Bunt Defense for Youth Baseball and Softball: Who Charges, Who Covers

Bunts cause more chaos in youth games than almost any other play. Three players charge, two of them collide, and nobody is at first base. A simple bunt defense fixes most of it, and it only needs one idea: who charges and who covers.

Who charges

• First and third basemen start in when the bat drops into bunting position, staying on the inside (fair side) of their lines. Come in under control, glove up, ready in case the batter pulls the bat back and swings. Younger players should wait until the ball is on the ground before they really charge. The first baseman must stay out of the runner's lane up the 1st-base line.
• The pitcher follows through and comes off the mound (the circle, in softball) toward the plate. They take the middle.
• The catcher takes anything right in front of the plate, and is the one who calls the play ("One! One!") because they're facing it.

Whoever gets there first and has the best angle takes it. The others get out of the way. If the third baseman didn't field it, they hustle back to 3rd. If the first baseman didn't, they peel off to the inside, out of the way: the second baseman has 1st.

Softball: bunts are a bigger part of the game, so the corners play even with the bag or in front of it, and come in further with a runner on 1st. The same caution applies: come in under control with the glove up, because a batter who shows bunt can pull back and swing from close range. The bunt coverage is the same: the second baseman covers 1st, the shortstop covers 2nd. Slap defense (the shortstop and third baseman splitting the hole, the third baseman stopping her charge when the batter shows slap) is its own topic, and the app doesn't cover it yet.

Who covers

• Second baseman covers 1st. This is the key to the whole thing, because the first baseman is charging.
• Shortstop covers 2nd, or 3rd if there's a runner on 2nd (see below).
• Outfielders run in to back up: right fielder behind 1st, left fielder behind 3rd, center fielder behind 2nd.

Watch this play
Bunt down the 3rd-base line. The third baseman fields it, and the second baseman covers 1st for the throw.

Take the sure out

A bunt is usually a sacrifice. The other team is trading an out to move a runner. At the youth level, the best answer is to take the out they're giving you at 1st. Trying for the lead runner at 2nd or 3rd means a hurried throw to a moving target, and the ball in right field turns one base into three.

Watch this play
Bunt back to the pitcher with a runner on 1st. The pitcher fields it and takes the sure out at 1st.

Why does a bunt back to the pitcher go to 1st, when a comebacker with a runner on 1st goes to 2nd? Speed. A hard-hit ball gets to the pitcher in time to beat the lead runner to 2nd. A slow bunt doesn't: by the time the pitcher picks it up, the runner is almost there.

Exception: bases loaded and less than two outs. Whoever fields the bunt close to the plate takes the force at home: the catcher steps on the plate like a first baseman, then throws to 1st. Throwing to 1st there just gives away a run.

Runner on 2nd

Now the third baseman has a decision: charge the bunt or stay home to take a throw at 3rd. Keep it simple for younger players: the third baseman charges, and the shortstop covers 3rd. The second baseman still covers 1st. With runners on 1st and 2nd that leaves 2nd open, and that's fine: the out is at 1st.

Be honest with your players about this one: with a runner on 2nd, a slow bunt is often a close play at 1st. Whoever fields it has to look the runner back to 2nd first, and that look costs time. That's why the look has to be quick, a glance, not a stare, and then a strong throw. Sometimes the batter beats it anyway.

Watch this play
Bunt with a runner on 2nd. The third baseman charges, the shortstop covers 3rd, and the throw to 1st is a close one.

Runner on 1st: don't leave 3rd empty

When the third baseman charges a bunt with a runner on 1st, 3rd base is empty. A smart runner rounds 2nd and keeps going. The fix: the catcher covers 3rd when the third baseman fields the bunt. (The catcher can leave home because nobody is in scoring position.)

Watch this play
Bunt to the third baseman with a runner on 1st. The catcher sprints up the line to cover 3rd.

Practice it in five minutes

1. Put nine kids in their spots and have a coach bunt (or roll) the ball to different places.
2. Before each one, ask the second baseman: "Where are you going?" (First!)
3. Rotate positions so every kid learns the second baseman's job. It's the one that gets forgotten.

Quick answers

Who covers first base on a bunt?

The second baseman. The first baseman charges the bunt, so the second baseman runs to the bag to take the throw.

Where should you throw a bunt in youth baseball?

Usually to first base for the sure out. A bunt is often a sacrifice, and trying to get the lead runner leads to more errors at younger ages than it saves.

Who covers third on a bunt with a runner on second?

The shortstop, because the third baseman may have to charge the bunt.