Basic Defensive Plays
On the next several pages you will find detailed assignments for every player on a number of basic
defensive plays that you will see during the course of a season.
Bases Empty
Single to Left
Single to Center
Single to Right
Sure Double to Left
Sure Double to Left Center
Sure Double to Center
Sure Double to Right
Runner on First
Single to Left
Single to Center
Single to Right
Double to Left Center
Double down Right Field Line
Possible Triple to Right Center Field
Runner on Second
Single to Left
Single to Center
Single to Right
Foul Ball with Runners on 1st and 3rd Base
Short down Right Field Line
Short by 1st Base Dugout
Bunt Coverages
Regular
Regular 1 (Pick off)
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Single to left field
No One On Base
Pitcher
Back up 2nd in direct line of throw from left
Catcher
Follow runner to first base
1st Base
Cover bag
2nd
Base
SS
Cover 2nd base & line up SS if needed
3rd Base
Move slightly toward 2nd and in look for wide throw
Left
Make hard line throw, head high to SS & to 2nd
base on fly if possible
Center
Move toward Left to back up and call play to 2nd
Right
Come in and back up 1st base
[Cut off man] line up ball to 2nd base listen to call
from 2nd baseman
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Single to Center
No One On Base
Pitcher
Move in position between home & mound in line
with throw to back up
Catcher
Follow runner down first base
1st Base
Cover bag, make sure runner tags bag
2nd
Base
SS
[Cut off man] Position between CF and 2nd, listen
for call from SS
3rd Base
Left
Center
Right
Move in slightly looking for wild throw
Move toward Center to back up and make call to
CF
Make hard line throw, head high to cut off man & to
2nd base on fly if possible
Move toward Center to back up and make call to
CF
Cover 2nd, align Cut off man
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Single to Right
No one on base
Pitcher
Break toward 1st once in OF head to back up SS
Catcher
Follow runner to 1st base
1st Base
Cover first and make sure runner tags bag
2nd
Base
SS
[Cut off man] Position 40-45 ft from 2nd base in line
with throw, listen to SS for alignment
3rd Base
Left
Back up SS
Backup 3rd base line
Center
Move toward right to back up and make call to 2nd
base
Right
Make hard line throw, head high, to cut off. Make
on fly if possible
Cover 2nd base and align cut off
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Sure Double to Left
No one on base
Pitcher
Back up throw to 3rd
Catcher
Cover plate
1st Base
Catch for runner tagging base, then become
trailer backing up 2nd
2nd
Base
SS
Cover 2nd
3rd Base
Left
Center
Right
Cover bag and align cut off man
Hard line throw, head high to cut off
Move toward play to backup and make call to LF
Get in line to back up a throw to 2nd from SS or OF
[Cut off man] Position in line with throw listen to
call from 3rd (be ready to throw back to 2nd)
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Sure Double to Left Center
No one on base
Pitcher
Back up throw to 3rd
Catcher
Cover plate
1st Base
Watch for runner tagging base, then become
trailer backing up 2nd
2nd
Base
SS
Cover 2nd
3rd Base
Left
Center
Right
Cover bag and align cut off man
Move toward play to backup and make call to CF
Hard line throw, head high to cut off
Get in line to back up a throw to 2nd from SS or OF
[Cut off man] Position in line with throw listen to
call from 3rd (be ready to throw back to 2nd)
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Sure Double to Center
No one on base
Pitcher
Back up throw to 3rd
Catcher
Cover plate
1st Base
Watch for runner to tag bag, then become trailer
2nd
Base
SS
Cover 2nd
3rd Base
Left
Center
Right
Cover Bag and align cut off man
Move to back up 3rd
Hard line throw head high to cut off man
Move toward play and tell CF where to go with
throw
[Cut off man] Position yourself 40-45 ft from 3rd in
a direct line, listen to call from 3rd
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Sure Double to Right Field
No one on base
Pitcher
Move to back up 3rd base
Catcher
Cover plate
1st Base
Watch for runner tagging bag, then become trailer
to cover 2nd
2nd
Base
Cover 2nd base, if deep be prepared to be 1st cut
off man
SS
[Cut off man] Position about 40-45 ft from 3rd in
