Coach's Playbook
A single-page reference sheet you can print and bring to games. Fill in the blank sections by hand.
Coach's Playbook — Game Day Reference
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Defensive Positioning
Nobody On
PNormal depth
CBehind plate
1BNormal depth, near bag
2BNormal depth, shade toward 1B
SSNormal depth, shade toward 2B
3BNormal depth, near bag
LFNormal depth
CFNormal depth
RFNormal depth
Runner on 1st
PSet position, vary look
CReady for steal throw
1BHold runner, then back
2BCheat toward 2B for DP
SSCheat toward 2B for DP
3BNormal depth
LFNormal depth
CFNormal depth
RFNormal depth
Runner on 2nd
PSet position, check runner
CBehind plate
1BNormal depth
2BCover 2B / shade toward 1st
SSCover 2B / shade toward 3rd
3BGuard line, medium depth
LFShade in for play at plate
CFShade in slightly
RFShade in for play at plate
Runners on 1st & 2nd
PSet, check both runners
CReady, communicate
1BHold runner, then DP depth
2BDP depth, cover 2B
SSDP depth, cover 2B
3BGuard line, ready for bunt
LFShade in
CFNormal depth
RFShade in
Runners on 1st & 3rd
PSet, look runner back
CCheck runner at 3rd
1BHold runner
2BDP depth, watch squeeze
SSDP depth
3BKeep runner close
LFShallow for play at plate
CFNormal depth
RFNormal depth
Bases Loaded
PSet, any base force
CForce at home, communicate
1BDP depth, force at home
2BDP depth
SSDP depth
3BGuard line, force at home
LFShallow
CFNormal
RFShallow
| Situation | P | C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | LF | CF | RF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nobody On | Normal depth | Behind plate | Normal depth, near bag | Normal depth, shade toward 1B | Normal depth, shade toward 2B | Normal depth, near bag | Normal depth | Normal depth | Normal depth |
| Runner on 1st | Set position, vary look | Ready for steal throw | Hold runner, then back | Cheat toward 2B for DP | Cheat toward 2B for DP | Normal depth | Normal depth | Normal depth | Normal depth |
| Runner on 2nd | Set position, check runner | Behind plate | Normal depth | Cover 2B / shade toward 1st | Cover 2B / shade toward 3rd | Guard line, medium depth | Shade in for play at plate | Shade in slightly | Shade in for play at plate |
| Runners on 1st & 2nd | Set, check both runners | Ready, communicate | Hold runner, then DP depth | DP depth, cover 2B | DP depth, cover 2B | Guard line, ready for bunt | Shade in | Normal depth | Shade in |
| Runners on 1st & 3rd | Set, look runner back | Check runner at 3rd | Hold runner | DP depth, watch squeeze | DP depth | Keep runner close | Shallow for play at plate | Normal depth | Normal depth |
| Bases Loaded | Set, any base force | Force at home, communicate | DP depth, force at home | DP depth | DP depth | Guard line, force at home | Shallow | Normal | Shallow |
Bunt Defense Alignment
Sacrifice — Runner on 1st
PField bunt, throw to 2B or 1B
CField bunt near plate, call the play
1BCharge hard, field bunt, throw to 2B
2BCover 1st base
SSCover 2nd base
3BCharge hard, field bunt, throw to 2B or 1B
Sacrifice — Runner on 2nd
PField bunt, throw to 3B or 1B
CField bunt near plate, call the play
1BCharge hard, field bunt
2BCover 1st base
SSCover 3rd base
3BStay at bag, receive throw
Sacrifice — Runners on 1st & 2nd
PField bunt, listen for call
CField bunt near plate, call "1! 2! 3!"
