Sac bunt base-running

How do you teach this? I thought you teach runner(s) to get a comfortable secondary lead, wait to make sure ball is going to hit the ground, then run.
But I see a lot of runners get doubled off if bunt is accidentally popped up.

 

baserunner practice needed.....not to mention more bunting practice!

hate seeing this happen though!

 

Since it's a sacrifice and 9 times out of 10 the play will be made at first, tell the baserunner not to run to 2nd until she sees the ball bunted down. However, the baserunner should get a 5 step lead vs. the normal 3 steps and a dive.

The works really well for our teams.
Bmac

 

It All Depends !!!!

It all depends on the situation...is the squeeze on??...if so a good runner puts her head down, and heads toward home plate never looking up....no time to see if ball is popped up....if she is at first trying to get to second....I think the majority of being doubled off first base when popped up should be credited to the base coach not doing his or her job, but some kids just don't listen,and YES they get doubled off....I think it is incorrectly taught looking at the ball while running, does nothing but slows you down...YES, I do agree find the ball,but after that listen to the base coach and get to the next bag....focal point " NEXT BAG ".....A good base coach has schooled the kids to p/u signs,and advance as quickly as possible...on the other hand a good runner will P/U third base coach half way between first and second base when the ball is hit in the outfield to see if she should advance to the next bag....Communication will keep bad base running from happenning...JMO

 

Weakness

If there is a weakness overall in softball in colleges and HS, as well as travel ball, it is the players overall knowledge of the game. For every player that understands the game, there are three that just understand the basics. KNowledge of the game would improve the performance of a player two fold. Coaches need to spend more time teaching the game, things to pick up on as where is the SS positioned when I am on second, is she breaking on the pitch or afterwards? How are they defending the bunt, the slap? Who covers third on bunts when runner on first. How is the feet of the batter positioned what pitch will work? Is the umpire watching the base runners? Just a few things that can turn a good player into a great player. Communication is the key to success at work, at home and on the softball field!

 

in at 3rd?

and when NOT to play in at 3rd.
this seems rare (NOT in) in the games I watch.

 

JMO

With (2) outs and a slower kid,probably not going to bunt anyways,it's not a bad idea to play normal depth,just in case one of those bloops over the infield...but on other hand the third baseman should play anywhere from 12-15 feet in front of the bag...my niece use to get right in the batters face,but then they use to call her "MULE" when she was 16, if you catch my drift !!!!...6'-2" probably 205 lbs of solid ballplayer weren't scared of NOBODY OR ANYTHING !!!!

Guru