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Stealing Bases is a super fun way to help your team score more runs by getting you into scoring position easier.  I was an all-league, leadoff hitter and center fielder for my high school team and stealing bases was a great strength of mine.  I’m not very fast, but I’m very quick and I was very technical with my base stealing, which helped me to get good jumps and beat the throws.  I mostly stole 2nd, many times 3rd and once home, and I believe I stole, 2nd, 3rd & home consecutively against a good, rival pitcher.

 

What does base stealing mean to you and why am I writing a post about it? It probably doesn’t mean much at all.  You probably don’t play baseball or softball and you may not have ever played and you most likely won’t ever play, however it’s a great & fun way to get your cardio minutes in while you practice speed, agility, quickness and whole body reaction from a dead stop.  I have 3 videos I found to share what I’m looking for you to do in class and 3 Tips.  

 

3 Videos

  • Dave Roberts’ steal against the NY Yankees in Game 4 of the 2004, ALCS.
  • Mookie Betts stealing 2nd last year.
  • Jacoby Ellsbury stealing home against the Yankees.

 

3 Lead Tips

  • Lead Tip #1:  take a lead as far away from the bag as you can and still be able to get back if the opponent throws to the bag.
  • Lead Tip #2:  come to a complete stop.  keep your arms loose.  wait until the pitcher either looks away from you and/or looks away and starts to throw to 1st.
  • Lead Tip #3:  take an explosive turn.  explosively (AFAP) turn your whole body:  feet, hips, trunk, arms and head.  on the arms:  pull one and punch the other.  take steps that are small to long while in a forward lean.

 

Dave Roberts

Watch how Dave holds for seconds before he makes an explosive turn.

2:25-2:30 (5sec)

2:46-2:56 (10sec)

3:17-3:24 (7sec)

3:55-3:59 (4sec)

[video_player type=”youtube” youtube_remove_logo=”Y” width=”560″ height=”315″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″]aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vZW1iZWQvTVlCWmVVNDZMTDQ=[/video_player]  

 

Mookie Bets

Watch Mookie steal from a dead stop.

0:01-0:03 (2sec)

[video_player type=”youtube” youtube_remove_logo=”Y” width=”560″ height=”315″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″]aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vZW1iZWQvbjV3UmdndExzVnc=[/video_player]  

 

Jacoby Ellsbury

Watch how Jacoby holds for 4 sec before he steals home.

0:08-0:12 (4sec)

[video_player type=”youtube” youtube_remove_logo=”Y” width=”560″ height=”315″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″]aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vZW1iZWQvWEJpOEtrUXZqdm8=[/video_player]  

 

So that’s what I’d like your single + 3 steals to look like, minus the slides.  Take a lead.  Stop.  Take a full breath (inhale+exhale=3sec) and then practice your explosive turn.  

 

Remember.  Turn your whole body explosively.

Remember.  Arms First.  Pull your inside elbow & punch your outside elbow as fast and as hard as possible.

Remember.  Then turn your feet, hips, torso & head.

Remember.  Use it or lose it.  Specifically, power, muscle & bone density.

Remember.  When you train fast you become fast.

Remember.  You get old b/c you get weak.  You don’t get weak b/c you get old.

Remember.  Stealing bases, base running, beating the Yankees and CYBBC themed conditioning are all FUN!    

 

Cheers and happy hump day!  

 

Mike

 

 

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