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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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

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

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

Bunt

Steal

Hit & Run

Squeeze

Take

Swing Away

Indicator

Wipe-Off

Tally pitches per inning. Check your league's pitch count limits.