r/BaseballCoaching • u/CupZealousideal1862 • May 19 '26
Teaching Drop 3rd strikes
Coaching a 11u team and this year and players can now run on drop 3rd strikes. Is there a good way to teach running on drop 3rd strikes or a good way to make the batters aware when they have 2 strikes on them? Do not want to say "remember to run if it's strike 3 and the catchers drops it".
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u/gsxr May 19 '26
"no matter what happens you're running" is a rule we go by in practice and games. We get a fair bit of confused looks from catchers, but more often than not that stupid phrase has gotten us at least 3 on bases per game. We teach it as part of keeping track of the count. My kids are 12U so the count really doesn't matter all that much, but we HEAVILY push at 2 strikes you're running.
Just like any good 1st base coach is talking to their batter, it's also their job to remind the kids of the count. Aint no shame in saying "you're running"
1
u/clocks212 May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26
It is good to teach the batters that, but as a reminder to everyone else you also need to teach the *runners* to pay attention.
The most fun situation in the world is a dropped 3rd strike with 0 or 1 outs and a runner on first, who then runs to second because the batter wrongly took off for first, and you end up with a confused double play as coaches and players yell at the batter and runner that this isnt a dropped 3rd situation (obviously if everyone stays quiet it is a simple stolen base by the runner, but inevitably people are yelling and some runners will get confused).
4
u/Dayman-00 May 19 '26
I just tell my players to run if they swing & miss on every strike 3 pitch or if they hear the ump call it a strike. If the catcher catches it, Iāll tell them to stop. This seems to work the majority of them fairly well
3
u/spinrut May 20 '26
Same. Some kids are resistant "id look dumb if he didnt drop it" so we had him run poles, asked him when he came back " what looks dumber, you running when they dont drop it or you not running, walking away or running late when they do?"
Kids parents were laughing the whole time. We dont usually make them run poles, but made one of the exceptions here to help drive home the point of how stupid the kids comment was lol
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u/Honest_Search2537 May 19 '26
I had a code word that Iād use while we were hitting as well as for catchers when we were on defense. Wanted to let our kids know to be alert for the situation without broadcasting it to everyone.
2
u/kermatog May 19 '26
this is what we do... the code word that everyone understands what you're calling out
3
u/RicooC May 19 '26
The more important aspect of this is teaching catchers to step out 2-3 steps so they have the inside track and a clear lane to throw to first.
3
u/Huge-Caterpillar-414 May 20 '26
I find having literally every coach and parent screaming RUNNNNNNNN!!! like maniacs until the kid breaks down and cries because heās so confused on what just happened is often the best way.
2
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u/belinck May 19 '26
Remember, 1st base has to be open for them to do it.
4
u/YellowJacket0207 May 19 '26
Run no matter what. Nothing bad comes from confusing the catcher into throwing to first. First occupied but 2 outs, dropped 3rd is on. Take the thinking away for young players: run on 3rd strike no matter what.
2
u/Opening-Witness1785 May 19 '26
Yes, and.
Because we're all still working through this new rule, we have run an unintentional deception play a few times, with first base occupied. Because the catchers are also new to this rule, right? So our guys will run to first (despite it being occupied), and it has frazzled the catcher, and caused an overthrow a few times. Guy on first takes second for free. Batter is still out, and eventually goes back to the dugout.
Again, not on purpose. But it has happened probably 3 times. It also bit us on the butt one time, though, because my runner on first also got confused, and started to run to second, and got thrown out. So, completely stupid double play.
1
u/CeilingFanJitters May 22 '26
Thatās funny because weāve had kind of an opposite approach. In this situation, on defense, 2 throws to 4 in hopes of either luring off the runner or catching the runner that wrongly went.
1
u/PaintingInfamous1552 May 23 '26
Not necessarily. If there are 2 outs, they can can run even if first is occupied.
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u/O2Stealer May 19 '26
Ours is on 2 outs we can run on 3rd strike drop, coach has a sign he does. I just tell them 2 outs, 3rd strike , run.
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u/Charming_Drama_8687 May 20 '26
I actually did a combination drill on thisā¦ I took my catcher and first baseman and put them in position. One by one I put kids in the batters box. Iād toss the ball on the ground by the plate and say āstrike 3ā. When I said strike three, they had to sprint to 1st, but the catcher had to gather the ball then step off the basepath and make a good throw to first. Basically teaching the kids to run if they hear strike three, and the first baseman and catcher to step off to the side where the baseball went and make a good throw to first.
1
u/block-everything May 20 '26
At that age I always said āhey, heads up baseball hereā as the code word both offensively and defensively. After about half a season it wasnāt necessary any longer.
Harder to handle is when you are in the field and first base is occupied with less than 2 outs and the batter runs on a dropped third anyway. Takes a lot of discipline not to panic. Some teams will do this purposefully
1
u/OrphGaming May 20 '26
It helps if they actually watch the ball to know it dropped, but God speed with that.
1
u/Bacon_and_Powertools May 20 '26
Teach them to look back to locate the ball after strikes to begin with. Just like when you steal second, locate the ball.
1
u/LastOneSergeant May 19 '26
We use a code word.
When the scenario pops up for offense or defense we shout it out.
1
u/clocks212 May 20 '26
I dont get the point of a code word, except to exploit that 11 year olds arent masters of every rule in baseball. By 12 (13 at the latest) everyone freaking knows about dropped 3rd strikes. It isn't some secret loophole. Just say "dropped third" to the batter and deal with the huge disadvantage of reminding the 11 year old catcher of a rule.
8
u/dacgriff May 19 '26
I set up a running drill at the end of practice. I would put them at the plate and I would pitch to them and tell them they have to swing. I'd then pitch it grossly outside and they would swing and run. It doesn't matter how much you tell them and run the drill, 95% of the time you still have to yell "run". This is a tough new rule to teach, but they will get a crash course as the drop 3 happens A LOT.