# Base Running · Baseball Level 2: Elementary

Baseball · Level 2: Elementary · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/baseball/level-2/base-running/)

Out of the box, reading the pitcher, the secondary lead, tagging up, balls in the dirt, first to third, scoring from second, avoiding tags, the base coaches' signals and base-running mistakes.

## Test 1: Out of the box

- Home-to-first times show how much pressure a runner puts on infielders. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Fast right-handed runners reach first in about 4.0 to 4.2 seconds; left-handers a little less. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The left-handed batter's box is on the first base side, and the swing turns them that way. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A small curve before the bag lets him turn hard towards second if the ball is bobbled. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Running hard on every ball punishes any bobble or bad throw. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Turning to watch the ball slows him down; the base coach will tell him if it gets away. (Source: General baseball reference)
- In the last half of the run to first, the batter-runner should stay in the marked lane. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Sprint, curve, touch the corner, then read the outfielder. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Bunting left-handers are quickest; slower players after a full swing take longest. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Curving out lets him round first sharply if the outfielder bobbles the ball. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 2: Reading the pitcher

- The first movement of the front leg towards home means he must pitch. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A left-hander looks straight at the runner and can disguise his move. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Small habits, like a head turn, can show whether he is throwing over or going home. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Slow times to the plate give runners a chance to steal. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Some runners walk out to their lead to start moving before the pitch. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Diving back to first on pickoffs puts the hands at risk. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A catcher's pop time is from the catch to the ball reaching the fielder at second. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Lead, read the first move, go, slide. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The slower the delivery, the easier the steal. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A right-hander's front heel lifting towards home means he is committed to pitch. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 3: The secondary lead

- As the pitch goes in, the runner shuffles a few more steps off the base. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Those extra steps help him take an extra base. (Source: General baseball reference)
- He must be able to go on a ball in the dirt or dive back on a catcher's throw. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Catchers watch for runners who drift too far after the pitch. (Source: General baseball reference)
- He wants his feet set as the batter makes contact or misses. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With no fielder on the bag, the runner at second can drift farther. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Shuffling keeps him balanced and facing the plate. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Primary lead, shuffle, land, react. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Leads grow as the pitch is made, and are biggest at second. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Extending the lead as the pitch is made is the secondary lead. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 4: Tagging up

- He must be on the base when the ball is caught, then he can run home. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The coach watches the catch and shouts 'go!' (Source: General baseball reference)
- A long throw from right field to third gives him time. (Source: General baseball reference)
- He may go as soon as the fielder first touches the ball. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A fake break can make the outfielder throw to the wrong base. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The deeper the fly, the longer the throw home. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Only on very deep flies does a runner from first try for second. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Return, watch, go, slide. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Staying on the base until the catch lets him run on the throw. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 5: Balls in the dirt

- Runners judge how far a bouncing pitch will get past the catcher. (Source: General baseball reference)
- If the ball does not get far, the catcher and pitcher can tag him at the plate. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Runners learn to read the pitch's downward angle and break early. (Source: General baseball reference)
- On a dropped third strike the catcher may have to throw to first. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A ball that does not get away gives no time to advance. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Pitchers bury breaking balls to get swings, which brings balls in the dirt. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Being on the move gives him the extra step he needs. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Lead, see it bounce, read it, go. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The farther the ball gets away, the easier the advance. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A ball getting to the backstop gives a runner on first time to reach second. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 6: First to third

- The throw from right field to third is long. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The runner reads the play in front of him, and the coach helps when the ball is behind him. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The left fielder's throw to third is short. (Source: General baseball reference)
- If the outfielder moves to his glove side or must run far, he can try for third. (Source: General baseball reference)
- From second he can score on most hits, so the risk at third is not worth it. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With two outs a runner on second scores on most hits, so the extra base adds less. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A hard turn puts him in position to go to third if the throw is late or wild. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Read, turn hard, check the coach, slide. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The farther the outfielder from third, the better the chance. (Source: General baseball reference)
- On a ball to right field, the coach tells him whether to keep going to third. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 7: Scoring from second

- With two outs, a catch ends the inning anyway, so he runs on contact. (Source: General baseball reference)
- If the liner is caught, he must get back to second before the throw. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Many runners take a lead slightly behind the line to round third quickly. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With two outs, waiting for another hit is risky, so taking a chance at home makes more sense. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Most outfield singles let a runner score from second. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Outfielders playing in have a shorter throw home. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A runner who ignores the coach's hold sign often runs into an out. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Contact, round third, read the coach, slide. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With two outs he goes on contact; with no outs he can be more careful. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With two outs, a caught ball ends the inning, so he runs as soon as it is hit. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 8: Avoiding the tag

- Sliding away from where the throw arrives makes the tag harder. (Source: General baseball reference)
- On a headfirst slide, the runner pulls one hand away and touches with the other. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Where the fielder sets up tells the runner where the throw is going. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Hands pushed down mean 'get down', slide. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Hands and head meet shin guards and a fielder's knees. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Rising quickly lets him run on if the throw gets past. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A hook or feet-first slide to the edge can avoid an early tag. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Read the set-up, slide away, beat the tag. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Going straight in headfirst at a waiting fielder is the riskiest. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Pulling one hand away and reaching with the other is the swim move. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 9: The base coaches' signals

- Arms up means hold up at the base. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A circling arm sends the runner on. (Source: General baseball reference)
- 'Back!' tells the runner to dive back to first. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A run of touches hides the real sign among decoys. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Only the sign after the indicator counts. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The wipe-off tells players to ignore the signs before it. (Source: General baseball reference)
- When the play is behind the runner, the coach is his eyes. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Decoys, the indicator, then the live sign straight after it. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Windmill sends him on, pointing says go with care, arms up means stop. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Both arms raised is the stop sign. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 10: Base-running mistakes

- A runner who strays on a caught line drive can be thrown out before he returns. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Passing a preceding runner is an out. (Source: General baseball reference)
- If the defence appeals, a runner who missed a base is out. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A pickoff wastes a base runner without the batter doing anything. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Over-aggressive running throws away base runners. (Source: General baseball reference)
- From second he can score on a hit; risking the first out at third gains little. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Freezing avoids being doubled off if it is caught. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Running on a liner that is caught leaves him stranded off the base. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A run thrown away at home in the ninth costs the most. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The fielder can throw to first before he gets back. (Source: General baseball reference)

Sources: General baseball references, WBSC and league material, coaching manuals; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered rules belong to the Rules category.

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