Improving Your Time in the 60
Branch Rickey is most famous for the signing of Jackie Robinson as the first African American baseball player in the Major Leagues. What most people don’t know is that he also invented the 60 yard dash as a measuring device for the speed of a baseball player. Mr. Rickey thought a baseball player’s ability to go from first to third on a base hit was the most important aspect of base running. So by taking the 180 foot distance and making it straight he came up with what we all know today as the 60 yard dash. The 60 time for amateur baseball players can make or break a scholarship or define an athlete’s value to a college or professional team.
A good time for most players is anything under 7.0 seconds. For the typical speed positions of shortstop, second base and center field, the 60 time should be in the 6.5 to 6.8 range. For corner infield and outfield positions, the time should be in the 6.9 to 7.2 range. A good 60 time for a catcher is always a debatable topic. With the natural evolution of the game, catchers have become extremely athletic ( ex. Joe Mauer). A 7.0 to 7.4 will work for most catchers.
As a staff we get asked all the time, “What can I do to lower my 60 time?” Believe it or not, the answer is really simple - run the 60! If a player dedicates himself to a simple running program after school, he will lower his 60 time by a few tenths of a second. Here is an example of what a running program would look like.
Monday
10-60 yard dashes at your high school track or football field. No timing.
Tuesday
10 to 15 sprints downhill, 40 to 50 yards is fine.
Wednesday
10-60 yard dashes at your high school track or football field. No timing.
Thursday
10 to 15 sprints downhill, 40 to 50 yards is fine.
Friday
10-60 yard dashes at your high school track or football field. Timed.
In order to get faster a player doesn’t need much except for desire and hard work. If you follow this simple plan you will see huge gains in speed and lower 60 times. Good luck, drink lots of fluids, stretch pre and post workouts. Let us know how you do! We welcome your comments and feedback on the new ASBA Blog.
