BVSA Teaches: Baserunning from 1st Base
On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Frank Ramppen talks about baserunning from 1st base. Hey everyone, today we will be discussing some important aspects of baserunning, specifically from first base. We teach a lot of kids at different levels, some that have leading, some that don’t. Here are a couple of key components to being a good baserunner and doing things the right way:
Firstly, when you get a hit, whether it’s to the outfield or infield, it’s not the time to celebrate. You need to listen to your first base coach and look at your third base coach for signs. Once you know what’s next, smart baserunners survey the land and check out the players’ positions. Especially the outfielders, so that you know without looking, or before looking, you have an idea of where they are.
You do not have to be fast to be a good baserunner; it helps, but I’ve seen lots of fast-paced runners who are not good baserunners. There are a lot of guys who aren’t as fast but are even better because they have instincts. They’re checking out and anticipating what’s going to happen. They give themselves every advantage they can to succeed at what they’re about to do.
Timing when Baserunning
The key element to successful baserunning is timing. Whether you’re in little league and leading off the bag or higher levels and taking your lead, timing is essential. When the pitcher throws the ball and the batter is about to hit it, you’ve got to be ready to go. You can’t be napping or daydreaming. You must anticipate the ball’s movement to be ready as soon as it reaches the point where you need to go.
As a baserunner at a level where leading is allowed, you need to talk about your leads. We like to lead off the base with our left foot, then right foot, and then shuffle off. We feel that this puts you in the best position not to get tricked by the pitcher. A quick step off when your legs are crossing over one another can get you picked off. The leads you take depend on the individual, but as a rule of thumb, you don’t want to take a lead that’s too short you have no chance to steal a base or beat a throw that you should beat to the base.Â
Similarly, you don’t want to take a crazy long lead that will get you picked off. You’ll be thinking, “I’m going back, I’m going back.” You need to determine what that lead is for you, and usually, a couple of shuffles put you in a good position. The rule of thumb is that you should get far enough so that if the pitcher throws over you are a step and a dive away. For more information on baserunning from 1st base click the video below!
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