On Field Player Communication

by Bob Bennett

excerpt from Gold Glove Baseball - American Baseball Coaches Association

available at www.HumanKinetics.com

Methods of Communication

Players can communicate with physical gestures or signals or with verbal signals, tones, and inflections. Through either verbal or physical messages, the range of success in getting important details transmitted runs from dismal failure to amazing achievement.

The clarity of the signal or message is important, but the setting makes even more of a difference. Eye contact, acknowledgment, and a positive delivery and reception improve the message. Consider how, when, why, and where when you're sending or receiving information.

How the communication is carried out should match the setting and situation. An urgent message calls for a serious and deliberate delivery and a serious and deliberate response. For example, when two or more players are in the vicinity and capable of making a play on a bunt, one should loudly call for the ball, and the others should remain silent to acknowledge the call and assure the player calling for the ball that he has the freedom to make the play.

Some communication occurs calmly and with little stress attached. A lot of information can be exchanged in a straightforward manner. At other times the vital information must be transmitted and understood under dire circumstances. Crowd noise, heated competition, imminent obstructions, opposition's involvement, and highly difficult plays often make an urgent message necessary.

An urgent message should be delivered without panic. Deliberate signals and forceful gestures with urgent voice inflections are in order when dynamic attention should be given to that situation. It's often necessary to use both hand signals and vocal signals, which is why all players should become familiar with the body language and voice of each teammate.

Verbal Communication

Players need to understand and speak a common language. The words and terms need to be game- and sport-specific as well as team- and position- specific. Terms, words, and shortcuts are used to describe defensive coverage and player duties.

Different coaches and players use different terms and descriptive words to describe similar plays. Whatever terms are used should be specific to the team and should be used only by that team. For example, there are several phrases to use when directing a player to cut the ball on a relay throw–"cut," "cut it," and "relay" are a few. A team should pick a single phrase and use it consistently.

Here are some potentially team-specific terms for use in common situations:
"Ball! Ball!"–accept responsibility to field the ball.
"Take it!"–recognize that a teammate has called for the ball.
"A lot of room!"–assure the receiver that he has the space and unobstructed opportunity to make the catch.
"Watch it!"–warn a teammate that he's coming close to an obstruction.
"Bag"–accept responsibility to cover the base.
"Cut! No play!"–cut the throw and hold the ball.
"Cut one!"–cut the throw and throw to first base.
"Cut two!"–cut the throw and throw to second base.
"Cut three!"–cut the throw and throw to third base.
"Cut four!"–cut the throw and throw to home plate.
"No play!"–there's no room to make a catch or no reasonable target is available.
"Blue"–means yes. Designate a school color or choose a hot word.
"Red"–means no. Designate a school color or choose a hot word.

If a receiver at any base does not want a throw to be cut, he gives no directions at all. Silence in general means let it be.

At the beginning of any relay throw and any bunt play, the base to which the ball should be thrown is called twice and repeated as many times as necessary, for example, "One, one!" or "Two, two!"

Verbal commands are also position specific. Here are some examples:

"In front! In front!"–the ball is in front of the catcher. The pitcher sends this message.
"Back! Back!"–the ball is behind the catcher. The pitcher is telling the catcher to turn around.
"Ball!"–the receiver calls for the ball during a rundown.
"Now!"–tells the pitcher to deliver the pitch on a special pickoff play.

Physical Communication

Nonverbal behavior is also important for delivering messages. Body language can speak volumes, but just as with words, the message must be chosen wisely and transmitted directly and absolutely clearly. Affirmation, agreement, disagreement, disappointment, confidence, uncertainty, strengths, and weaknesses can all be transmitted through body language.

Body language transmits inner feelings. All defensive players should attempt to project positive images that display confidence, enthusiasm, determination, aggressiveness, and cohesiveness. A look of determination can be a valuable tool in meeting competitive challenges. A shoulder shrug or a look of dejection builds the path to failure and fuels the opponent's competitive fires.

Players need to respond to directions, signals, and other information being conveyed to them. Their nonverbal response indicates that the message was delivered, is understood, and will be acted on. Help, gestures, commands, and directions deserve to be acknowledged in a business-like and civil manner. Credibility can be enhanced through positive body language. A particular demeanor either invites or rejects further communication.

A good deal of information on the baseball field is delivered via signals. Just as tones, inflections, and assertiveness make all the difference with verbal messages, clarity, assertiveness, and command are necessary with physical signals. Whether a player is calling a certain pitch or pointing to direct a teammate, his action should depict an assertive and positive decision. A weak or uncertain signal is confusing and often does more harm than good.

