Overview The timeline represents a rough idea of how I like to build base stealer through the year. This stretches for the entire year but can definitely be modified. In fact, some of my best players spent the least amount of time actually following a specific order. For us, it starts in the fall and ends just before summer baseball. It is important to understand, just because the drills are labeled easy to difficult
Introduction
Basic technique work
Game environment
Moderate to difIicult simulations
Easy simulations (build conIidence)
In season
does not necessarily mean to just go in that order. Confidence is probably the most important factor in stealing bases. You have to build up a base stealer and monitor what he needs at that moment of the season. If he is beat up a bit you shouldn’t hammer with drills and settings that are difficult… you have to get his mind back to being confident. This 12-week program is designed for both individuals and teams. The thought process is to ease the athlete into it and get him the feel. Once it makes sense you then dial up intensity.
Off season Plan
Week 1: Introduction Phase 1 (Use cones for markers at all distances the entire week) Monday: - Film study of base stealing examples - Discuss Old School vs. New School systems - Review Old School section in website - Perform Old School returns x5 with no pitcher - Perform Old School returns x5 with a pitcher - Perform Old School Secondary lead off x5 - Perform Old School steal start x5 with no stop watch - Perform Old School returns with no pitcher x5 Tuesday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o 10 minutes of either dot drills for agility or ladder drills (basic videos are easily found on YouTube if you are not familiar) o 8-10 Old school steal starts and chart your time o Jump rope – 3 min non-stop Wednesday: - Daily walk drill – with just old school lead, secondary and return (can mix however you want) x5. - Eyes closed old school leadoffs with steal start (eyes open for this part obviously) off of the pitcher x5 - Live old school reads off of a pitcher or a video of a pitcher. Thursday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o 10 minutes of either dot drills or ladder drills o 8-10 Old school steal starts and chart your time o Jump rope – 3 min non-stop Friday: - Daily walk drill – with just old school lead, secondary and return (can mix however you want) x5. - Eyes closed old school leadoffs with steal start (eyes open for this part obviously) off of the pitcher x5 - Live old school reads off of a pitcher or a video of a pitcher (video this segment from about 30 feet behind the first base coaches box). Saturday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o 10 minutes of either dot drills or ladder drills o 8-10 Old school steal starts and chart your time o Jump rope – 3 min non-stop Sunday: - Film review of Friday’s Old School live drill - Recover
Week 2: Introduction Phase 2 (Use cones for markers at all distances the entire week) Monday: - Daily walk drills- begin to add New School distances (as shown in website video) - Old School returns x5 off of a pitcher or video of a pitcher - New School no slide returns off of a pitcher x10 - New School returns off of a pitcher x5 - New School jumps with no pickoffs off of a pitcher x5 (short sprints (30 feet)) Tuesday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o 10 minutes of either dot drills for agility or ladder drills (basic videos are easily found on YouTube if you are not familiar) o 8-10 Old school steal starts and chart your time o Jump rope – 4 min non-stop Wednesday: - Daily walk drillsx5. - Live Old School steals and picks vs. a live pitcher- time steal starts - New School returns and holds vs. live pitcher – No picks x5. - New School picks or holds – no going to the plate x5. - Old School returns x5. Thursday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o 10 minutes of either dot drills or ladder drills o 8-10 Old school steal starts and chart your time o Jump rope – 4 min non-stop Friday: - Daily walk drills x5. - 5 New School returns/ 5 Old School returns - Live pitch or hold x5/ Live hold or pick x5 - 5 new school returns with no pitcher Saturday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o 10 minutes of either dot drills or ladder drills o 8-10 Old school steal starts and chart your time o Jump rope – 4 min non-stop Sunday: - Film review of any steals you prefer
Week 3: (Use cones for markers at all distances the entire week)
Monday: - Daily walk drills - Ladder drills from website – moderate - Old School vs. New School races from website - Live vs. pitcher mixing in all possibilities Tuesday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o 10 minutes of either dot drills for agility or ladder drills (basic videos are easily found on YouTube if you are not familiar) o Tennis ball drill from website x 10 (5 yard short sprints after) o Jump rope – 4 min non-stop Wednesday: - Daily walk drillsx5. - Ladder drills from website - New School vs. Old School races - Live vs. a live pitcher - Old School returns x5. Thursday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o 10 minutes of either dot drills or ladder drills o Tennis ball drill from website x 10 (5 yard short sprints after) o Jump rope – 4 min non-stop Friday: - Daily walk drills x5. - Ladder drills - Live pitch or hold x5/ Live hold or pick x5 - 5 new school returns with no pitcher Saturday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o 10 minutes of either dot drills or ladder drills o Tennis ball drill from website x 10 (5 yard short sprints after) o Jump rope – 4 min non-stop Sunday: - Film review of any steals you prefer
