Chapter 13 - Coaching And Signals

It is important to direct traffic on a baseball diamond, just as it is to do so on a city street if you want to get the proper results. The first- and third-base coaches are the "traffic cops" in a baseball game, and both the players and the coaches must know the signals if the traffic is to be handled properly.

BATTER WATCHES COACH. The moment a batter hits a ball, he should look toward the first-base coach as he starts to run. If the coach points toward second base, the runner knows that he should try for extra bases and govern his running accordingly. But if the coach waves him straight down the base line, he should not take a turn at first base, but should run as fast as he can down the line, because the play will be close at first base.

Going into second base, the base runner gets no help and is on his own. He must make up his mind from observation whether to slide, go into the base standing up, or try for an extra base.

SIGNALS AT THIRD. At third base, he will get plenty of help from the third-base coach. If he is to stop at third, the coach will have his hands in front of his chest with palms facing the runner. Once he has flashed this signal and the runner has seen it, the coach will bend over and push his hands toward the ground and to the right or left to indicate which way the runner should slide to avoid the tag. Or he will raise his hands over his head if the runner is to stand up.

If the runner has a good chance to score, the third-base coach will point toward home plate. Many coaches also use a whirling motion with the left arm in the direction of home plate to indicate that the runner should keep going.

ON-DECK BATTER COACHES. As the runner approaches home plate, he should depend on the next batter, who should be in the "on deck" circle, to tell him whether to slide or stand up. The batter will use the same motions as the third-base coach in telling the runner what to do.

FIG. 44. Ray Welsh, skillful coach of running, points his left arm toward second base as a signal for Bill Virdon of the Pittsburgh Pirates to continue to second base after reaching first safely on a base hit.

FIG. 45. By swinging his arm down the line and kicking his left foot in that direction, too, the first-base coach demonstrates that he wants the runner to continue straight down the line as he attempts to beat out an infield tap. Better running form would help the runner.

FIG. 46. This is an excellent example of third-base coaching in the Little League World Series. The coach shows by his hands and arms that the base-runner is to slide to the outfield side of the base. Note the good slide by the runner and the good stretch by the third baseman for a low throw. The coach should swing his arms to the left with palms of hands down if he wants the runner to slide to the left.
 
FIG. 47. In this Little League Series game, the coach indicates that the runner is to continue to home plate by swinging his left arm in a circular motion toward home plate.

COACHING PRACTICE. During practice sessions early in the season, the manager can stand in the coaching box with his player-coaches and work with them on their assignments. Player-coaches can get as much benefit from a practice game as batters, fielders, pitchers, and catchers. The coaching box is an excellent place for them to learn the game, and alert and intelligent coaches can contribute much to their teams.

FIG. 48. This "on deck" batter-coach points to home plate to remind a home-run hitter to be sure to touch home plate as he completes his circuit of the bases.

OTHER SIGNALS. As players advance in baseball and the game becomes more complex, the signals too become more complicated. To hide them from the opposition, a catcher may use the customary finger signals, but doubling up the fist before or after the finger waving may mean that he will throw to a base or has called for a pitch-out. Some movement of his mitt, head, mask, or feet may mean that he has changed the signal for the kind of pitch he wants. Whenever there is any suspicion that the opponents may be picking up the signs, the catcher should change his signs without indicating to the opponents that he has done so.

It is helpful to the outfielders to know what kind of pitch will be thrown. Generally the shortstop flashes the sign behind his back and the second-baseman also can relay the sign since both are able to see the catcher's signs. Be careful that the opponents don't see them, too, or that some shift by an infielder or outfielder before the pitcher releases the ball tips off the opposition on what to expect.

The manager or coach may signal to his fielders whether to play deep or shallow, to the right or left, or to set up a special shift. However, there is no need to hide these signs, and he can do his signaling verbally if this seems desirable. The same is true when a manager wants his pitcher to give an intentional base on balls to the batter. He may want signs to tell the catcher what to throw to certain batters in crucial situations.

MANAGER RELAYS SIGNALS. With his team at bat, the manager usually relays the signs to the third-base or first-base coach, but he may have someone else on the bench do the actual signaling to cross up the opposition. Here are some signs John McGraw would relay to his New York Giants:

Team hit-and-run, with runner breaking on pitch: Player who gives sign holds bat between his knees.

Individual hit-and-run (use your own judgment on whether to try it): Arms folded.

Bunt for sacrifice: Scratches head.

Bunt for suicide squeeze: Rubs chin.

Bunt for safety squeeze: Pulls ear.

Steal: Bat on lap.

Take sign: Hand on knee.

Hit sign: Closed fist on knee.

As a rookie Frank Frisch taped a list of the signs in his cap and glanced at it whenever he had any doubt about what the sign meant.

The signs should be simple enough to be detected and remembered by your players, but complicated enough to avoid the peril of interception by the other team.

The most common signs used by coaches on the base lines for batters and runners are flash signs. These are flashed quickly by the coach and often are a combination such as one or two tugs at cap or hitch of belt; running hands across letters or brushing sleeve; and skin-to-skin such as rubbing hand on hand, arm, and neck. Holding signs are held longer for observation. Repeated clapping of hands, pointing toe toward batter, looking at first base, clenching fists, and a combination of both are typical examples.

FIG. 49. The third-base coach has clenched his fists as a signal for the batter to bunt the next pitch as he shouts encouragement to him. Coaches should attempt to "pep up" their teammates.

In the matter of signals and signs, it is essential that everyone on the team understand the signs and that they have been received by the player to whom they have been relayed. Many teams have answering signs to indicate that they have been received and understood. When in doubt, call for time and carry the instructions in person to the player.

Some players tip off the signs by looking away the moment they read the signal. The player should keep his eyes on the coach for several moments after the sign has been flashed and the coach should continue to give dummy signals to avoid detection.

Signals and signs should be held to a minimum with young players. Don't confuse or overburden them with wigwagging that would startle the Signal Corps. A boy may have enough trouble in keeping his mind on the game situation without having to worry about a long series of signals. As Yogi Berra has said: "How can you hit and think at the same time?" Of course, this is an exaggeration, but don't keep a player from concentrating on the task at hand.

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