Running from home plate to first base:

  1. Focus on your first step out of the box:   After hitting the ball, don't continue to watch!  A quick and powerful first step is often key to getting a base hit.  When you practice taking your first step out of the box, note which leg you use as your "push leg". The push leg is the key to getting out of the box quickly. Once the batter completes her swing and follow through, she must push hard with the push leg to explode out of the box.
  1. Run in a straight line to first base: After the batter uses her push leg to get out of the box, she must run at full speed towards first base.  Pump your arms and run on a straight line thru the right side of the bag.   
  1. Touch the front of the base with your toes and ball of your foot: The difference between being out or being called safe is often determined by less than a step.  Try to adjust your stride so that you step on the front of first base with the ball of your foot.  Stepping on the front of the base is quicker, and safer, than stepping on the middle of the bag.
  1. "Break down" after you’ve run through the base: After you run "hard" through first base, the next step is the "breakdown'. This happens about three steps after the player has run through the base. What does a break down look like? After running through the base, the base runner will widen her stance, lower her body, and take four to five “choppy” steps to slow down her momentum. Stay in this athletic position in case there is an overthrow, and you need to break quickly to second base.  While breaking down, the baserunner should glance to the right to see if there was an overthrow.  If there was no overthrow, look left and turn left, to find the ball and determine if the play is over. Be careful...you can turn and look to the left but you cannot make even a small step towards second base.  Any step towards second will be considered an attempt to go to second.  If a baserunner makes an attempt to go to second and then decides to stay at first base, the baserunner will be called out if she is tagged with the ball before she gets back to the bag.

Rounding First Base on Hits Through the Infield:

1.  Run 4-5 feet outside the base bath on your way to first base.

2.  As your near first base, turn and begin running towards second base.   As you make your turn, touch the inside front corner of first base with your right foot.

3.  If 2nd base is unoccupied by a teammate, quickly find the ball.  Without stopping, continue to second base if:

  • The outfielder has bobbled the ball, and the ball is on the ground, or
  • The outfielder has fielded the ball and is throwing the ball to third base or home plate.
  • Neither the second baseman nor the shortstop are covering 2nd base and you are confident that you can beat them in a race to the bag.

For more baserunning tips, watch the following Mike Candrea video:

How to Run the Bases in Softball with Mike Candrea - YouTube

How To Round 1st Base In Softball/Baseball - YouTube

 

Nice body lean.  Excellent pumping of the arms.

Good slide.  If catcher blocking the plate, slide next to home plate and touch plate with your hand on the way by. 

Nice slide but she is out!

Nice slide with both hands in the air.  

Looks like baserunner should have taken one more step before starting her headfirst slide.

"Pop-up" slide can be used when you arrive to base in plenty of time and want to get up quickly in case there is an opportunity for you to advance.

Pump your arms and legs as you sprint to first base.

Run hard thru first base.  Don't slow down until you are 3-4 steps past the bag.  

Right foot steps on inside front corner of the base.  Nice body lean.

Ready to get running lead-off as soon as ball leaves the pitcher's hand.

Not good!  The pitcher has released the ball but the runner's foot is still on the bag. 

Get off the bag and be ready to advance.  If infielder returns to the bag you may have to shorten up a bit.

Don't try to soften the slide by reaching  for the ground when you slide.  You can jam or break your wrist.

Good idea to slide.  Don't stand up when you go hard into a base.  It slows you down and prevents you from over-running the base.

Nice slide.  Infielder forced to make a long, slow tag.

The "Dead Duck" slide.   When the ball arrives well before you do, slide past the bag and reach back to the bag with your hand as you slide by.   Infielders will often slap their glove down to the ground, in the middle of the bag, expecting the base runner's foot to slide into her glove, If you catch the infielder by surprise, she may react slowly to your slide, and you may slip your hand onto the base before she applies her tag.  

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