7 keys to STOP the run game. No more stolen bases in baseball.

Keep teams from stealing bases. How we reduced baseball stolen bases against us by 50% from 11U to 12U. Ways to catch runners, throw out more runners, and keep them from even trying to steal on your team. 7 keys to stopping the baseball run game.

[@mgrenier84]

I’m a 12 year old catcher and these videos really help

[@peterdeutschmann7195]

I’m a god at catching and my coach only puts me in practice. I sometimes just don’t even bother bringing my gear

[@mgrenier84]

@@peterdeutschmann7195 is there a Catcher better than u on the team bc if there is then when he leaves you’ll get more playing time

[@st_bomber1934]

Same

[@qbaker20]

Fantastic video, I learned a lot about this sport I love. Especially liked how you showed the trade off between exchange and throw speed. Please keep doing technical videos like these!

[@theburntginger]

Used this video to cut down on stealing in majors LL and even at the lower levels it was very effective. Thank you, please keep doing what you're doing.

[@rj7411]

Wow MJH, wish we had coaches like you on my youth teams. Awesome explanation.

[@marmac2768]

Good information! A couple of points; first of all, I LOVE the "little umpire" i.e. midget umpire at 4:09! He is able to get right down low without all the wear and tear on his knees! LOL! Seriously though, your point on the infielder getting to the bag quicker was right on. However, I noticed that you didn't show that you had the SS or 2B cheat a little closer to the bag. You do give up a little on the fielders position by doing that. PLUS, if you move the SS about 2 or 3 feet closer to the bag, the 3B may have to move in more leaving the 3B line more open. You have to determine how quick to the right your 3B is to get that extra couple of feet. Also, I take it this is a travel team so you probably don't see too much of the other teams during a season to have a familiarity with them. In a league where teams play each other several games during the year, it's good to have someone scout each player to get their tendencies, how much of a lead they get, what count does the coach like to run the runners, how quick is the runners jump, etc. Great video though! Most coaches at any level in youth ball don't take the time to research numbers, but it can add up to WINS and we all like to win!

[@MJHBaseball]

We had our middle infielders cover the bag the way our local high school varsity coach as done it. One of our goals is to prepare each kid for High School and the next level. That means finding out what the H.S. coach would like us to teach AND making sure every kid can play an outfield and infield position if possible. Just because you are the short stop on our travel team, doesn't mean you can play that at the next level, so you better be as versatile as possible. Your suggestions are great. And yes, we play teams we never saw before a lot, but then there are a few we see two or three times a year.

[@marmac2768]

@@MJHBaseball Absolutely correct on that next level! Each level that a kid moves up will narrow their abilities. I've coached very few kids that could play any infield position equally well. When I coached High School though one year, I had a left handed third baseman! I had several coaches come to me before a game, while they were warming up and tell me, "You have a lefty third baseman? I've never seen that!" I would tell them, " I hadn't either, but this kid had a rocket launcher for an arm! He could play about 4 or 5 steps further back and to his left, which would allow the SS to play several steps closer to 2B." Several coaches thought they could bunt on him because of that, but he was zippy quick and would gun 'em down!! He later played college ball at Webber College in Lake Wales, Florida, but they wouldn't play him at third. He wound up being a first baseman (what else) and a reliever. Great kid too! He played some in right field, but they also had a kid with a great arm as well. I umpired several of Webber's games and he just gushed when he saw me. I lost touch with him after he graduated, but he was one of the best kids I've ever coached. Darryl Wilbury was his name, in case you ever hear of him. He's probably in his late 30's now. Your attitude toward working WITH the HS coach is very commendable. As a former HS manager/coach, I got very little help from some of the youth coaches and I tried. I think they were a little intimidated, but they shouldn't be. I started out right where they started, doing LL baseball.

[@billyllewis]

Great info for coaches and kids alike to learn.

[@STEVE_519]

What a great video! Thank you very much. I really appreciate your time, videos and help. 👍

[@alecdeen8084]

At 7:55 was the field I hit my first home run on

[@martinp.6718]

Awesome points! Good job

[@OG_FROSTY]

2:26 the duck song in the background lol

[@reallifeengineer7214]

Nice video & explanation. Thank you! At 8:45, runner on 3rd hesitated way too much. With proper execution, he could have gotten home safely with a big margin. #1: When pitcher was winding up for the pick-off throw, R3 prematurely assumed the throw was coming to 3B, and so he doubled-back to 3B. This increased his distance to home. #2: The moment catcher released his throw, at moment of release it's clear where the throw was going. But R3's had both feet in mid-air hopping towards 3B still. When R3 finally decide to change direction towards home, the ball is already past its apex going towards 2B. #3: And THEN on top of all that, R3 decide to do a footsie dance around 7~10ft away from 3B, wasting almost 3 seconds (8:44 ~ 8:47) before breaking into full-speed sprint. This was either poor decision-making in base-running (by runner) or poor coaching (by 3rd base running coach). I assist my son's team as a running coach. I always tell all the players: while I try to keep their individual speed in my mind & decision, but they know themselves best. If they wait for my instruction (which is spoken after I've made a decision), listen, comprehend, then act, they're already late. If the moment they decided and start acting on their own decision, is when they also hear me call the same action, that's how they know they're spot on.

[@mraycgz]

Even a great exchange can be improved. At 3:53 you can see the catcher reached for the pitch. Allowing it to come to him puts the ball closer to his body saving some transfer time AND it’s faster to allow a pitch to continue as deep as possible. Same idea as allowing it to come to you as a baseman. Great play by the catcher nonetheless. Edit- and great video too.

[@alecdeen8084]

Could u do a vid on what is considered an error because I hear a lot of parents/coaches say “if it hits his glove, it’s an error” even on diving, difficult plays, which Ik isn’t true

[@jacobh674]

The main reason throw downs are rare on 1st & 3rd is because an errant throw results in a run. At least on the teams I play for. The runner on 3rd shouldn’t attempt a delayed steal because most SS have a strong enough arm to get him out at home.

[@georgew.5639]

In my opinion, the runner who everyone thinks is unable to steal bases will have the most success. That’s because the fielders will not protect against stolen bases. Fielders must never assume that the runner is too slow.

[@mikec6557]

What about first teaching pitchers how hold to hold runners close and how to be quicker to the plate.

[@MJHBaseball]

Yes, you are correct. We touched on that a little in this video. As teams get older and have better catchers, the stolen base is usually on the pitcher and not the catcher.

[@kevindalson733]

See and I always thought you were supposed to play the ball first

[@jackiechan7320]

Only 3 steals a game. My team allows like 8 at 14 u

[@vacexbrighteyes4895]

Not gonna lie baseball kinda turns me on