First to third on a single

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Baseball drill · Age 7 and up

Taking the extra base is the cheapest run in youth baseball. Most runners on first stop at second on a single because nobody taught them when they could keep going. The answer is simple enough for an eight-year-old: if the ball is in front of you, you decide; if it is behind you, you look at the third-base coach. This drill teaches the read, the turn at second and the run to third.

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Time
15 minutes
Players
6 or more: runners, a hitter or coach, a right fielder, a cut-off and a third baseman
Equipment
  • Bases at your league's distance
  • Batting helmets for every runner
  • 1 bucket of balls
  • A cone at the inside corner of second while players learn the turn

Setup

  1. Line the runners up at first base, all in helmets. Put a right fielder, a shortstop, a second baseman and a third baseman in their positions, and a coach in the third-base coaching box.
  2. The coach hits or throws a single into right field. The runner on first goes on contact.
  3. As the runner approaches second, they find the third-base coach, who either waves them on or holds them up.
  4. The right fielder fields it and throws to the shortstop at the cut-off, in line with third. The second baseman covers second.
  5. The next runner steps on first as the batter-runner, so every rep is a runner on first and one at the plate.

Coaching points

  • Run in a slight arc before second, so you are already heading for third when you touch the bag.
  • Touch the inside corner of second with whichever foot gets there, and do not break stride to choose.
  • Ball behind you: look at the third-base coach as you reach second. Ball in front of you: it is your read.
  • Two outs: run on contact. Fewer than two: freeze on a line drive and only go when it is through.

On the run sheet: Ball behind you, look at the third-base coach; hit the inside corner of second with either foot and keep your shoulders turned for third; two outs, run on contact

Progressions

  1. Hit it to left field too, so the runner learns that a single to left usually means stopping at second.
  2. Hit a fly ball to medium-deep right with a runner on second, and have them tag up and go to third on the catch.
  3. Let the right fielder throw all the way to third when it is close, so the runner learns to slide on the coach's call.

How it runs

The runner on first (R1) is on the bag and the batter (B) hits a single to the right fielder (RF). The runner goes on contact, rounds second through its inside corner and keeps going to third, because the ball is behind them and the third-base coach is waving them on. The batter takes first. The right fielder charges the ball and throws to the shortstop (SS), who has gone out to the cut-off spot in line with third. By the time it gets there the runner is on third, so the shortstop holds it, and the batter-runner stays at first because the cut-off is in the way. The second baseman (2B) covers second, the third baseman (3B) goes to the bag, the centre fielder (CF) backs up the right fielder, the pitcher (P) backs up third, and the catcher (C) stays home.

The diagram is on a full 90 ft diamond. On a 60 ft field the run from first to third is 120 ft, and a single to right takes long enough to field and throw that it is there to be taken.

The rule it is practising

The tag play at third. With the batter running to first, the runner on first is forced to second, but not on to third. Once they go past second they have to be tagged out, so a throw to third needs to beat them and then a fielder has to put the ball on them. That is why the right fielder does not try to throw all the way to third: the cut-off makes the throw short enough to be accurate, and if the runner is already in, it stops the batter-runner taking second as well.

A runner has to touch every base in order, so cutting across the grass inside second is an out on appeal. On a caught fly ball they must tag up, retouching their base before going on. And whether the runner can take extra bases at all varies: some t-ball and coach-pitch leagues stop every runner once the ball is back in the infield, or allow only one base on a hit. Check your league's rules for your age group, and teach the read anyway, because it is coming.

The mistakes to watch for

The runner who watches the ball instead of finding the coach. A wide turn at second that adds ten feet. Stopping at second to look, then going, which is slower than either choice. And the runner who goes on a line drive with fewer than two out and gets doubled off when it is caught.

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