1^ST AND 3^RD BASE

Item #

Situation

Required Play or Action

Refer to Chart 1B/3B throughout this Section

1	Bunting Situations	· Both corners need to play in closer to home plate. You should move up approximately 4-5 full steps from the base. You need to be in position to quickly rush in, field the ball, and throw to the appropriate base (usually, but not always, 1^st base). · The bunt may actually be a pop-up so be prepared to turn around and throw after you catch it. · IMPORTANT – DEPENDING ON THE AGE GROUP INVOLVED, THE PLAY MAY NEED TO CHANGE THE GLOVE POSITIONING WHEN IN CLOSER TO THE BATTER. For safety reasons, coaches may want to consider NOT having the glove on the ground, as is the usual “ready position”. You want to have your player’s glove waist-high (or a bit higher) AND knees bent. It is your preference whether your hand is PALMS UP or PALMS DOWN but the player need to be prepared to switch quickly. This is in case the batter changes to a full swing or a contact swing – the player needs to be in position to catch it AND protect herself. If, however, a bunt results the player MUST be prepared to rush in WHILE changing the glove position to have the PALM UP/Glove Down.
2	Tagging baserunners	After a play at your base ALWAYS tag them with the ball. The play isn’t over until the umpire has called it over. Before that time the runner may accidentally step off the base and you need to be prepared to tag them. At 3^rd base, this can happen if a runner overruns the base. It can also happen if they take too wide a turn at 3^rd and you receive a throw to try to get them out. After a slide, but before the umpire has ruled the play over, a runner may try to stand up and take their hands and feet off the bag---TAG THEM. During a slide play, make sure that you are straddling the base, have your feet slightly more than shoulder width apart and sweep your glove down to the ground so the runner slides directly into your glove for the out. You need to be in position to block the base path no matter where the throw is coming from: SS, Pitcher, 2B, Catcher, etc. If a force-out situation exists at 3^rd then the base should not be straddled. Instead the 3^rd baseman should place one foot against the base and lean slightly towards the direction from which the throw is coming (similar to a 1^st baseman). At 1^st base, you need to be prepared to tag the runner if she turns towards 2^nd base after being safe at 1^st. You can tag her from the time she turns towards 2^nd base (maybe 10 feet or more away from 1^st down the line) until she returns back to 1^st. If slides are legal into 1^st, you need to block the base path just like the 3^rd baseman above. More likely, however, are slides from the runner after they unsuccessfully tried to steal 2^nd base and retreated back to 1^st OR they took too wide a turn towards 2^nd base and you caught the ball in the meantime. 1^st & 3^rd – When runners are physically near you after you catch a line drive or a grounder, be alert as to where they are. You may want to tag them with the ball (or your glove if the ball is in the glove) and then be prepared to quickly throw elsewhere (to get the batter, for example). Make sure that you don’t tag them with the glove if the ball is in the other hand – the umpire will call them safe.
3	Aggressive Play – Looking Back Runners	After a play has been completed at your base (either out or safe) you MUST be alert and prepared to make a follow-up play. This could either be a throw or an aggressive movement to block another runner from advancing. Examples: · When a grounder is hit to 1^st base with a runner on 2^nd base (and fewer than 2 outs) the 1^st baseman, after making the out at 1^st, needs to rush forward towards the pitcher’s mound (but on the 1^st base line side) with her throwing arm cocked. This is to prevent the runner from going home after making the turn around 3^rd base. · A similar play could be made by the 3^rd baseman towards 2^nd base after a sliding play into 3^rd – the batter may be trying to stretch a single into a double and an aggressive run towards 2^nd may warn her back to 1^st. · If a grounder is hit to 3^rd with a runner on 2^nd (only), the 3^rd baseman needs to give a short look to the runner with the throwing arm cocked before throwing to 1^st base. This will stop the runner from advancing, at least temporarily. The 3^rd baseman must then immediately get back to cover 3^rd again in case a throw comes back from 1^st (SS should backup 3^rd). You must be aware, however, of other runners on base. If a batter is safe at 1^st and a runner also turns 3^rd, the 1^st baseman still needs to be aggressive but she has to be aware of the runner on 1^st. The goal is keep the runner on 3^rd AND keep the runner on 1^st. Watch out for being too far away from 1^st base that results in keeping the runner at 3^rd but letting the other runner advance to 2^nd.
