RELATIONSHIP OF BASE-RUNNING PERFORMANCE WITH RUNNING DIRECTION AND ITS CHANGE

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to clarify whether the running direction and its change affect the base-running performance. Thirty-five male baseball players performed 54.86 m (180 ft.) straight-line sprinting and distance-matched base-running, during which two dimensional positions of players were recorded with B Y Sports Tracking System. The results of this study revealed that the total base-running performance was probably affected by the running performance of the later running phase. In addition, smaller direction change before the first base and larger direction change after the first base maybe responsible for better performance in the entire base-running through better performance in the later section. These results would be useful for players and coaches who attempt to improve base-running performance.