Basic Defensive Plays

On the next several pages you will find detailed assignments for every player on a number of basicdefensive plays that you will see during the course of a season.

Bases EmptySingle to LeftSingle to CenterSingle to Right

Sure Double to LeftSure Double to Left CenterSure Double to CenterSure Double to Right

Runner on FirstSingle to LeftSingle to CenterSingle to Right

Double to Left CenterDouble down Right Field Line

Possible Triple to Right Center Field

Runner on SecondSingle to LeftSingle to CenterSingle to Right

Foul Ball with Runners on 1st and 3rd BaseShort down Right Field LineShort by 1st Base Dugout

Bunt CoveragesRegularRegular 1 (Pick off)141516

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Single to left fieldNo One On Base

Pitcher Back up 2nd in direct line of throw from left 3rd Base Move slightly toward 2nd and in look for wide throw

Catcher Follow runner to first base Left Make hard line throw, head high to SS & to 2nd

base on fly if possible

1st Base Cover bag Center Move toward Left to back up and call play to 2nd

2nd

Base Cover 2nd base & line up SS if needed Right Come in and back up 1st base

SS [Cut off man] line up ball to 2nd base listen to callfrom 2nd baseman

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Single to CenterNo One On Base

Pitcher Move in position between home & mound in linewith throw to back up 3rd Base Move in slightly looking for wild throw

Catcher Follow runner down first base Left Move toward Center to back up and make call toCF

1st Base Cover bag, make sure runner tags bag Center Make hard line throw, head high to cut off man & to2nd base on fly if possible

2nd

Base[Cut off man] Position between CF and 2nd, listenfor call from SS Right Move toward Center to back up and make call to

CF

SS Cover 2nd, align Cut off man

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Single to RightNo one on base

Pitcher Break toward 1st once in OF head to back up SS 3rd Base Back up SS

Catcher Follow runner to 1st base Left Backup 3rd base line

1st Base Cover first and make sure runner tags bag Center Move toward right to back up and make call to 2nd

base2nd

Base[Cut off man] Position 40-45 ft from 2nd base in linewith throw, listen to SS for alignment Right Make hard line throw, head high, to cut off. Make

on fly if possible

SS Cover 2nd base and align cut off

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Sure Double to LeftNo one on base

Pitcher Back up throw to 3rd 3rd Base Cover bag and align cut off man

Catcher Cover plate Left Hard line throw, head high to cut off

1st Base Catch for runner tagging base, then becometrailer backing up 2nd Center Move toward play to backup and make call to LF

2nd

Base Cover 2nd Right Get in line to back up a throw to 2nd from SS or OF

SS [Cut off man] Position in line with throw listen tocall from 3rd (be ready to throw back to 2nd)

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Sure Double to Left CenterNo one on base

Pitcher Back up throw to 3rd 3rd Base Cover bag and align cut off man

Catcher Cover plate Left Move toward play to backup and make call to CF

1st Base Watch for runner tagging base, then becometrailer backing up 2nd Center Hard line throw, head high to cut off

2nd

Base Cover 2nd Right Get in line to back up a throw to 2nd from SS or OF

SS [Cut off man] Position in line with throw listen tocall from 3rd (be ready to throw back to 2nd)

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Sure Double to CenterNo one on base

Pitcher Back up throw to 3rd 3rd Base Cover Bag and align cut off man

Catcher Cover plate Left Move to back up 3rd

1st Base Watch for runner to tag bag, then become trailer Center Hard line throw head high to cut off man

2nd

Base Cover 2nd Right Move toward play and tell CF where to go withthrow

SS [Cut off man] Position yourself 40-45 ft from 3rd ina direct line, listen to call from 3rd

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Sure Double to Right FieldNo one on base

Pitcher Move to back up 3rd base 3rd Base Cover bag and align cut off man

Catcher Cover plate Left Move to back up 3rd base

1st Base Watch for runner tagging bag, then become trailerto cover 2nd Center Move toward play and make call to RF on where to

throw2nd

BaseCover 2nd base, if deep be prepared to be 1st cutoff man Right Hard line throw, head high to cut off

