Individual Infield Defensive Skills
Individual Infield Defensive Drills
Individual Infield Defensive Skills
There are many different skills that must be learned in order to have an effective defense in the infield. Depending on what play needs to be executed, decides where the players will be positioned and what techniques will be performed. Here is a brief overview of 7 specific individual infield defensive skills.
Skill 1: Receiving a Ground Ball
For: All infielders
Purpose: Teaches the infielder to work up underneath the ground ball (from the ground up).
Execution of the skill: When done correctly, the fielder should receive the ball with the following techniques:
1. Knees bent with the left foot slightly in front of the right foot
2. Glove extended forward in front of the body by having the shoulders out
in front over
the knees, with the elbow behind the glove
3. Back of glove should be ON THE GROUND when receiving the ball with
the head watching it all the way in the glove
4. Right hand should be about a foot above the open glove and trap the ball in the
glove
5. After reception, bring the glove (with the ball in it and the right hand trapping
it) to the right ear by coming up diagonally across the body
6. The arm should go straight back and execute proper throwing techniques
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For: Middle Infielders
Purpose: Teaches the middle infielder to get in a position where her momentum is taking her to where she wants to throw it, when receiving a regular ground ball that is hit right at her.
Execution of the skill: A cone is placed about 1 foot in front of the fielder. The coach hits a regular ground ball at the fielder at her position. The fielder then rounds the ball by taking a step to the right of the cone and then coming in front of the cone to field it.
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For: The Corners, Pitcher, Catcher
Purpose: Teaches the fielder to receive a bunt by using a "shovel technique" by getting herself under control to make an accurate throw to the proper base.
Execution of the skill: To properly execute the "shovel technique", the following suggestions should be considered.
First baseman: When throwing the ball to first or second base, the first baseman
must get on the side of the ball and position her feet so that her
glove-side shoulder is pointed towards the proper base. When she
receives the ball, she should trap it inside of her glove with her
throwing hand by following it into the glove. She should stay LOW
to the ground and NOT stand up to throw the ball. When throwing
the ball to third base, she should field the ball field the ball out in
front of her and then shift her feet to have her glove-side shoulder
pointing to third base. Again it is very important to stay low to
the ground when throwing the ball to third base.
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Third baseman: When throwing the ball to third base, the third baseman must get
on the side of the ball and position her feet so that her glove-side
shoulder is pointed towards third base. When she receives the ball,
she should trap it inside of her glove with her throwing hand by
following it into the glove. She should stay LOW to the ground and
NOT stand up to throw the ball. When throwing the ball to first
or second base, she should field the ball field the ball out in front
of her and then shift her feet to have her glove-side shoulder
pointing to the proper base. Again it is very important to stay low
to the ground when throwing the ball to the base.
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Catcher: When fielding a bunt, the catcher should round the ball by getting on the
side of it in order to position her feet so that her glove-side shoulder is
pointed towards the base she wants to throw to. When she receives the
ball, she should trap it inside of her glove with her throwing hand by
following it into the glove. If the ball is bunted towards the middle of the
infield, the catcher should use her kickback technique. After she receives
the ball, she should kick back with her back foot towards the middle of the
infield. This separates herself from the baseline thus eliminating the
possibility of hitting the base runner in the back. She then get in proper
throwing position to make an accurate throw to first base.
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If the ball is bunted to the foul line, then the catcher should use her kick
out technique. After she receives the ball, she should kick out with her
back foot in foul territory. This separates herself from the baseline thus
eliminating the possibility of hitting the base runner in the back. She then
get in proper throwing position to make an accurate throw to first base.
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Pitcher: When fielding a bunt, the pitcher should field the ball out in front of her
body, like a regular ground ball. She should then concentrate on making an
accurate throw to the proper base. If the third baseman fields the bunt,
then the pitcher has the job of covering third base for her.
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Skill 4: Turning a Double Play
For: All Infielders
Purpose: Teaches the fielder how to receive a ground ball and how to get rid of it as quickly as possible in order to have enough time to turn a double play, as well as giving the receiving fielder practice with her footwork and receiving techniques.
Execution of the skill: When done correctly, the fielder should receive the ball with the following techniques:
Pitcher: After receiving the ball, the pitcher should should bring the ball straight to
her right ear by coming up diagonally across her body while turning her
body to have her throwing shoulder point at second base. She should then
make a chest high throw TO THE BAG, and NOT to the shortstop coming
to cover the bag. By doing this, the pitcher is leading the shortstop to
the bag and letting her use her momentum to make a quick throw to first
base.
Catcher: After receiving the ball (using the shovel technique), the catcher should
should bring the ball straight to her right ear by coming up diagonally
across her body while turning her body to have her throwing shoulder point
at second base. She should then make a chest high throw TO THE BAG,
and NOT to the shortstop coming to cover the bag. By doing this, the
catcher is leading the shortstop to the bag and letting her use her
momentum to make a quick throw to first base.
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First baseman: If she fields the ball in front of her body or to her left side, the
first baseman should bring to ball straight to her right ear by coming
up diagonally across her body while turning her body to have her
throwing shoulder point at second base. She can accomplish this
quickly shifting her feet by turning in a counter-clockwise direction.
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If the ball is hit to her right side, she should turn in a clockwise
semicircle to get herself in good throwing position. The key is to
remember to always stay LOW with her knees bent. She should
NEVER stand up to make the throw! After delivering the ball, she
needs to hustle back to first base in order to receive the throw
back. She should always find the bag first and then look for the
throw.
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Second Baseman: If she fields the ball in front of her body, the second baseman
should field the ball by dropping her right foot back. She should
then bring the ball straight to her right ear by coming up
diagonally across her body while swiveling her hips by rotating her
feet. She must STAY LOW to the ground with her knees bent.