direct line, listen for alignment and call from 3rd
3rd Base
Left
Center
Right
Cover bag and align cut off man
Move to back up 3rd base
Move toward play and make call to RF on where to
throw
Hard line throw, head high to cut off
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Single To Left
Runner on 1st Base
3rd Base
Pitcher
Back up throw to 3rd
Catcher
Cover plate
Left
1st Base
Cover bag
Center
2nd
Base
Cover 2nd
Right
SS
Cover bag and align cut off man
Hard line throw, head high to cut off
Move toward play to backup and make call to LF
Get in line to back up a throw to 2nd from SS or OF
[Cut off man] Position in line with throw listen to
call from 3rd (be ready to throw back to 2nd)
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Single to Center
Runner on 1st base
3rd Base
Pitcher
Back up throw to 3rd
Catcher
Cover plate
Left
1st Base
Cover bag
Center
2nd
Base
Cover 2nd
Right
SS
Cover Bag and align cut off man
Move to back up 3rd
Hard line throw head high to cut off man
Move toward play and tell CF where to go with
throw
[Cut off man] Position yourself 40-45 ft from 3rd in
a direct line, listen to call from 3rd
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Single to Right
Runner on 1st Base
3rd Base
Pitcher
Move to back up 3rd base
Catcher
Cover plate
Left
1st Base
Cover bag
Center
2nd
Base
Cover 2nd base, if deep be prepared to be 1st cut
off man
SS
[Cut off man] Position about 40-45 ft from 3rd in
direct line, listen for alignment and call from 3rd
Right
Cover bag and align cut off man
Move to back up 3rd base
Move toward play and make call to RF on where to
throw
Hard line throw, head high to cut off
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Double to Left Center
Runner on 1st Base
Pitcher
Float to 3rd base line and be ready to back up
home or 3rd base
Catcher
Cover Plate and align cut off, be ready to cut to 3rd
1st Base
[Cut off man] Position 40-45 ft from home in line
with throw, be ready to cut 3
2nd
Base
SS
Trail SS as a possible relay man
3rd Base
Cover 3rd
Left
Move to play anticipate position of relay or inform
CF of play
Center
Move to play anticipate position of relay of inform
LF of play
Right
Cover 2nd base
[Relay man] get in line and listen to call
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Double to Right Field Line
Runner on 1st base
Pitcher
Float to 3rd base line and be ready to back up
home or 3rd base
Catcher
Cover Plate and align cut off, be ready to cut to 3rd
1st Base
[Cut off man] Position 40-45 ft in front of home in
line with throw, listen for call, be ready to cut 3rd
2nd
Base
SS
[First Cut off man] Position in line with throw to
plate 40-45 ft in front of 1st base
3rd Base
Left
Center
Right
Cover 3rd
Back up 3rd base
Move to right to help make call to RF
Make hard line, head high throw to cut off man
Cover 2nd base
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Triple Possible to Right Center
Runner on 1st base
Pitcher
Float to 3rd base line and be ready to back up
home or 3rd base
Catcher
Cover Plate and align cut off, be ready to cut to 3rd
1st Base
[Cut off man] Position 40-45 ft in front of home in
line with throw, listen for call, be ready to cut 3rd
Center
Move to play anticipate position of cut off man or
be ready to make call to RF
2nd
Base
[First cut off man] Position in line with throw and
listen to call
Right
Move to play anticipate position of cut off man or
be ready to make call to CF
SS
3rd Base
Cover 3rd base
Left
Cover 2nd base
Trailer 30 ft behind 2nd baseman
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Single to Left Field
Runner on 2nd
Pitcher
Back up home plate in direct line with throw
Catcher
Align cut off man and make call. Be ready to call a
cut 2
1st Base
Cover 1st and make sure runner tags base
2nd
Base
Cover 2nd base
SS
Cover 3rd base
3rd Base
Left
Center
Right
[Cut off man] Position 40-45 ft from home in line
with throw, listen to call and be ready to cut 2
Make hard line, head high throw to cut off man
Move toward play to back up and make call to LF
Move in position to back up and throw to 2nd
30
Single to Center Field
Runner on 2nd base
Pitcher
Back up home plate in direct line with throw
Catcher
Align cut off man and make call. Be ready to call a
cut 2
1st Base
[Cut off man] Position 40-45 ft from home in line