SS [Cut off man] Position about 40-45 ft from 3rd indirect line, listen for alignment and call from 3rd

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Single To LeftRunner on 1st Base

Pitcher Back up throw to 3rd 3rd Base Cover bag and align cut off man

Catcher Cover plate Left Hard line throw, head high to cut off

1st Base Cover bag Center Move toward play to backup and make call to LF

2nd

Base Cover 2nd Right Get in line to back up a throw to 2nd from SS or OF

SS [Cut off man] Position in line with throw listen tocall from 3rd (be ready to throw back to 2nd)

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Single to CenterRunner on 1st base

Pitcher Back up throw to 3rd 3rd Base Cover Bag and align cut off man

Catcher Cover plate Left Move to back up 3rd

1st Base Cover bag Center Hard line throw head high to cut off man

2nd

Base Cover 2nd Right Move toward play and tell CF where to go withthrow

SS [Cut off man] Position yourself 40-45 ft from 3rd ina direct line, listen to call from 3rd

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Single to RightRunner on 1st Base

Pitcher Move to back up 3rd base 3rd Base Cover bag and align cut off man

Catcher Cover plate Left Move to back up 3rd base

1st Base Cover bag Center Move toward play and make call to RF on where tothrow

2nd

BaseCover 2nd base, if deep be prepared to be 1st cutoff man Right Hard line throw, head high to cut off

SS [Cut off man] Position about 40-45 ft from 3rd indirect line, listen for alignment and call from 3rd

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Double to Left CenterRunner on 1st Base

Pitcher Float to 3rd base line and be ready to back uphome or 3rd base 3rd Base Cover 3rd

Catcher Cover Plate and align cut off, be ready to cut to 3rd Left Move to play anticipate position of relay or informCF of play

1st Base [Cut off man] Position 40-45 ft from home in linewith throw, be ready to cut 3 Center Move to play anticipate position of relay of inform

LF of play2nd

Base Trail SS as a possible relay man Right Cover 2nd base

SS [Relay man] get in line and listen to call

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Double to Right Field LineRunner on 1st base

Pitcher Float to 3rd base line and be ready to back uphome or 3rd base 3rd Base Cover 3rd

Catcher Cover Plate and align cut off, be ready to cut to 3rd Left Back up 3rd base

1st Base [Cut off man] Position 40-45 ft in front of home inline with throw, listen for call, be ready to cut 3rd Center Move to right to help make call to RF

2nd

Base[First Cut off man] Position in line with throw toplate 40-45 ft in front of 1st base Right Make hard line, head high throw to cut off man

SS Cover 2nd base

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Triple Possible to Right CenterRunner on 1st base

Pitcher Float to 3rd base line and be ready to back uphome or 3rd base 3rd Base Cover 3rd base

Catcher Cover Plate and align cut off, be ready to cut to 3rd Left Cover 2nd base

1st Base [Cut off man] Position 40-45 ft in front of home inline with throw, listen for call, be ready to cut 3rd Center Move to play anticipate position of cut off man or

be ready to make call to RF2nd

Base[First cut off man] Position in line with throw andlisten to call Right Move to play anticipate position of cut off man or

be ready to make call to CF

SS Trailer 30 ft behind 2nd baseman

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Single to Left FieldRunner on 2nd

Pitcher Back up home plate in direct line with throw 3rd Base [Cut off man] Position 40-45 ft from home in linewith throw, listen to call and be ready to cut 2

Catcher Align cut off man and make call. Be ready to call acut 2 Left Make hard line, head high throw to cut off man

1st Base Cover 1st and make sure runner tags base Center Move toward play to back up and make call to LF

2nd

Base Cover 2nd base Right Move in position to back up and throw to 2nd

SS Cover 3rd base

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Single to Center FieldRunner on 2nd base

Pitcher Back up home plate in direct line with throw 3rd Base Cover 3rd base

Catcher Align cut off man and make call. Be ready to call acut 2 Left Move to back up 3rd base

1st Base [Cut off man] Position 40-45 ft from home in linewith throw, listen to call and be ready to cut 2 Center Hard line, head high throw to cut off man

