Fly ball communication-best way?

[omg]

Okay, what's the best. Everyone yelling "I got it" or ball? Outfielders yelling "ball" and infielders yelling some different word? How about the "me,me,me" , "you, you, you" stuff? What do you think is the best way?What works for teenage boys?

[PhilliesPhan22]

"I got it, I got it!!!!!!" (Very very loud. They hear me everywhere)

"Take it, take it." (runs behind fielder for back up)

[Chris O'Leary]

Along these lines, people always say there's no "yours" call, but I have to admit I have used it in a few cases where I'm trying to let the other guy know that I don't think I can get there.

How do people handle this situation? Does it matter if I would normally have precedence?

[mudvnine]

Okay, what's the best. Everyone yelling "I got it" or ball? Outfielders yelling "ball" and infielders yelling some different word? How about the "me,me,me" , "you, you, you" stuff? What do you think is the best way?What works for teenage boys?

We simply use....."ball, ball, bal".....and....."take, take, take".

From there, it's simply teaching "priorities", as to who has the final call on the ball......OFers over INFers, F8 over corner OFers, middle INFers over corner INFers, F6 over F4, corner INFers over F2, and just about everyone over F1.

[raptor]

We have IF say "ball" and can only override a "mine" call from the OF if they are sitting under it waving. We distinguish so middle infield when looking up knows who is calling for it. Just teaching the middle infield with everyone listening their expected zones behind the bags helps a lot for when there is hesitation about whose ball it should be.

[Jake Patterson]

Omg.
I taught that the infielder ALWAYS has priority over the outfielder, but the outfielder is reponsible to call the infielder off.

I never like multi-syllabic calls with youngster so we called either "Mine" or "Ball" - I would let them decide which.

Last, I always stayed away from "you," "you take," "yours," etc. I found greatest success in teaching the players to go after everything they could unless called off. "you" always seems to confuse a young player.

[PhilliesPhan22]

Adding to what Jake said: In the outfield, centerfielder always has priority.

[tg643]

Okay, what's the best. Everyone yelling "I got it" or ball? Outfielders yelling "ball" and infielders yelling some different word? How about the "me,me,me" , "you, you, you" stuff? What do you think is the best way?What works for teenage boys?

Whatever it is it has to be one syllable. We discussed what words would be used to no one misunderstood on the field. We used ME and YOU. If an infielder and outfielder, or middle infielder behind a corner infielder were both yelling ME the behind player yelled MINE.

[Chris O'Leary]

Last, I always stayed away from "you," "you take," "yours," etc. I found greatest success in teaching the players to go after everything they could unless called off. "you" always seems to confuse a young player.

Good point.

This is important with younger kids because "yours" can encourage passivity, where they call everything in the neighborhood "yours".

[Chris O'Leary]

Whatever it is it has to be one syllable. We discussed what words would be used to no one misunderstood on the field. We used ME and YOU. If an infielder and outfielder, or middle infielder behind a corner infielder were both yelling ME the behind player yelled MINE.

They also have to be distinct words to the ear.

When I first started coaching, I would use "go" and "no" when coaching baserunners. That would confuse the kids. Now I use "go" and "wait" and "back".

[HYP]

We use Ball, Ball, Ball and Take, Take, Take. Infielders only call the ball once they are camped under it. Outfielders call it earlier. If someone is yelling Ball, Ball, Ball other player says Take, Take, Take. If an outfielder cannot get to a ball he has to yell Take, Take, Take to let the infielder know he can dive.

[skipper5]

If your team is loaded with aggressive take-charge athletes, then it probably doesn't matter what they yell, as long as it's consistent.

If not, then insist that your fielders yell "Mine!" or "Me me me!"

Simply by insisting on this, there will be a noticeable improvement in your team's ball pursuit.

[HYP]

They also have to be distinct words to the ear.

When I first started coaching, I would use "go" and "no" when coaching baserunners. That would confuse the kids. Now I use "go" and "wait" and "back".

We use Yes and No

[omg]

Thanks for all of the responses. There is some good information for me in the posts.

[omg]

If someone is yelling Ball, Ball, Ball other player says Take, Take, Take. If an outfielder cannot get to a ball he has to yell Take, Take, Take to let the infielder know he can dive.

Does this apply to infielders: do they yell "take" to the outfielders? If not, why not? Do you get outfielders who have poor judgement and yell "take" on balls they should catch? What if cf yells "take" to 2bman but rf thinks he can catch it? Thanks.