Simple Baseball Signs For Coaches

Stealing signs in baseball has been going on since the origins of baseball history. Stealing signs is not against baseball rules or etiquette.

In fact baseball games rarely occur where opposing teams do not try to steal signs from one another.

Easy Baseball Sign: Baseball 101

We are all strangers and opponents yesterday but we are on the same team today. So we make sure we are on the same page defensively and offensively for the Exhibition game.

We are going to keep the baseball signs simple and quick. We have to go over the first and third situation, bunt defense, pitcher and catcher signs, and offensive signs.

For the offensive signs one of the quickest easiest baseball signs system is using claps. Yes, I said claps.

The 3rd base coach will have a ‘hot’ indicator let’s say the right hand to the bill of the baseball hat. If the 3rd base coach touches the bill of the cap with their right hand while going through the signs then the ‘hot’ sign activates the claps at the end of the sign sequence.

With the ‘hot’ baseball sign activated the hitter and the runners now count the claps by the thirdbase coach at the end of the signs.

We use one clap for the sacrifice bunt. Two claps are the baseball steal signs. Three claps would be the hit-and-run play.

Very simple and rarely if ever did anyone ever figure us out and steal our baseball signs. If we thought another team might have picked off our signs we just change the ‘hot’ indicator ever so often.

It is funny. The baseball signs for coaches using claps are so simple that know one would think you would make your signs that elementary. The other teams think that you must have these really complicated baseball sign system so using ‘claps’ could not possibly be an option. Ha!

(Yes. I often use the same baseball signs for coaches clap system for my teams’ regular season games too).

Easy Baseball Coaching Signs

Here is how it works on how to give baseball signs. Let’s go back to the right hand to the hat as the ‘hot’ indicator.

After the 3rd base coach goes through a few signs and touches the bill of the hat with the right hand then the focus is on the immediate touches after the hat touch.

One touch after the ‘hot’ hat indicator to anywhere on the body is the sacrifice bunt sign. Two touches after the hat indicator is the steal. And three touches after the hat is the hit and run play.

Very simple yet difficult to have the other team steal your signs. If you do think your easy baseball signs for coaches are being stolen then just tell your baseball team that you are changing the ‘hot’ indicator to another location like the chest or the belt.

These are a couple of good examples of baseball coaches signs that are simple to use yet difficult to steal.

Baseball is a difficult game to play, so do not make the baseball strategies part of the game real complicated. Keep it simple stu…. Well, you get the point.

Thirdbase Coach: Reminding Runners About Baseball Plays

In addition to administering a baseball sign the baseball coach needs to remind the base runners of a few situations that they should be alert for. In addition to telling and showing the runners how many outs professional baseball coaches will consistently remind baserunners to be heads up for…

Watch the Line Drive: With less than two outs the baseball coach must constantly remind baserunners to ‘freeze’ on the line drive in the infield.

About every five or ten pitches the basecoach should remind again for the runners to ‘freeze on the line drive.’ There is nothing the kills a rally more quickly than a double play.

When a sharply hit line drive turns into a double play because an over excited runner ventures too far the base the rally and scoring opportunity is greatly hindered.

Break up Two: Also, with less than two outs the runner on firstbase must do everything within the rules and etiquette of baseball to break up the double play.

Runners should be working hard on a maximum secondary lead and get a good jump off the crack of the bat to hustle toward secondbase. A hard, clean slide into the base may be enough to disrupt the pivot man from freely completing the throw to firstbase.

Staying out of the double play can keep rallies alive and prolong an inning, often being the difference in the outcome of the ballgame.

Ball in the Dirt Be Ready: Always be on the look out for a pitched ball that bounces in the dirt or a short passed ball by the catcher.

Take advantage of taking an extra base when possible. Anytime a runner can advance into scoring position greatly increases the chances of scoring on one single basehit.

Avoid the Post Pitch Scolding for the Best Baseball Plays

Avoid the scolding and coaching hitters after each pitch.

DO NOT put on hitting instruction sessions between pitches.

DO NOT scold or criticize the hitters after each swing and miss or foul balls.

Watch the professional baseball coaches. Top baseball coaches never put doubt and negative thoughts in a hitters mind.

Professional coaches stay positive and constantly encourage hitters to be aggressive. The best hitters look to swing the bat on every pitch.

Youth baseball coaches often impede the development of hitters by constantly hammering on the batters after every pitch. The hitters are now defensive and tentative.

This vocal scolding runs hitters right out of baseball because when hitters cannot hit much they don’t play much. And when players do not play they often leave the game of baseball permanently.

Thanks again for visiting my baseball coaching and playing site. Explore and share our info and beliefs with your baseball peers.

Developing baseball players is our goal rather than the win-at-all costs approach used by so many youth baseball coaches and baseball parents.

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