2nd

Base Cover 1st base Right Move toward play to help teammate know what todo

SS Cover 2nd base

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Single to Right FieldRunner on 2nd base

Pitcher Back up home plate in direct line with throw 3rd Base Cover 3rd base

Catcher Align cut off man and make call. Be ready to call acut 2 Left Move in to back up a throw to 3rd

1st Base [Cut off man] Position 40-45 ft from home in linewith throw, listen to call and be ready to cut 2 Center Move toward play, then get in position to back up

2nd base2nd

Base Cover 1st base Right Hard line, head high throw to cut off man

SS Cover 2nd base

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Foul Ball Short Right Field LineRunners on 1st and 3rd

Pitcher Cover 1st 3rd Base Cover 3rd

Catcher Cover plate Left Back up 3rd

1st Base Try to catch fly ball Center Back up 2nd

2nd

Base Try to catch fly ball Right Try to catch fly ball

SS Race to spot 20-30 ft from 2nd base to become acut off man. It is good spot to hold at 1st & 3rd

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Foul Ball Near 1st Base DugoutRunners on 1st and 3rd

Pitcher Cover Home Plate 3rd Base Cover 3rd

Catcher Catch foul and look to throw to 2nd baseman as acut off to hold runners Left Back up 3rd

1st Base Cover 1st base Center Back up 2nd

2nd

BaseRace to spot behind mound for cut off in line with2nd base Right Back up 1st base

SS Cover 2nd base

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Regular Bunt CoveragePurpose: to get the out

Pitcher Play bunt out in front if not cover 3rd 3rd Base Break in on pitch, be even with pitcher on releasefield bunts on your side of infield

Catcher Play bunt close to plate and give vocal command Left Back up 3rd

1st Base Break in on pitch, be even with pitcher on releasefield bunts on your side of infield Center Back up 2nd

2nd

Base Align close to first base, cover 1st Right Back up 1st base

SS Cover 2nd base give vocal command on leadrunner

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Regular 1Bunt CoveragePurpose: Pick off at 1st base

Pitcher Watch for sign from 3rd to throw to first 3rd Base Move in slowly but similar to Regular coverage, as2nd breaks give sign to pitcher

Catcher Give sign if runner is leaning to far Left Back up 3rd

1st Base Break in hard to distract runner on 1st base Center Back up 2nd

2nd

BaseAlign close to first base, break to 1st when 1st

baseman breaks, be ready for throw from pitcher Right Back up 1st base

SS Cover 2nd base give vocal command on leadrunner

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14 Bunt CoveragePurpose: to get runner on 2nd going to 3rd

Pitcher Play bunt on 3rd base side of infield 3rd Base Stay home cover 3rd base, give verbal command onplay “Three-Three”

Catcher Play bunt out in front of play and be vocal Left Back up 3rd

1st Base Stay home for play at first base Center Back up 2nd

2nd

BaseBreak in on pitch, be even with pitcher on releasefield bunts on your side of infield Right Back up 1st base

SS Hold runner at 2nd base

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15 Bunt CoveragePurpose: to get runner on 2nd going to 3rd

Pitcher Play bunt on 1st base side of infield 3rd Base Break in on pitch, be even with pitcher on releasefield bunts on your side of infield

Catcher Play bunt out in front of play and be vocal Left Back up 3rd

1st Base Stay home for play at first base Center Back up 2nd

2nd

Base Hold runner at 2nd base Right Back up 1st base

SS Play in the hole close to 3rd break when pitchermakes move and cover 3rd, make call

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16 Bunt CoveragePurpose: to get runner going to 2nd base

Pitcher Play bunt on 1st base side of infield 3rd Base Cover 3rd base

Catcher Play bunt out in front of play and be vocal Left Back up 3rd

1st Base Hold runner at 1st. Stay home for play at first base Center Back up 2nd

2nd

BaseAlign close to 2nd base, give verbal command“Two-Two” Right Back up 1st base

SS Break in on pitch, be even with pitcher on releasefield bunts on your side of infield

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