Signal systems should be clear and concise to defensive players but clever enough to make it difficult for the opposition to decipher them. The signal systems most teams employ are delivered in different ways to make it harder for the other team to pick up on them. Each could be a totally different group of signals or each set could be the same signals delivered with a hot sign or the same signals given with a pump or sequence type of delivery. Here are some common guidelines for signals:

• Make sure the signals are visible to all participants.
• Develop a timely and efficient delivery system.
• Be aware of game situations.
• Repeat signals if necessary.
• Be clear.
• Be able to adjust to different sets.

A hot sign is a designated word or a specific area on the body that alerts a player or players to an imminent signal. Most astute opposing players can decipher a steal sign within a few innings, but the difficulty increases when a hot sign is added or when the signal for the steal falls in a certain sequence.

The catcher's pitch signals to the pitcher and the infielders should be executed via three different sets. In addition, a combination of all three sets could be used to make it extremely difficult for the opposition to decipher the signals. For example, set 1 could be finger signals, set 2 could be area signals, and set 3 could be a set of signals using the mitt. An opposing team might recognize the signal for each pitch in each set, but the difficulty in knowing what pitch will be thrown is determined by which set is hot or which signal is hot.

Signs given on pickoff plays, bunt-defense coverage, or base-coverage assignments by the middle infielders should be delivered with a standard set of signals but should also have hot signs or sequence delivery methods. The shortstop and second baseman can use their gloves to cover their mouths and use a simple closed or open mouth signal. That coverage should be relayed to the pitcher via a touch system or glove signal.

Teams often make the mistake of using only the primary set of signals until the opposition has clearly deciphered the signs or until a dire situation arises. Now, the team must change to signs they rarely use. This is often in the heat of battle, when players need to concentrate on successful execution, not on seldom-used signals. If a team has more than one set of signs, has hot signs, or delivers the signs with sequences and patterns, that team should use all sets and delivery systems throughout each game.

Furthermore, signal systems should be regularly used in practice, particularly in intrasquad games. Changing from one set to another should never reduce a player's concentration from the job at hand. In a situation that requires total concentration, signals should not be the focal point.

From position to position, both verbal and physical signals must be used to communicate. On pickoff plays, signals are sent between each infielder and the pitcher. The signal may indicate the position of the infielder in relation to a base runner, the action of a particular defensive player, or a hot word for a specific signal system.

The coach sending defensive position signals should use both verbal and physical signals. He should have a delivery system to get messages to each position player, to each defensive unit, and to the defense as a whole. The coach must be able to relay a "take it off" sign in certain situations, such as a pitchout.

The signal system should include clear communication between the catcher and each infielder. Critical game situations call for the catcher to throw behind a runner. In such cases, the infielder needs to be notified. A clear set or sets of signals should be devised to let infielders know what the catcher is planning to do. Likewise, infielders should be able to signal the catcher about a pickoff play. This doesn't mean that a throw can't be made without a formal signal beforehand. The body language of the catcher or infielder is often a sufficient signal to a teammate that a throw should or will be made.

All signals should be delivered in a timely and orderly fashion. The coach or defensive player giving the signals should be clearly visible to all defensive players. He should develop a system that delivers the signal to a single player, to several players, or to the entire defensive unit. The best time to relay signals is immediately after the preceding pitch or play. Some signals require an answer and some don't. A signal should be developed that allows players to ask for a repeat of the signal. This signal is rarely used if the defensive unit is alert.

From time to time, a team's signals need to be changed, which can be done by developing a variety of sets. For example, a team might have three ways to defend a given bunt situation. In such a case, each defense should correspond to a word or to a place on the body. When the designated word is spoken or the body part touched, that particular bunt defense will be used. Develop three different words and three different areas or sequences of touches, one for each defense. This makes it more difficult for the opponent to pick up the signals. All of the sets must be used frequently in practice and in games so that they can be used in key situations.

Take nothing for granted. The simplest things are sometimes overlooked or forgotten in the heat of competition. After a close play in which the defensive unit thinks the runner is out but he has in fact been called safe, the actual number of outs may be in question before the next play. Repeat the number of outs clearly and frequently via both verbal and finger signals. Provide information to each player and repeat it often. Prior to each pitch have a plan. Pass that plan along to the defense.