To run a rundown in youth baseball, the fielder with the ball sprints at the runner with the ball held up, drives him back toward the base he came from, and makes one short, firm throw to a teammate who tags him. Aim for one throw or none, keep both fielders just inside the base path, and have everyone else back up the bases.

Rundowns (also called pickles or hotboxes) look chaotic at the youth level, and they often end with a wild throw and a runner standing two bases further along than when the play started. The fix is not more throwing. It is a simple system every player knows before the situation ever comes up. Here is the one we recommend for volunteer coaches.

In this guide

1. What is the goal of a rundown?
2. How should the fielder with the ball start a rundown?
3. When should you throw the ball in a rundown?
4. Where should fielders stand during a rundown?
5. What should a fielder do after throwing the ball?
6. Can a runner leave the base path to avoid a tag in a rundown?
7. How do you handle a rundown with other runners on base?
8. How should you teach rundowns at different ages?
9. What is a good rundown drill for youth practice?
10. What are the most common rundown mistakes?
11. Frequently Asked Questions
12. Put Rundowns in Your Defensive Playbook

What is the goal of a rundown?

The goal is to get the out with as few throws as possible, ideally one or none, while pushing the runner back toward the base he left. Every extra throw is another chance for a drop, a throw that hits the runner, or an obstruction call.

Running him back matters because if the play breaks down, he ends up where he started instead of a base ahead. Teach players one sentence: “Run him back, one throw, tag.”

How should the fielder with the ball start a rundown?

The ball carrier should sprint straight at the runner with the ball out of the glove and held up by the ear in the throwing hand. Running hard forces the runner to commit to a direction, and holding the ball up means the throw is already loaded.

1. Ball up, glove away. The ball should be visible to the receiver, not tucked in the glove. No pump fakes; they fool your own teammate more often than the runner.
2. Run at the runner, not the base. Close the gap at full speed. If the runner stops or retreats, keep coming.
3. Drive him back. If you have a choice, chase him toward the base he came from.
4. Tag him yourself if you can. If the runner hesitates and you can reach him, there is no need to throw at all.

When should you throw the ball in a rundown?

Throw when the runner is committed at full speed toward the receiver and is only a few steps from him, roughly two or three bat lengths. Throwing too early gives the runner room to stop and reverse; throwing too late risks a collision or a throw that hits the runner.

Some teams have the receiver call “Now!” when he wants the ball; others teach the ball carrier to read the distance himself. Either works if the whole team uses the same one. The throw itself should be a short, firm, chest-high toss, more like a dart than a crow hop. Big arm swings and lobs are how rundowns turn into overthrows.

The receiver should start with his glove up as a target, then step toward the runner as the ball is released. Catching the ball while moving forward lets him tag a runner who tries to stop and change direction, instead of catching flat-footed and watching him run away.

Where should fielders stand during a rundown?

Both fielders in the rundown should set up a step or two inside the base path on the same side, usually the infield-grass side, so the throwing lane is clear of the runner’s body. If the thrower and receiver are on opposite sides of the runner’s line, the throw has to go right past his head.

Everyone who is not in the rundown has a job too: back up the base on each end so that a missed throw doesn’t let the runner advance. The table below shows a common setup for each base pair. Your system may vary with age and who is closest, but every player should know where he goes before the pitch.

Runner caught between	Usually in the rundown	Backing up the bases
First and second	First baseman and shortstop	Second baseman behind second; pitcher covers first; right fielder backs up first
Second and third	Shortstop and third baseman	Second baseman behind second; pitcher or left fielder behind third
Third and home	Catcher and third baseman	Pitcher behind the catcher at home; shortstop behind third

Backups are the difference between “we didn’t get him” and “he scored.” If your team struggles with who goes where on overthrows in general, our post on a simple system for backing up bases pairs well with this one.

What should a fielder do after throwing the ball?

After throwing, the fielder should immediately peel off to the side, out of the runner’s path, and then follow behind to become the next backup at that end. Standing in the base path without the ball risks obstruction.

The rulebook defines obstruction as the act of a fielder who, “while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner” (UmpireBible summary of OBR obstruction). Under Official Baseball Rule 6.01(h)(1), when a play is being made on the obstructed runner, as it is in a rundown, the ball is dead and the runner is awarded the base the umpire judges he would have reached (OBR Rule 6.01 text). In other words, a fielder who just threw the ball and stays in the way can hand the runner a free base. Check your own league’s rulebook, since youth organizations publish their own versions of these rules.

