Up | | | | 9. When players exit the field, they place their |
| Baseball: | | | | gloves down the right field line behind first base. |
| | | | This speeds up the process of making the |
| 1. The coach will assign every player a starting | | | | transition from offense to defense. As they run |
| position. There will be a player at every position | | | | to right field they can grab their glove. |
| except catcher and pitcher. A catcher is not used | | | | 10. Should a player not hustle to get a batter out, |
| for this game. There are no outs made at the | | | | that player is ruled out and the batter is ruled |
| plate. This prevents the possibility of an injury and | | | | safe. |
| eliminates the need for the long throw to the | | | | 11. The regular rules to baseball are applied when |
| plate. | | | | it comes to outs. |
| 2. The players will rotate from position to position | | | | 12. There are no walks. The batter gets three |
| in the order. 9 to 8 to 7 to 5 to 6 to 4 to 3. ( RF | | | | swings or strikes. A strike out sends the batter |
| to CF to LF to 3B to SS to 2B to 1B) The kid | | | | to right field and all fielders rotate. Kids love to |
| playing first base is the player to come in and bat. | | | | play this game. It is great for every player to get |
| 3. When a player makes an out, that player goes | | | | experience playing every position. Coaches should |
| to right field. There is one exception: If a ball is | | | | make sure that every player playing knows how |
| caught in the air by a fielder, the batter goes and | | | | to properly and safely field a ground ball, line drive |
| trades places with that fielder. Everybody else will | | | | and fly ball. Try this game with your team for a |
| hold their place and not rotate. | | | | 'change of pace". You may choose to use if when |
| 4. Hustle is a big part of this game. If a fielder | | | | you have a big lay off. It is also a great game for |
| does not hustle, they must go change places with | | | | all-star baseball teams that have a long extended |
| the right fielder. | | | | time to practice before they play. I hope that this |
| 5. Players score a run when they cross home | | | | article was beneficial to you and your team. Good |
| plate. The objective of the game is to be the first | | | | luck this season! |