Baseball & Softball Baserunning Drills: Speed & Smart Decisions
Transform your team's baserunning with our comprehensive collection of baseball and softball baserunning drills. From running through first base to advanced stealing techniques, these drills develop faster, smarter baserunners who create pressure and score more runs.
All Baserunning Drills
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Showing 2 drills
All the Way Through 1st Base
Teach players to run hard through first base on ground balls, focusing on proper foot strike technique and controlled deceleration after the bag.
Dirt Ball Reads
Train baserunners to recognize balls in the dirt and make quick decisions about advancing, developing aggressive but smart baserunning instincts.
Why Baserunning Drills Win Games in Youth Baseball
Baserunning is the most undercoached skill in youth baseball despite its massive impact on scoring runs. Teams that run bases aggressively and intelligently create constant pressure on defenses, force errors, and capitalize on mistakes. Yet many coaches spend minimal practice time on baserunning fundamentals, assuming players will figure it out through games. Dedicated baserunning drills transform average running teams into offensive weapons.
Smart baserunning combines speed, technique, and baseball IQ. Young players need to learn when to run through first base versus rounding the bag, how to take proper leads, reading pitcher moves, sliding techniques, and making smart decisions on the bases. Youth baserunning drills address all these elements systematically, building both physical skills and mental recognition of baserunning opportunities.
The best baserunning practice includes both individual technique work and full-team situational drills. Players master mechanics separately—how to round bases efficiently, proper lead technique, different slide types—then apply these skills in game-like scenarios with multiple runners, defensive players, and decision-making pressure. This combination produces complete baserunners ready for any situation.
Essential Baserunning Techniques and Progressions
Running through first base is the foundation of all baserunning. Many young players slow down before touching the bag or break stride to look for the ball, both of which cost time. Teach players to run hard through first base as if they're sprinting to a point 10-15 feet beyond the bag. The follow-through stride after touching prevents deceleration and shaves precious time off the run. Practice this with batted balls and with players starting at home plate.
Rounding bases requires different technique than running through first. The 'banana route' takes runners slightly to the right of a straight line, allowing them to hit the inside corner of each base at full speed while maintaining momentum toward the next base. Set up cones to guide the proper arc, and practice rounding first, second, and third on different hit types. Players should touch the inside corner of each base with either foot (whichever is natural) while maintaining speed.
Leadoffs and secondary leads separate aggressive from passive baserunners. Primary leads off first base start with 2-3 shuffle steps in foul territory, creating a walking start for potential steals or advancement. The secondary lead—a timing shuffle as the pitch crosses the plate—adds 2-3 more steps and puts runners in position to advance on wild pitches or passed balls. Practice these leads against a pitcher or coach simulating pitching motions, gradually adding pickoff attempts that runners must react to.
Base Stealing Drills and Stealing Techniques
Base stealing success depends on reading the pitcher, explosive first steps, and efficient running form to the next base. Start with basic first-step explosiveness drills—runners in leadoff position react to a visual cue (coach's hand movement) or verbal command and take 4-5 explosive steps. Focus on pushing off hard, staying low initially, then rising into sprinting form. These first steps determine whether steals are successful.
Reading pitcher moves requires repetition against live pitchers. Runners study the pitcher's habits—timing to the plate, pickoff tells, and rhythm patterns. Set up controlled situations where pitchers vary between throws to first base and pitches to the plate while runners practice reacting correctly. Advanced runners learn to time their jumps based on pitcher's consistent patterns. For younger players with no pitcher leads, stealing becomes a race—practice explosive starts and maximum-effort sprints.
Sliding technique prevents injuries and helps runners avoid tags. The bent-leg slide is safest for youth players—one leg bent underneath, the other leg extended toward the bag, hands up to avoid jamming fingers. Practice on wet grass or special sliding mats, never on dry dirt. Start with players sitting on the ground practicing the position, then jogging into slides, then running at increasing speeds. Pop-up slides (ending in standing position) help runners advance to the next base on overthrows.
Situational Baserunning: Reading the Defense and Making Smart Decisions
Game situations require specific baserunning decisions that players learn through practice. Tag-up situations on fly balls require runners to read ball depth, return to touch the base after the catch, then sprint to the next base. Practice with coaches hitting fly balls to outfielders at various depths while runners decide whether to tag or stay. This develops judgment that translates directly to games.