Can a runner leave the base path to avoid a tag in a rundown?

No. Under Official Baseball Rule 5.09(b)(1), a runner is out if he runs more than three feet away from his base path to avoid being tagged, and that base path is “established when the tag attempt occurs” as a straight line from the runner to the base he is trying to reach (OBR Rule 5.09 text).

For fielders, the practical lesson is to go after the runner directly and make the tag attempt. Don’t stop to argue about the baseline; the umpire makes that call. For runners, it means dodging around a tag works only within a narrow lane.

How do you handle a rundown with other runners on base?

Before chasing, the ball carrier should glance at the lead runner, especially a runner on third. A common trick at older levels is for a trailing runner to get himself caught in a rundown so the runner on third can score while the defense chases.

• Look the lead runner back first. A quick look (or a run at him) freezes the runner on third before the rundown starts.
• Get the out quickly. A one-throw rundown takes a couple of seconds; a five-throw rundown gives the runner on third plenty of time to score.
• Know when to give up the trailing runner. If the lead runner breaks for home, the play is at the plate.

These multi-runner reads are exactly the kind of situation our guide to coaching defensive situations walks through play by play.

How should you teach rundowns at different ages?

Start simple and add pieces as players can handle them. Younger players need one rule; older players can learn rotations and multi-runner reads.

• Ages 7–8: “If you have the ball, run at him and tag him.” Many rundowns at this age end with the ball carrier simply catching the runner. Teach only one short throw if he can’t.
• Ages 9–10: Add the one-throw goal, ball held up, fielders on the same side of the base path, and the receiver stepping forward.
• Ages 11–12 and up: Add peel-off and rotation behind the base, backups for every base pair, and checking the lead runner before chasing.

What is a good rundown drill for youth practice?

A simple, game-like option is a two-base pickle drill with a scoring rule that rewards fewer throws. It takes about 10 minutes and works with 8–12 players.

1. Set up: Place two bases at regular distance. Put 3–4 fielders in a line behind each base and one runner (in a helmet) halfway between.
2. Start the play: A coach hands the ball to the first fielder at either base and says “Go.” The runner tries to reach either base.
3. Run the rundown: Fielders use the system: ball up, run him back, one throw, peel off, rotate to the back of the line.
4. Score it: Out with zero or one throw = 2 points for the defense. Out with two throws = 1 point. Safe = 1 point for runners.
5. Rotate: Swap runners every few reps so everyone plays both sides.

Once players are comfortable, add a runner on third and a “lead runner” check. If you want more ready-to-run defensive drills like this, the MBA Toolkit gives you practice-ready setups you can drop into any session.

What are the most common rundown mistakes?

Most failed rundowns come from the same handful of habits. Use this as a quick checklist in practice:

• Throwing too early, before the runner commits.
• Pump faking, which freezes the receiver.
• Fielders on opposite sides of the base path, so throws hit the runner.
• Receiver catching flat-footed instead of stepping toward the runner.
• Thrower staying in the lane after the throw (obstruction risk).
• No one backing up either base.
• Chasing the runner forward toward the next base.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many throws should a rundown take?

One or none is the goal. If the ball carrier runs hard and the receiver steps toward the runner, most youth rundowns can end with a single throw and a tag.

Which direction should you chase the runner?

Back toward the base he came from. If the play breaks down, he ends up where he started instead of a base ahead.

Is it obstruction if a fielder is in the base path during a rundown?

It can be. A fielder without the ball who impedes the runner can be called for obstruction, which is why fielders should step out of the lane right after throwing. The umpire makes the judgment on each play.

What should a base runner do when caught in a rundown?

Stay in the base path, keep running hard, and try to make the defense throw as many times as possible. The longer the rundown lasts, the more chances for a mistake and for other runners to advance. Our post on base running situations at each base covers how to avoid getting caught in the first place.

When should youth players start learning rundowns?

As soon as runners are advancing on their own, usually in coach-pitch or early kid-pitch divisions. Start with “run at him and tag” and add the one-throw system as players get more comfortable catching and throwing on the move.

Put Rundowns in Your Defensive Playbook

Rundowns are just one of dozens of situations your players need to recognize instantly. The Defensive Situations Guide lays out where every player goes on every common play, so your team walks onto the field already knowing its jobs. If you also want to teach your runners the other side of the play, the Baseball IQ Bundle pairs it with the Base Running Situations Guide.