What are some coverages you use??

runner on 1st

runner on 2nd

runner on 1st/2nd

runner on third

I keep it basic. If you have an athletic pitcher, these coverages can be very aggressive in getting the lead runner.

Runner on 1B - corners charge
Runner on 2B - 1B charges, 3B stays home

This is very basic.

We also have a coverage where the 2B charges early and the 1B stays home.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by redbird5:
I keep it basic. If you have an athletic pitcher, these coverages can be very aggressive in getting the lead runner.

Runner on 1B - corners charge
Runner on 2B - 1B charges, 3B stays home

This is very basic.


Ours are pretty basic, we try to get an out and cover the bases. we use the fielding numbers for the players (p-1,c-2.1b-3 etc)and those numbers called cover each base in order. runner on 1st 4-6-2, runner on 2nd 4-6-5, runner on 3rd we've used 465 (3rd will trail on a squeeze). also have used 4-8-6 with a runner on 3rd, gotten some guys in a rundown thinking 2nd was uncovered. just wondering how others cover it.

Normal coverages (looking for the out):

man on 1B - P has 1B side of the inf, 3B charge.
man on 2B - P has 3B side of the inf, 1B charge.

"Sure" bunt situations (looking for the lead runner):
man on 1B - both corners charge when pitcher comes set.
man on 2B - wheel coverage when pitcher comes set.

we also have pickoffs off of the last two.

The key to bunt coverages is to work on them every day early in the season and at least 1 or 2x a week later in the season (15 min is plenty).

we do

3B/1B charge
2B covers 1st
short goes wherever lead runners going

Have to be careful with charging both corners. Most teams do it and I am not saying it is wrong, but if you play a team that can slash, they can kill you.

I teach our kids to slash if the corners crash. By doing this we have almost the entire infield to hit through as long as we don't hit it soft or right to 2nd or 1st. The rest is wide open.

If you play a team that can execute the slash, they can cause havoc on bunt coverages.

As a catcher I always make sure the bunts are covered, and with a runner on, I always make sure my 3rdbaseman stays home on a bunt. i have the pitcher cover 3rd baseline, 1stbaseman charges, covering 1st baseline and obviously second baseman covers 1st base. i think thats the bext way to do it, b/c you will never have the problem of someone not moving somwhere, 3rd base wide open and a guy takes the extra base...that can happen, ive seen it...BUSH!

Why do so many people try to get fancy with bunt coverages? In my opinion, the easier it is to understand for the players, the more often it will be executed correctly.

quote:

Originally posted by CatchingCoach05:
Have to be careful with charging both corners. Most teams do it and I am not saying it is wrong, but if you play a team that can slash, they can kill you.

I teach our kids to slash if the corners crash. By doing this we have almost the entire infield to hit through as long as we don't hit it soft or right to 2nd or 1st. The rest is wide open.

If you play a team that can execute the slash, they can cause havoc on bunt coverages.

Not if we defend correctly by not committing too soon.

One thing I would add is that I think some judgment is needed when you're in youth play (60' diamonds), to make adjustments from the baseball purists' approach.

In my experience, having both corners crash on the small diamond creates a logjam in front of the plate with the P, C, 1B and 3B all getting in each other's way. Then someone picks the ball up and throws it to first, which is (hopefully) being manned by your 2B, who is often at that age the smallest player on your team. More than half the time the ball ends up in right field.

At the Little League level, I found it more effective to have only the P, C and 3B charge the bunt. Let the 1B -- who at that age is often a big, slow kid anyway -- stay home to receive the throw. He is usually the guy on your team who is a big target and used to receiving a hot throw.

As for the different situations, unless it's the tying or winning run, I always taught the youngsters to make sure you get one out. 95% of the time that means, go to first with the throw. Most Little League bunts are not to sacrifice so much as to pressure the defense in hopes of creating errors, often leading to the roof caving in. Defensively, the response is to take the out they give you and stop the big inning.

I don't advocate this once you move to the bigger field, but just as food for thought for you youth coaches out there.