To steal a base, it takes patience, skill and a keen eye. Steps must be taken to steal a base. This is how.


  1. 1
    To steal a base, one must possess three traits: fast reflexes, a keen eye and a little speed. These traits don't always come naturally, so they have to be developed. The most important thing to remember is to keep practicing. Practice makes perfection.

  2. 2
    Now speed has to be developed. To get faster, simply run track every weekend. The reason not to run everyday is because it will burn out one's body. So running everyday is not a good idea. Also, time the speed of the laps you run. See if it improves.
  3. 3
    Develop a keen eye. A keen eye is another thing. This needs serious brain work and physical work. To obtain a keen eye, have a friend throw a ball at you as fast as he/she can. Make sure he/she throw it at your feet. Simply dodge these. There are two reasons one would want to dodge these. 1 is to practice moving your feet the instance it's needed. The 2nd reason is because if that ball hits you, it's going to hurt!
  4. 4
    Develop patience. To develop patience is easier than developing a keen eye. All one has to do is meditate. Just sit down for 10 minutes in a quiet area and think. This will help you to develop patience.
  5. 5
    Now is the actual part where you put the good skills you learned to use. Practice this beforehand so you don't have to be put on the spot during a game where you need to steal a base. Pretend the pitcher just released the ball. Sprint to the next base as fast as you possibly can. Don't look at the ball, just run to the base. If you want, you can have a friend throw the ball toward you for a better idea. Realize that often, catchers and basemen have very quick reflexes. If you're too sluggish, they may tag you out.
  6. 6
    Now practice all of this with a couple of friends and you will get the hang of it.
  7. 7
    Game time. On first when the pitcher first gets set face second and take a step with your left foot pivot to face the infield grass and home plate shuffle about 4-5 steps. More or less depending on your reflexes. NEVER TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PITCHER'S FEET. On right hander as soon as that front foot goes up take off. If the back foot comes up first GET BACK NOW. Timing is everything. A good jump can beat a lot of catchers. On a lefty if you commit when that front foot comes up do not stop no matter what. Do not get in a run down unless there is a runner on 3rd. If you are not running when that foot comes up wait. When it goes forward take your secondary lead.
  8. 8
  9. 9
    Call time dust yourself off

Community Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left



      • Stealing a base is not as much to do with speed as one would think, it is about knowing when to steal.
      • If you are stealing second, beware of a left handed pitcher, as they may bring their leg up, and still step towards first and pick you off. For this reason, take a slightly smaller lead off on a lefty.
      • If the pitcher is pitching from the windup, for whatever reason, and their non pitching side leg(left leg for a right hander) steps back, the pitcher must throw a pitch, so run.
      • Practicing is the most important thing. Practice 3 times a week at least. However, this is just a suggestion. Do this if you're really dedicated and want to have a perfect steal. Most people can do it with little practice.
      • From the stretch, the pitcher must throw home once his non-pitching side leg goes towards home.

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!



      About This Article

      31 votes - 68%
      Co-authors: 32
      Updated: September 29, 2019
      Views: 34,828
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 34,828 times.

      Did this article help you?