Fielding Fundamentals: 16 Tips For Playing The Infield

1. Be aware and consider the speed of the batter and any base runners. Be aware of how much time you have. Don’t panic! If you knock a hard hit ball down and keep it front of you, you very often will have plenty of time to make a play.
2. Short stop and second baseman- talk to each other! Who’s covering second on a steal? Who will take a throw from the pitcher? Communicate communicate, communicate!
3. Pick up the catcher’s signs and try and know what pitch is being thrown. A fastball away to right-handed batter may mean a ball to the right side of the infield.
4. See the ball. Watch it all the way into your glove.
5. Have good body position. Try to field the ball from the middle of your body
   over to your glove side.
6. Use the full length of your glove (heel of the glove to the fingertips) and width of your glove (thumb to your little glove fingers). Keep your baseball fielding glove open.
7. Use your feet- crow hop to throw. Throw cross seam - so the ball won’t tail, sink or run to the player you are throwing to.
8. When throwing - focus on your target. Don’t watch the flight of the ball.
9. Stress throwing accuracy on every throw.
10. Infielders should work on coming in on ground balls. When a ball is bouncing
    use two hands. When a ball is rolling slowly you can use your bare hand.
11. Be sure to work on going side to side on ground balls- backhand and forehand.
12. Don’t forget the proper footwork and balance.
13. Work on your double plays. Concentrate on foot work and glove hand transfer.
14. Work on going after fly balls-both side to side and forward and back.
15. During your pop-up and fly ball drills, make sure you work on shading the sun.
16. Again, remember to always stress throwing accuracy and proper footwork on every drill and play.

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