Advancing on ground balls depends on the situation. Runners on second with less than two outs learn to read whether ground balls get through the infield (run on contact) or are fielded in front of them (hold unless the ball is behind them). Create drill scenarios with infielders positioned, hit ground balls to different locations, and have baserunners make real-time decisions with coaches providing immediate feedback.
Two-out baserunning changes everything—runners go on contact regardless of where the ball is hit. Practice two-out situations where runners break on batted balls, forcing them to make aggressive decisions. Include reads for passed balls, wild pitches, and balls in the dirt. The more game-like scenarios players experience in practice, the better their instincts become in actual games. Situational baserunning practice directly translates to runs scored.
Speed and Agility Training for Better Baserunners
While coaching technique improves baserunning, raw speed matters too. Baseball-specific speed training focuses on short-distance acceleration (home to first is only 90 feet) and quick direction changes. Base-to-base sprint drills with timing create competition and push players to maximum effort. Track times and celebrate improvements—this motivates players to continue working on speed.
Agility ladder drills improve foot speed and coordination. Quick feet patterns through the ladder translate to faster first steps on steals and better balance when rounding bases. Incorporate cone drills requiring sharp cuts and direction changes at speed. These drills not only improve baserunning but enhance overall athleticism and body control.
Reaction drills where runners respond to visual or verbal cues sharpen the explosive movements needed in baserunning situations. Coaches can use lights, hand signals, or commands to trigger sprints, direction changes, or slides. These drills train the nervous system for quick reactions under game pressure. Speed is partially genetic, but every player can improve their baserunning speed through consistent technique work and speed training.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most important baserunning drills for youth players?
Focus on running through first base correctly, rounding bases on the proper arc (banana route), taking leads and secondary leads, and basic sliding technique. For older players add reading pitcher moves for stealing, tagging up on fly balls, and situational baserunning decisions. Start with individual technique work, then progress to full-team situational drills that simulate game scenarios with decision-making pressure.
At what age should kids learn to steal bases?
Base stealing can be introduced around age 9-10 when leagues typically allow leadoffs. Younger players in leagues without leads can still practice explosive starts and sprinting form. Focus first on proper running technique and leads before worrying about reading pitchers. Advanced stealing techniques (timing the pitcher, delayed steals) come at 11U+ when players have the baseball IQ to execute them successfully.
How do you teach proper sliding technique safely?
Start with players sitting on the ground practicing the bent-leg slide position—one leg folded underneath, the other leg extended toward the bag, hands up. Progress to kneeling and falling into the slide position on wet grass or sliding mat. Then practice jogging into slides, gradually increasing speed. Never practice slides on dry dirt. Emphasize hands up to prevent finger injuries. Pop-up slides (ending standing) are advanced techniques for older players.
What's the correct way to round bases?
The banana route takes runners in a slight arc to the right of the direct baseline, allowing them to hit the inside corner of each base at full speed. Touch the base with either foot (whichever is natural) on the inside corner. Lean slightly toward the infield while rounding to maintain balance at speed. Practice with cones marking the proper arc. The wider the arc, the slower the time—find the balance between angle and speed.
How can slow runners become better baserunners?
Speed helps but smart baserunning beats raw speed. Focus on explosive first steps, perfect technique (running through first, proper rounding), aggressive secondary leads, reading situations correctly, and making smart decisions. Practice good jumps on steals, study pitcher tendencies, and always be ready to take the extra base on balls in the gap or outfield errors. Technique and aggression often matter more than pure speed in youth baseball.
What are secondary leads and when should they be used?
A secondary lead is a timing shuffle that runners take as the pitch crosses the plate, adding 2-3 steps to their primary lead. This puts runners in position to advance on wild pitches, passed balls, or balls hit in play. The shuffle should be timed so runners can return to first on pickoff throws but have momentum for advancement. Practice timing secondary leads against pitchers to develop the rhythm.
How do you teach kids to read pitcher pickoff moves?
Start by teaching the rule: if the pitcher's front foot (left foot for righties) moves toward home plate, he must pitch. If it moves toward first base, he can throw there. Watch for pitcher tells—looking at first base excessively, different set positions, timing patterns. Practice against live pitchers who vary between pickoffs and pitches while runners react. Repetition builds pattern recognition that helps runners get good jumps.
Should youth players slide into first base?
No—sliding into first base is almost always slower than running through the bag. The only exception is when trying to avoid a tag on a ball thrown to the side of first base. Teach players to run hard through first base on ground balls and never break stride. Slowing down to slide costs time and creates no advantage since first base doesn't require the runner to stay on the bag after touching it on initial contact.
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