Essential Skills

POSITIONS

• Right hander in left field/ left hander in right

• RF and LF able to judge spin of balls hit down the lines

• Better position to make throws/hits down the line

• Center fielders need to have exceptional foot speed/aggressive

• Right fielder need to have strong arm/longest throws

FIELDING

Set position - Semi crouch position/ knees slightly bent hands out

Fly balls

• Caught in a stride position - caught at eye level - hands and wrist give slightly

• Moving from left to right-pivot foot prior to doing a crossover step

• (TIP: All balls hit to left or right tend to break toward the foul lines)

Line drives (sinking)

• How to play the ball - hold up or charge the ball - a split second decision

• When holding up, shorten steps toward ball and concentrate on blocking ball

• Keeping ball in front is more important than scooping it up

• If charging the ball, lower the body to get eyes in line with the ball

• Use both hands and ball should be followed into the glove

Ground Balls

• Outfielder charges the ball and can field it like an infielder(knees bent/butt down)

• Fielder must slow their approach as they move into the fielder's position

• Ball fielded with both hands off front foot - enables quick throwing position

• Outfielder can field the ball one-handed (do-or-die pick-up)

• Ball is charged and scooped up with the glove six inches off the outside front foot

• This is a risky way of fielding ball - greater chance of ball getting by fielder

• Ground ball can be simply blocked as another means of fielding(no runners on)

• Once directly in front of ball, after looping toward ball, glove knee is dropped

• Ball is fielded with both hands, and eyes follow the ball in the glove

THROWING TECHNIQUE

• Ball is thrown overhand - fingers across the seams of the ball

• Stay back and come into the ball with glove foot down while making catch

• Keep throwing arm away from body - straight down back and up for throw

• Ensure that hip and shoulder is pointed in the direction of the throw

• Arm is whipped through and straight forward and down across the front of body after release

• Follow through with the entire body to get necessary power behind the throw