The purpose of this drill allows the player to work on numerous different base running situations. It is also an excellent conditioning drill. The equipment required to perform this drill is a bat, a few baseballs and helmets for the players.
The setup of no defense begins with runners on 1st and 2nd and a single player in the batter’s box. The coach should have all the other runners in a line behind home. He should then be positioned in the third base box and another coach positioned out in front of home with baseballs and a bat.
The execution begins with the coach hitting a ball to any part of the field. All the ground balls will be considered as being through for a base hit. As for all the fly balls, they will be considered singles as well.
All players positioned as base runners will behave as if there is a defense. The job of the hitter is to run hard through first base on a ground ball. He will then round the base after hitting a ball in the air to the outfield. In any case, he stays at first base.
Players positioned as runner will, at first, run hard straight into second on a ground ball to the infield.
They will then pick up the third base coach on any ball hit towards the outfield. The 3rd base coach has the duty to then instruct the runner to either stay at second or proceed to third. The runner placed at the second will run straight into 3rd on a ground ball. In case of a fly ball, he will have to round third and then pick up the 3rd base coach in order to determine whether he will make a score or not.
The runner at 3rd will have to tag on a fly ball and run when the ball hits the ground. In a case where there is no runner on second, the 3rd base coach has to guide him and can give the runner instructions on what to do on a ground ball. Score counted on all balls except one that is sent back to the pitcher.
Keep it moving. Players need to quickly analyze the situation and be ready to move.
