Baseball Play Simulator - Full Documentation & User Manual

Welcome to the Baseball Play Simulator, an interactive tactical visualizer designed for coaches, team managers, and players to design, simulate, and review field positioning and ball movements for any in-game scenario.

1. Overview & Token System

The simulator tracks 14 unique tokens on the field simultaneously:

• Defense (9 Tokens - Red):
  • P — Pitcher
  • C — Catcher
  • 1B, 2B, 3B — Infielders
  • SS — Shortstop
  • LF, CF, RF — Outfielders
• Offense (4 Tokens - Navy Blue):
  • BR — Batter-Runner (Starts at Home Plate)
  • R1 — Runner on 1st Base
  • R2 — Runner on 2nd Base
  • R3 — Runner on 3rd Base
• Baseball (1 Token - White/Yellow Ring):
  • Represents the live ball for throws, batted balls, and pitches.

Moving Tokens

• Click and drag any token to reposition it anywhere on the turf or foul territory.
• If a runner is inactive during a play, leave them in the dugout or parked on their respective base.

2. Field Navigation & Layout

• Tactical Field Canvas: Draws a proportional high-contrast field complete with dirt cutouts, bases, foul lines, pitcher's rubber, and warning track.
• Auto-Scaling Canvas: The diagram automatically resizes to fit your browser window, mobile tablet, or desktop display without losing resolution.

3. Building & Simulating Animations

The app uses a Keyframe System to calculate smooth motion between player positions over time.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Custom Play:

1. Initial Setup (Keyframe 1):
   • Drag all 14 tokens to their starting locations (e.g., pitch position, pre-pitch fielder alignment, runners on base).
   • Click + Add Keyframe. This saves Frame 1.
2. Move to Next Frame (Keyframe 2):
   • Move the ball to where it is hit (e.g., right-center gap).
   • Drag fielders toward the ball, cutoff points, or bases.
   • Drag runners along the basepaths.
   • Click + Add Keyframe. This saves Frame 2.
3. Add Subsequent Frames (Keyframes 3+):
   • Move fielders, relays, and runners to their next decision points (e.g., throw to 2nd base, runner rounding 3rd).
   • Click + Add Keyframe for each step in the play sequence.
4. Playback Controls:
   • Play / Pause (▶ / ⏸): Toggles animation playback.
   • Timeline Scrubber: Drag the slider to review the play step-by-step or pause at precise moments.
   • Playback Speed Selector: Choose 0.5x (Slow Motion for coaching instruction), 1.0x (Real Time), or 2.0x (Fast Forward).
   • Clear Animation: Resets all keyframes and restores tokens to default positions.

4. Ball Trajectory Profiles

When simulating hit balls, choose a trajectory profile from the Ball Trajectory Menu to model realistic arc and flight behavior:

Note: Visual shadows under the baseball expand and contract during flight to indicate ball height above the turf.

5. Telestrator & Drawing Tools

Annotate plays directly on the field canvas for chalk-talk sessions and strategy review:

• Pen Tool: Draw freehand chalk lines for route running, throw angles, or coverage zones.
• Arrow Tool: Click and drag to create straight tactical arrows indicating player movement directions or throw paths.
• Color Picker: Toggle between Yellow, White, Red, Cyan, or Black lines.
• Line Thickness: Adjust slider for thin route indicators or bold emphasis marks.
• Clear Whiteboard: Erases all drawn annotations while leaving token positions intact.

6. Preset Scenarios

For rapid setup during team meetings, select any of the pre-built tactical presets:

1. Single to RF (Runner on 1st): Demonstrates right field hit coverage, 1B/2B/SS positioning, and 3B/C cutoffs for a play at 3rd.
2. LCF Gap Double: Shows deep relay mechanics, SS/2B tandem cutoffs, and base runner rounding routes.
3. 6-4-3 Double Play: Standard groundball to Shortstop, flip to 2nd, throw to 1st base transition timing.
4. Bunt Defense (Wheel Play): Demonstrates 3B charging, SS covering 3rd, 2B covering 1st, and P/1B rotation choices.

7. Customizing Rosters & Labels

Personalize the board to match your real team roster:

1. Open the Roster Inspector sidebar panel.
2. Click on any field position or runner slot.
3. Replace default labels (e.g., SS) with player names or jersey numbers (e.g., #2 Jeter or Smith).
4. Labels update instantly across the visual canvas and keyframe timeline.

8. Saving, Exporting & Sharing

• Export Diagram (PNG Image): Downloads a high-resolution snapshot image of the current field diagram, including drawn annotations and player positions—ideal for printing or sharing in team chat apps.
• Save Play File (.json): Saves the complete play—including keyframes, trajectory choices, drawings, and custom player names—into a lightweight .json file.
• Load Play File (.json): Upload a previously saved JSON file to instantly resume editing or present a stored play.

9. Keyboard Shortcuts & Tips

• Spacebar: Toggle Play / Pause simulation.
• Delete / Backspace (while drawing): Undo last drawn mark.
• R: Reset current view / Clear drawings.
• Coaching Tip: Use the 0.5x playback speed alongside the Pen Tool to show players exact cutoff angles and backup responsibilities behind bases!