Know when you may leave
Before every pitch, know this division's lead and steal rule. A rule for another division can change the entire play.
Learn first
Learn the skill
Read these ideas, then try the situations below. Practice with a coach when a movement is new.
Quiz Mode: try each answer before checking the explanation.
Coach View: use the answers and teaching notes to guide practice.
Read the ball first
On a ground ball, look at its direction and the coach's signal. On a fly, see whether it is caught. If it is caught, retouch your original base before advancing. If it drops, read the live ball and the coach before moving.
See example: Running through first
See example: Waiting on a fly-ball read
Move with control
Take a secondary move only when it is legal and manageable. Round a base while looking at the next play, then return promptly when the defense has the ball.
Practice a rundown
When caught between bases, keep your eyes on the ball, choose a base and run decisively. Do not turn away from a throw you cannot see.
Practice it here
Practice a safe return to the bag first. Then use the league's adopted lead choice to decide when a runner may leave; do not copy a teammate's rule from another league.
Situation 01
Identify this division's departure rule
A Mustang team is preparing for its first game. The coach has not yet said whether runners may leave before the pitch.
- 1 Home to first
- 2 First to second
- 3 Second to third
- 4 Third to home
Coach answer: Ask the coach which Mustang lead choice applies before leaving a base Mustang leagues can adopt different lead choices. Ask which one applies before leaving a base.
Coaching Points
Option (1) is unrestricted; option (2) restricts third; option (3) restricts departure from every occupied base. Tournament play uses option (1).
Common Mistakes
Never turn a rule from another division into this runner's instruction.
Alternative Considerations
The coach can reduce a training lead for readiness without presenting that choice as a national requirement.
Related rule or safety source: Leaving a base Leaving a base
Situation 02
Read under the stated option
In this practice, the coach says runners may lead before the pitch. Other Mustang leagues may make runners wait; ask which rule your team uses.
Coach answer: A practiced read that distinguishes delivery from a legal throw over Watch the ball and the legal timing before committing. Guessing at a pitcher's first motion can send you into a tag.
Coaching Points
Demonstrate slowly and ask the runner what was observed before adding speed.
Common Mistakes
Guessing on every motion is not the same as reading a pitcher.
Alternative Considerations
Under restricted Mustang options, satisfy the legal departure time first; do not reuse an unrestricted first-move cue.
Related rule or safety source: Leaving a base Leaving a base
Situation 03
Keep the next movement legal
Your Mustang team makes runners wait on the occupied base until the pitch reaches or passes the batter. Then you read the ball.
Coach answer: Follow the legal timing and stay balanced to advance or return Stay balanced enough to advance when the ball gets away or return when the defense has a play.
Coaching Points
Practice both the advance and return from a balanced position.
Common Mistakes
Movement that looks quick can still be illegal or uncontrolled.
Alternative Considerations
Coach the actual rule and the runner's readiness together; neither replaces the other.
Related rule or safety source: Leaving a base
Situation 04
Respect a caught fly
An infield fly is declared and then caught. You are a runner deciding whether to advance.
Coach answer: The catch still creates retouch responsibilities If a fly is caught, retouch your original base before advancing. The infield-fly call does not cancel a real catch.
Coaching Points
Read the catch separately from the batter-out call and listen to the base coach.
Common Mistakes
An infield-fly call is not permission to ignore the catch.
Alternative Considerations
Walk through a ball that drops untouched too; do not treat caught and dropped versions as identical.
Related rule or safety source: Infield fly
Situation 05
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.
Coach answer: A clear stop or continue signal and a controlled turn A controlled turn keeps the next base in view while giving you time to follow the coach's stop or continue call.
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 tip
Situation 06
Return under control
In a supervised return drill, the pitcher makes a legal throw to first while you are a few steps off the base. You need to get back without colliding with another player.
Coach answer: A controlled return with safe spacing Return with your eyes on the ball and room to slide or stop safely. Do not drift farther while the defense controls it.
Coaching Points
Begin without a live tag; add a controlled throw only after the return is understood.
Common Mistakes
Permission to lead does not guarantee every lead or return is safe.
Alternative Considerations
Use a conservative return technique taught by the coach; do not turn a training preference into a borrowed national sliding rule.
Related rule or safety source: Leaving a base Leaving a base
Finish line
You reached the end of Lesson 6 of 8: Base Running & Base Stealing
Go on to lesson 7, or return to the Mustang Dugout. Review any part from the Sections menu.
Connect learning and practice
Practice this skill
Run through first or discuss a caught-fly retouch, using the actual runner rules.
Read the complete setup, equipment and stop instructions before activity. A missed question never prescribes extra throwing.