Week 4: (Use cones for markers at all distances the entire week)
Monday: - Daily walk drills - Verbal drills at 1b from the website (coach stands behind runner) - Old School vs. New School races from website - Live vs. pitcher mixing in all possibilities Tuesday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o 10 minutes of either dot drills for agility or ladder drills (basic videos are easily found on YouTube if you are not familiar) o Tennis ball drill from website x 10 (5 yard short sprints after) o Jump rope – 5 min non-stop Wednesday: - Daily walk drillsx5. - Verbal drills at 1b from the website (coach stands behind runner) - New School vs. Old School races - Live vs. a live pitcher - Old School returns x5. Thursday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o 10 minutes of either dot drills or ladder drills o Tennis ball drill from website x 10 ( 5 yard short sprints after) o Jump rope – 5 min non-stop Friday: - Daily walk drills x5. - Verbal drills at 1b from the website (coach stands behind runner) - Live pitch or hold x5/ Live hold or pick x5 - 5 new school returns with no pitcher Saturday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o 10 minutes of either dot drills or ladder drills o Tennis ball drill from website x 10 ( 5 yard short sprints after) o Jump rope – 5 min non-stop Sunday: - Film review of any steals you prefer
Week 5: Game environment phase (Use cones for markers at all distances the entire week) Monday: - No walk drills (must see how good they are at finding distances in leadoffs) - Live scrimmage with free passes (if thrown out or picked you get to return) Tuesday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o 10 minutes of either dot drills for agility or ladder drills (basic videos are easily found on YouTube if you are not familiar) o Steal starts are back (see if times have improved) o Jump rope – 2 min non-stop/ 30 second speed rope (7 second rest) for 3 min straight Wednesday: - No walk drills (must see how good they are at finding distances in leadoffs) - Live scrimmage with free passes (if thrown out or picked you get to return) Thursday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o 10 minutes of either dot drills for agility or ladder drills (basic videos are easily found on YouTube if you are not familiar) o Steal starts are back (see if times have improved) o Jump rope – 2 min non-stop/ 30 second speed rope (7 second rest) for 3 min straight Friday: - No walk drills (must see how good they are at finding distances in leadoffs) - Live scrimmage with free passes (if thrown out or picked you get to return) Saturday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o 10 minutes of either dot drills for agility or ladder drills (basic videos are easily found on YouTube if you are not familiar) o Steal starts are back (see if times have improved) o Jump rope – 2. Min non-stop/ 30 second speed rope (7 second rest) for 3 min straight Sunday: - Film review of any steals you prefer
Week 6: (Use cones for markers at all distances the entire week)
Monday: - No walk drills - Live scrimmage with free passes (if thrown out or picked you get to return) - Introduce second base work by showing video examples Tuesday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o 10 minutes of either dot drills for agility or ladder drills (basic videos are easily found on YouTube if you are not familiar) o Steal starts x 10 o Jump rope – 2 min non-stop/ 30 second speed rope (7 second rest) for 3 min straight Wednesday: - No walk drills - Live scrimmage with free passes (if thrown out or picked you get to return) - Second base dry footwork - Second base live reads vs. easy pitcher (one look, look away, pitch) o If the player struggles actually say “go” when you look away. Thursday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o 10 minutes of either dot drills for agility or ladder drills (basic videos are easily found on YouTube if you are not familiar) o Steal starts x 10 o Jump rope – 2 min non-stop/ 30 second speed rope (7 second rest) for 3 min straight Friday: - No walk drills - Live scrimmage with free passes (if thrown out or picked you get to return) - Second base dry footwork - Second base live reads – either pick on one look or inside move on one look Saturday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o No footwork drills o Steal starts are back (see if times have improved) o No jump rope. Sunday: - Film review of any steals you prefer
Week 7: (No cones)
Monday: - No walk drills - Live scrimmage with free passes (if thrown out or picked you get to return) - Live one on one drills at second (either one look, two looks, or inside move) Tuesday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o No footwork drills o Steal starts are back (see if times have improved) o No jump rope. Wednesday: - No walk drills - Live scrimmage with free passes (if thrown out or picked you get to return) - Live one on one drills at second (either one look, two looks, or inside move) Thursday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o No footwork drills o Steal starts are back (see if times have improved) o No jump rope. Friday: - No walk drills - Live scrimmage with free passes (if thrown out or picked you get to return) - Live one on one drills at second (either one look, two looks, or inside move) Saturday: o Warm up o Run just 3 steal starts trying for best time. Sunday: - Film review of any steals you prefer
