How to Read Pitcher Before Stealing a Base in Baseball

Series Summary

The slide is an important part of baseball. With a good slide, a base runner can elude the tag of an infielder on a close play, thereby remaining on base, or perhaps even allowing a run to score on that particular play. A good slide is much more than planting your butt in the dirt; it takes technique and practice. But your hard work will be worth the effort when the game is on the line as you try to stretch a single into a double and your heel touches the second base bag just underneath the sweeping tag of the shortstop. Safe! Then you become the go-ahead run and break the tie as you cross home plate, a hero to all of the home team supporters in the stands.

In this free serious of coaching lesson videos, our expert baseball and softball coach demonstrates the basics of a good slide. Juan Carlos Landaverde shows you proper arm and leg position for avoiding a tag as well as for avoiding injuries. He also shares his insight into when and when not to slide. You will also learn tips for stealing bases, such as how to read the pitcher. So watch these videos and master this essential baseball skill. Your team is depending on you!

Video Transcript

"Hi, I'm Juan Carlos for Expert Village. Today I'm going to teach you how to slide. In this segment we're going to teach you how to read the pitcher before stealing the base. Now in baseball you're allowed to take a lead off as big as need be in order to steal the base. The first thing is that we creep and take our lead off here. We read the pitcher as soon as the movement is made towards the play. You are able to pick up the type of movement that the pitcher goes towards the plate and pivot before you steal the base. "