1BCharge hard
2BCover 1st base
SSCover 2nd base
3BCharge or stay based on scouting
Squeeze Play
PPitch out or field bunt, throw home
CBlock plate, receive throw
1BCharge hard
2BCover 1st base
SSCover 2nd or 3rd
3BCharge hard, throw home
| Scenario | P | C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacrifice — Runner on 1st | Field bunt, throw to 2B or 1B | Field bunt near plate, call the play | Charge hard, field bunt, throw to 2B | Cover 1st base | Cover 2nd base | Charge hard, field bunt, throw to 2B or 1B |
| Sacrifice — Runner on 2nd | Field bunt, throw to 3B or 1B | Field bunt near plate, call the play | Charge hard, field bunt | Cover 1st base | Cover 3rd base | Stay at bag, receive throw |
| Sacrifice — Runners on 1st & 2nd | Field bunt, listen for call | Field bunt near plate, call "1! 2! 3!" | Charge hard | Cover 1st base | Cover 2nd base | Charge or stay based on scouting |
| Squeeze Play | Pitch out or field bunt, throw home | Block plate, receive throw | Charge hard | Cover 1st base | Cover 2nd or 3rd | Charge hard, throw home |
Cutoff & Relay Responsibilities
Single to LF
PBack up 3B
CHome plate
1BCutoff (throw to home)
2BCover 2nd
SSGo to 3rd / relay position
3BCover 3rd base
LFField ball, throw to cutoff
CFBack up LF
RFMove toward CF area
Single to CF
PBack up home
CHome plate
1BCutoff (throw to home)
2BCover 2nd
SSRelay / trail play
3BCover 3rd
LFBack up CF
CFField ball, throw to cutoff
RFBack up CF
Single to RF
PBack up 3rd
CHome plate
1BCutoff (throw to 3rd or home)
2BCover 2nd
SSCutoff for throw to 3rd
3BCover 3rd
LFMove toward LF area
CFBack up RF
RFField ball, throw to cutoff
Extra-base to LF
PBack up home or 3rd
CHome plate
1BTrail runner to 2nd
2BCover 2nd
SSRelay from LF
3BCover 3rd
LFField ball, throw to relay
CFBack up LF
RFMove in toward 1st area
Extra-base to RF
PBack up home or 3rd
CHome plate
1BCover 1st / trail runner
2BRelay from RF
SSCover 2nd / cutoff to 3rd
3BCover 3rd
LFMove in toward 3rd area
CFBack up RF
RFField ball, throw to relay
| Hit Location | P | C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | LF | CF | RF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single to LF | Back up 3B | Home plate | Cutoff (throw to home) | Cover 2nd | Go to 3rd / relay position | Cover 3rd base | Field ball, throw to cutoff | Back up LF | Move toward CF area |
| Single to CF | Back up home | Home plate | Cutoff (throw to home) | Cover 2nd | Relay / trail play | Cover 3rd | Back up CF | Field ball, throw to cutoff | Back up CF |
| Single to RF | Back up 3rd | Home plate | Cutoff (throw to 3rd or home) | Cover 2nd | Cutoff for throw to 3rd | Cover 3rd | Move toward LF area | Back up RF | Field ball, throw to cutoff |
| Extra-base to LF | Back up home or 3rd | Home plate | Trail runner to 2nd | Cover 2nd | Relay from LF | Cover 3rd | Field ball, throw to relay | Back up LF | Move in toward 1st area |
| Extra-base to RF | Back up home or 3rd | Home plate | Cover 1st / trail runner | Relay from RF | Cover 2nd / cutoff to 3rd | Cover 3rd | Move in toward 3rd area | Back up RF | Field ball, throw to relay |
Signs & Signals Reference (fill in by hand)
Bunt
Steal
Hit & Run
Squeeze
Take
Swing Away
Indicator
Wipe-Off
Pitch Count Tracker
| Pitcher | Inn 1 | Inn 2 | Inn 3 | Inn 4 | Inn 5 | Inn 6 | Inn 7 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pitcher 1 | ||||||||
| Pitcher 2 | ||||||||
| Pitcher 3 |
Tally pitches per inning. Check your league's pitch count limits.
Lineup Card
| # | Player Name | No. | Pos | Sub 1 (Name / Pos / Inn) | Sub 2 (Name / Pos / Inn) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| 9 |