Week 8: Simulation phase
Monday: - Card drill at first and at second for warm up - Live scrimmage with green light at first and second – if picked off you are out… if caught stealing you get a free pass. Tuesday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o Run 3 steal starts for best time. Wednesday: - Card drill from website at first and at second for warm up - Live scrimmage with green light at first and second – if picked off you are out… if caught stealing you get a free pass. Thursday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o Run 3 steal starts for best time. Friday: - Card drill at first and at second for warm up - Live scrimmage with green light at first and second – if picked off you are out… if caught stealing you get a free pass. Saturday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o Run 3 steal starts for best time. Sunday: - Film review of any steals you prefer
Week 9: Simulation phase
Monday: - Card drill at first and at second for warm up - New school vs. old school races at second base and first with pickoffs mixed in. - Live scrimmage with green light at first and second – if picked off you are out… if caught stealing you get a free pass. Tuesday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o Run 3 steal starts for best time. Wednesday: - Card drill at first and at second for warm up - New school vs. old school races at second base and first with pickoffs mixed in. - Live scrimmage with green light at first and second – if picked off you are out… if caught stealing you get a free pass. Thursday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o Run 3 steal starts for best time. Friday: - Card drill at first and at second for warm up - New school vs. old school races at second base and first with pickoffs mixed in. - Live scrimmage with green light at first and second – if picked off you are out… if caught stealing you get a free pass. Saturday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o Run 3 steal starts for best time. Sunday: - Film review of any steals you prefer
Week 10: Confidence Building Phase
Monday: - Daily walk drills - Live one on one at 1B and 2B (easy) - Team live races from website off of a dummy pitcher Tuesday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o Run 3 steal starts for best time. Wednesday: - Daily walk drills - Live one on one at 1B and 2B (easy) - Team live races from website off of a dummy pitcher Thursday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o Run 3 steal starts for best time. Friday: - Daily walk drills - Live one on one at 1B and 2B (easy) - Team live races from website off of a dummy pitcher Saturday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website o Run 3 steal starts for best time. Sunday: - Film review of any steals you prefer
Week 11: Confidence Building Phase
Monday: - Daily walk drills - Live one on one at 1B and 2B (easy) - Team live races from website off of a dummy pitcher Tuesday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website Wednesday: - Daily walk drills - Live one on one at 1B and 2B (easy) - Team live races from website off of a dummy pitcher Thursday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website Friday: - Daily walk drills - Live one on one at 1B and 2B (easy) - Team live races from website off of a dummy pitcher Saturday: - Speed and footwork development o Perform speed technique videos from website Sunday: - Film review of any steals you prefer
Week 12: Confidence Building Phase
Monday: - Daily walk drills - Live one on one at 1B and 2B (easy) Tuesday: OFF Wednesday: - Daily walk drills - Live one on one at 1B and 2B (easy) Thursday: OFF Friday: - Daily walk drills - Live one on one at 1B and 2B (easy) Saturday: OFF Sunday: - Film review of any steals you prefer
Remember, for our program we follow a longer schedule. We almost have double this time. I try and space it out and I also have to hit reset when I realize we are lagging behind. As you can tell, this is mainly built for a team environment but use your creativity if you are working alone or if you are a coach working with just a couple of players. The Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday workouts can easily be fit into a team warm-up with the purchase of cheap speed ropes (can find for $5 at Five Below), and an agility ladder (or taped a gym floor to look like a ladder). Just be creative and use the template how you please. The fact is you have to expand the player’s tool set as well as work on his quickness and agility to become a great base stealer. As we go into the real season (which is where I imagine “week 12” is when you complete these workouts) we are very efficient with our time. We spend 10 minutes max 6 days a week and do simple one on one live drills. Good luck! This will definitely get you to establish pressure on the defense.