4	Playing Cutoff	Both 1^st and 3^rd may play a cutoff role during certain situations when a hit is made into the outfield (see Team Defense Situations). This is a critical position because when you play a cutoff role there is a very good chance of a play-at-the-plate. YOUR JOB AT CUTOFF is to decide whether the throw from the outfield should continue to home plate because it is a strong, accurate throw AND, in your opinion, has a chance of getting the runner out! If you believe that the runner at home will be safe or if the throw is off-center or weak then you need to cutoff the throw (catch it) and be prepared to throw elsewhere in a hurry. Also, you may decide that there is a better play (at 3^rd base due to a slow runner) so you cutoff the throw from the outfield and immediately throw to 3^rd. If the throw is good but is too weak/slow to reach home, then you need to cutoff the ball and immediately turn and fire the ball to home aiming right below the catcher’s knees. Listen for the catcher to yell out cut signals since she has the best overall view of the developing play.
5	Foul Balls	1^st and 3^rd basemen need to hustle after EVERY pop-up in foul territory. There have been too many times that 1^st & 3^rd basemen watch the ball without trying to catch it. It is critical that you try because you have nothing to lose!!! If you catch it then you’ve made another out for your team. If you miss it, the batter is still up but the runners can’t advance. Be alert for runners tagging-up.
6	1^st Base Only – Knowing when to get off the bag	A critical skill for all 1^st basemen is knowing when to get off the bag. When a throw is off-center you must IMMEDIATELY decide to either stay on the bag and try to catch it OR to leave the bag and catch/block it. This is important because getting off the bag to catch the throw ensures that only a single results. If you stay on the bag and can’t reach the throw then the runner will probably advance to 2^nd base while you’re chasing the ball AND the runner is now in scoring position. This is a decision that comes with experience. If you are unsure ASK THE COACHES and they will provide some drills to make you more confident.
7	1^st Base Only – The Stretch	The stretch involves keeping one foot (heel) against the bag (not on the bag) and the other leg stretched out towards the throw. The leg being stretched out should be the same leg as the glove hand---if your glove is on your left hand then you should stretch with your left leg---this provides better body balance. The stretch lets the ball get to the glove a split second sooner and may result in an out against a fast batter that may otherwise have been safe without the stretch. It is important to get back up into a normal stance as quickly as possible in case other runners are advancing. ONLY use a stretch when you see that the throw is in line toward you! Otherwise you will be in a stretch position when the ball is poorly thrown and you will be unable to shift away from the base to catch it.
8	1^st Base Only – Covering the bag with no one on	The 1^st baseman should be positioned about 5-6 feet away from the bag just a bit behind the imaginary line between 1^st and 2^nd. This permits the most field coverage since there are no stolen base possibilities. When a left-handed hitter is up move a little closer towards 1^st base to protect the line.
9	1^st Base Only – Covering the bag with a runner on 1^st	The 1^st baseman needs to be concerned about the runner stealing 2^nd base. You should be positioned just a bit closer to the bag. Since, in softball, the runner can’t leave the bag until either the ball crosses home plate or leaves the pitcher’s hand (depending upon the rules used) there is no opportunity for the pitcher to throw to 1^st in a pick-off attempt. This is why you should be positioned only a bit closer to 1^st compared to the situation when no one is on base.
10	1^st Base Only – Covering the bag with a runner on 1^st and a grounder is hit to 1^st base	This is a double play force-out situation. YOU NEED TO TAG 1^ST BASE FIRST BEFORE THROWING TO 2^ND BASE IN ORDER TO GET THE SURE OUT! You must then IMMEDIATELY throw to 2^nd base. This is now NOT a force-out situation at 2^nd so your throw should aim at the knees of the shortstop covering 2nd. The shortstop needs to tag the runner. The reason why you should tag 1^st base first is because the play only involves one throw. If the 1^st baseman threw to 2^nd immediately then the 2^nd baseman would have to throw back to 1^st in order to complete the double play. This results in two throws---this will take longer and gives a greater chance for an error to be made.
11	3^rd Base Only – Positioning with no one on base	The 3^rd baseman should position herself more towards shortstop (and the shortstop more towards 2^nd base). This requires, though, a strong ability of the 3^rd baseman to BACKHAND a solidly hit grounder or line drive DOWN THE 3^rd BASE LINE.
12	3^rd Base Only – Runner on 1^st base	After fielding the grounder SET YOURSELF, point your glove-side leg towards 2^nd base and make a strong throw. Aim at the chest of the 2^nd baseman. Your positioning should be closer to 3^rd than if no one is on base.
13	3^rd Base Only – Runners on 1^st & 2^nd, or bases loaded (force-out situations)	The 3^rd baseman should be positioned very close to 3^rd base since a hit down the line will produce runs scored by the other team. Also, with a force-out situation at 3^rd base it is extremely important that the 3^rd baseman catch or block a grounder and TAG 3^rd! Be prepared to fire the ball to 2^nd in order to get the force-out there as well. With runners on 1^st and 2^nd, if you catch a line drive IMMEDIATELY look towards 2^nd base in order to get the double play. These situations require no tag by the fielder---simply touching the base with the runner still off the base will complete the double play.