Transcript Infield Play the Dexter Way!

Infield Play the Dexter Way!
1
Areas That Will Be Covered
Throwing Fundamentals
What makes an infielder exceptional
Stance
Fielding the ground ball
How to create the best angle
Fielding through the baseball
Forehands and backhands
Drills to improve skills
2
Throwing Fundamentals
Whenever possible catch with two hands
Always have hands up before receiving ball.
Move feet to get yourself in throwing position before
receiving ball.
Hold ball across the seams, four seam grip will allow
straighter throw
Ball should be held in the fingertips and rather loosely.
Aim with the Shoulder - Play catch on gym/track line
Elbow should be level with the shoulder. This will allow
an overhand throw, which will get maximum velocity and
accuracy
ALWAYS MAKE GAME THROWS IN WARM-UPS AND
PRACTICE!
Always throw to a target.
LONG TOSS LONG TOSS: THROWS ON A LINE
3
Ingredients for a quality infielder
Quick feet
Soft hands
Strong arm or a
quick release
Must be able to
move laterally quickly
Baseball IQ
Leader
Dirt Bag
4
Ready Stance
Pre-Pitch Approach - when
pitcher starts wind-up
Right foot first, then left, on
Balls of Feet
Feet should be double
shoulder width apart
Glove positioned slightly
above the knees with palm
open
Weight should be on balls of
feet
Stay loose, tensing up will
cause slow reaction time
Discourage getting too low,
limits range
5
Fielding the Groundball
Be aggressive, charge every
ball possible
Maintain good running form as
long as possible.
Trust your hands out front
Break down into a position low
to the ground.
Move with palm up and open
to ball, eye in glove
Never flop glove over, always
palm up for entire path to ball
(airplane landing) (eyes
behind ball drill)
Shoulders square to ball
Quick to it, slow through it,
quick to get rid of it
6
Where the Baseball is Hit
Cross over step is ideal in creating a good
angle when ball is at you or slightly to right
We want to field on left side of body for
right handed thrower
Cross over allows line of sight and a good
rounding of baseball, banana route (cone
drill demo) - Vision of Banana Route
Creating a good angle and eliminating bad
hops by charging promote success
7
Arriving at the baseball
Right-handers
-Field ball in center of body
toward left foot.
Left-handers
-Field ball in center of body
toward right foot.
This allows us to have our
three checkpoints moving
towards our throwing target
Extended arms, elbows away
from body
Two hands, like Pac-Man
coming to the ball
Eyes on ball, show the button
of cap
8
Hands Through the Baseball or
Hands to Gut Area?
How were you taught?
We believe that taking
hands through ball cuts
down on errors and is
efficient
Encourages aggressive
play
Maintains athletic, ball of
feet play, going through
baseball
Hands, Feet, and Throw
all moving towards the
target
9
Drill work routine to stress proper
fundamental fielding play
Drills with Player
Triangle rollers on knees bare hand, stress hands out
front palm up (10)
Bare hand rollers (10)
Bare hand backhands (10)
Training Glove - Short Hops (10)
Kneeling Glove Only Picks (10)
Glove short hops (10)
Glove rollers (10)
Cross over routes with rollers (10)
Glove backhands (10)
10
Forehand
Arm extended
Glove about knee high
Thumb up
Square left shoulder with
first base before throwing
Swing butt around
baseball after fielding
Must pick up target and
get momentum headed in
that direction
11
Backhand Plays
Move in direction and throw
opposite shoulder at the ball
Travel in a low running
position to ball
Arm extended
Glove about knee high
Thumb down
Cross over step near baseball
Field in front of right foot
ideally, exposing eyes of glove
Have glove down and adjust
up
Squeeze & pull up
12
Reps, Reps, Reps
Reps, Reps, Reps
Practice Makes Better
The Player Must be
willing to stick nose in the
ground
13
Drills
1. Short Catch – about 50 feet away, catch ball on
throwing side by moving feet quickly before receiving
ball, hands should be raised in preparation for the throw.
This drill is done very fast to develop quick hands and
quick feet.
2. Wall drills – throw ball into wall using proper
technique, then field groundball using proper infield
technique. This drill develops soft hands, quick feet and
is an excellent conditioner.
3. Side to side fielding - coach feeds one ground ball to
right, then after it is fielded, immediately rolls one in the
opposite direction and repeat, 8-10 total
4. Bare Hand drills – roll ground balls to infielder that is
about 25 feet away. Check infielder for proper fielding
mechanics such as squaring shoulders to throwing
target
5. Training gloves – good for developing soft hands and
14
good concentration.
Drills continued
6. Triangle short hops – two players throw while one
player picks from his knees
7. Phantom drill – ball in glove, player simulates all plays
that will come his way.
8. Four corner drills – works on agility, quick feet, soft
hands and flips. Player will always throw it across the
rectangle, and roll it to his left. Four corner flips: replace
where you flipped
9. One hand drill-throwing arm behind back, fields
grounders relying on extension of glove out in front of
body
15