with throw, listen to call and be ready to cut 2
2nd
Base
Cover 1st base
SS
Cover 2nd base
3rd Base
Left
Center
Right
Cover 3rd base
Move to back up 3rd base
Hard line, head high throw to cut off man
Move toward play to help teammate know what to
do
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Single to Right Field
Runner on 2nd base
Pitcher
Back up home plate in direct line with throw
Catcher
Align cut off man and make call. Be ready to call a
cut 2
1st Base
[Cut off man] Position 40-45 ft from home in line
with throw, listen to call and be ready to cut 2
2nd
Base
Cover 1st base
SS
Cover 2nd base
3rd Base
Left
Center
Right
Cover 3rd base
Move in to back up a throw to 3rd
Move toward play, then get in position to back up
2nd base
Hard line, head high throw to cut off man
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Foul Ball Short Right Field Line
Runners on 1st and 3rd
Pitcher
Cover 1st
Catcher
Cover plate
1st Base
2nd
Base
SS
3rd Base
Cover 3rd
Left
Back up 3rd
Try to catch fly ball
Center
Back up 2nd
Try to catch fly ball
Right
Try to catch fly ball
Race to spot 20-30 ft from 2nd base to become a
cut off man. It is good spot to hold at 1st & 3rd
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Foul Ball Near 1st Base Dugout
Runners on 1st and 3rd
Pitcher
Cover Home Plate
Catcher
Catch foul and look to throw to 2nd baseman as a
cut off to hold runners
1st Base
Cover 1st base
2nd
Base
SS
Race to spot behind mound for cut off in line with
2nd base
3rd Base
Cover 3rd
Left
Back up 3rd
Center
Back up 2nd
Right
Back up 1st base
Cover 2nd base
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Regular Bunt Coverage
Purpose: to get the out
3rd Base
Break in on pitch, be even with pitcher on release
field bunts on your side of infield
Pitcher
Play bunt out in front if not cover 3rd
Catcher
Play bunt close to plate and give vocal command
Left
Back up 3rd
1st Base
Break in on pitch, be even with pitcher on release
field bunts on your side of infield
Center
Back up 2nd
2nd
Base
SS
Align close to first base, cover 1st
Right
Back up 1st base
Cover 2nd base give vocal command on lead
runner
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Regular 1Bunt Coverage
Purpose: Pick off at 1st base
Pitcher
Watch for sign from 3rd to throw to first
Catcher
Give sign if runner is leaning to far
1st Base
Break in hard to distract runner on 1st base
2nd
Base
SS
Align close to first base, break to 1st when 1st
baseman breaks, be ready for throw from pitcher
3rd Base
Move in slowly but similar to Regular coverage, as
2nd breaks give sign to pitcher
Left
Back up 3rd
Center
Back up 2nd
Right
Back up 1st base
Cover 2nd base give vocal command on lead
runner
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14 Bunt Coverage
Purpose: to get runner on 2nd going to 3rd
Pitcher
Play bunt on 3rd base side of infield
Catcher
Play bunt out in front of play and be vocal
1st Base
Stay home for play at first base
2nd
Base
SS
Break in on pitch, be even with pitcher on release
field bunts on your side of infield
3rd Base
Stay home cover 3rd base, give verbal command on
play Three-Three
Left
Back up 3rd
Center
Back up 2nd
Right
Back up 1st base
Hold runner at 2nd base
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15 Bunt Coverage
Purpose: to get runner on 2nd going to 3rd
Pitcher
Play bunt on 1st base side of infield
Catcher
Play bunt out in front of play and be vocal
1st Base
Stay home for play at first base
2nd
Base
SS
Hold runner at 2nd base
3rd Base
Break in on pitch, be even with pitcher on release
field bunts on your side of infield
Left
Back up 3rd
Center
Back up 2nd
Right
Back up 1st base
Play in the hole close to 3rd break when pitcher
makes move and cover 3rd, make call
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16 Bunt Coverage
Purpose: to get runner going to 2nd base
Pitcher
Play bunt on 1st base side of infield
Catcher
Play bunt out in front of play and be vocal
1st Base
Hold runner at 1st. Stay home for play at first base
2nd
Base
SS
Align close to 2nd base, give verbal command
Two-Two
3rd Base
Cover 3rd base
Left
Back up 3rd
Center
Back up 2nd
Right
Back up 1st base
Break in on pitch, be even with pitcher on release
field bunts on your side of infield
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