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Base Running & Base Stealing

Intermediate 50/70 · League ages 11-13 · 50-foot pitching distance · 70-foot bases

Take a lead you can manage

You are on first in Intermediate. The ball is live and the pitcher can legally throw over. Begin with the controlled lead practiced with your coach.

What is the division rule?

Coaching Points

Observe the pitcher while keeping a balanced return position.

Common Mistakes

A rule borrowed from Majors changes the decision incorrectly.

Alternative Considerations

There is no mandatory training lead distance; adapt to the runner.

Rules/safety: leads pickoff

Read before committing

Your coach gives the steal sign. Rehearsal separates the pitcher's legal throw to first from movement committed toward delivering a pitch.

What should guide the first move?

Coaching Points

Use slow demonstrations before live attempts; ask the runner to name what was seen.

Common Mistakes

A guess can look fast until a pickoff exposes it.

Alternative Considerations

Different pitchers need different observations; do not promise one visual cue always works.

Rules/safety: leads pickoff

Be ready after delivery

The runner builds a controlled secondary lead as the pitch develops, then reads the ball and catcher without losing the ability to return.

What is a useful goal?

Coaching Points

Rehearse both directions from the same balanced position.

Common Mistakes

A secondary lead should not become an uncontrolled drift.

Alternative Considerations

Pitch location, catcher control and the team's plan can change the next action.

Rules/safety: leads

Read the catch on a fly

You are on base when a fly is hit. Watch for the catch and the coach's signal; do not confuse a ball in the air with a completed catch.

On a caught infield fly, what still matters?

Coaching Points

Practice reading a caught ball and one that drops without assuming identical runner actions.

Common Mistakes

The infield-fly call does not itself stop the ball.

Alternative Considerations

Outs, bases and a catch each matter; say them separately during a walk-through.

Rules/safety: fly

Run through the coach's picture

On an extra-base chance, find the base coach early enough to act on the agreed signal. Touch the base under control and keep awareness of the ball.

What should a practice rep include?

Coaching Points

Start at a jog, then add speed when the runner reads the signal reliably.

Common Mistakes

A fast turn without a read can send the runner into a bad decision.

Alternative Considerations

Field conditions and player confidence may require a slower progression.

Coaching exercise: not a national rule requirement.

Rehearse the return

The pitcher makes a legal pickoff attempt. The runner uses the return technique taught in a supervised practice, not an improvised dive at another player's feet.

What is the practice priority?

Coaching Points

Use a soft, controlled rehearsal before involving a live throw and tag.

Common Mistakes

Permission to lead does not make every lead or return safe.

Alternative Considerations

This academy can use a feet-first training preference without claiming that the Majors head-first rule governs Intermediate.

Rules/safety: leads pickoff