She should NEVER stand up to make the throw!
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If the ball is hit to her left side, then she should field the ball
by dropping her left foot back. She should then quickly shift her
feet so that she turns in a counter clockwise direction while getting
into proper throwing position. Her glove-hand shoulder and hip
should be pointing at second base.
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If the ball is hit to her right side, then she should use her
momentum to make an underhand toss to the shortstop covering
second base.
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Shortstop: If she fields the ball in front of her body or to her right side, the
shortstop should bring the ball straight to her right ear by coming up
diagonally across her body while swiveling her hips by rotating her feet.
She must STAY LOW to the ground with her knees bent. She should
NEVER stand up to make the throw!
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If the ball is hit to her left side, then she should use her momentum to
make a toss from the side of her hand to the second baseman covering
second base.
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Third Baseman: After receiving the ball, the third baseman should bring the ball
straight to her right ear by coming up diagonally across her body
while swiveling her hips by rotating her feet. She must STAY LOW
to the ground with her knees bent. She should NEVER stand up to
make the throw!
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For: Middle Infielders
Purpose: Teaches the middle infielder how to get the easiest out in a quick, but smooth fashion.
Execution of the skill: When done correctly, the fielder should receive the ball with the following techniques:
Second Baseman: When a ball is hit in the hole to her left side, the second baseman
should first drop stop to create a good angle to the ball. She
should then position herself so that she receives the ball with her
right foot forward and her body slightly angled so that her hips
are facing the first baseman. The reason for this is because it
makes for a much quicker throw to first base. After the ball is in
the glove, she should swivel her hips to square her shoulders to her
target. As she is doing this, she is also making a quick transition
to a good throwing position. She should throw the ball to first
base, without taking a step forward, while making sure to stay low
to the ground.
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Shortstop: When a ball is hit in the hole to her right side, the shortstop should
first drop stop to create a good angle to the ball. She should then
position herself so that she receives the ball with her left foot forward
and her body slightly angled so that her hips are facing the third
baseman. The reason for this is because it makes for a much quicker
throw to third base. After the ball is in the glove, she should swivel her
hips to square her shoulders to her target. As she is doing this, she is
also making a quick transition to a good throwing position. She should
throw the ball to third base, without taking a step forward, while making
sure to stay low to the ground.
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For: First baseman, Second baseman, Shortstop, Third baseman
Purpose: Teaches the fielder how to field a ball with a backhand technique in a quick, but smooth fashion.
Execution of the skill: In order to receive a backhand properly, the fielder must first get herself if good position to do so. She accomplishes this by first taking a drop step to her right. As she is moving back, she should position her glove so that the open web is facing the ball and the tip is dragging on the ground. When she is receives the ball, her left foot should be forward with the web of her glove facing the ball. Her thumb should be turned in and her fingers should be spread apart. She should receive the ball off of her left foot with her knees bent. When the ball comes in the glove, the fielder should swipe towards it with the glove so the ball will sit deeper in the pocket. After the ball is in the pocket, she should make the correct and quick transition to the proper throwing position. While she is making this transition, she should be planting her weight on her right foot in order to put more strength behind her throw.
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For: Third baseman and Middle Infielders
Purpose: Teaches the infielder how to get to a slow hit ground ball and how to make an accurate throw to first base as quickly as possible.
Execution of the skill: The fielder should field the ball off of her left foot and then make a side-armed throw off of her right foot on her next step. She needs to make sure that she throws the ball from the ground straight to the first baseman in one nice fluid motion without standing up to do it.
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For: Middle Infielders
Purpose: To teach middle infielders proper footwork in order to turn a double play at second base while avoiding injury from the sliding base runner.
Execution of the skill: When done correctly, the middle infielder should receive the ball with the following techniques:
Second baseman: The second baseman should always receive the ball with her left
foot on the base. After she catches the ball, she then shifts her
weight to her right leg in order to quickly get in proper throwing
position. After she completes her throw, she should then jump up
in the air (over the sliding base runner) off of her left foot back
down on her right in order to prevent the base runner from sliding
into her legs.
There are two ways in which to receive a thrown ball in this situation:
1. Step back off the base: The second baseman receives the
ball with her left foot on the base, steps back onto her
right foot after receiving the ball, and then executes an
accurate throw to first base, completing the technique
with a hop over the sliding base runner.
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2. Step across over the base: The second baseman receives the
ball with her left foot on the base, while stepping across
as she is catching it. She then steps off the bag onto
her right foot, and then executes an accurate throw to
first base, completing the technique with a hop over the
sliding base runner.
Shortstop: Depending on where who the throw is coming from, dictates how the
shortstop will catch the ball.
1. Throw from the second baseman: The shortstop will receive
the ball from the second baseman while sliding her right
foot across the back of second base. After tagging the
bag, she will then quickly shift her feet so that she is in
proper throwing position, and then executes an accurate
throw to first base, completing the technique with a hop
over the sliding base runner.
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2. Throw from the first baseman: The shortstop will set herself
up on the inside part of the base (the part closer to the
pitching mound) with her left foot on the side of the bag
and her right foot about shoulder's width apart. The
reason for this is because the first baseman usually plays
in front of her bag. So in order for her to make a quick
throw to second base, without risking the chance of
hitting the base runner in the back by crossing her throw
across the base path, she must throw to the inner half of
second base. Once she receives the ball, the shortstop
then quickly transfers the ball to her throwing hand while
swiveling her hips to generate more momentum on her
throw. She then makes an accurate throw to first base
(without moving her feet).
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3. Throw from the pitcher or catcher: The shortstop will set
herself up on second base with her right foot on the front
(inside) part of the base, and her left foot further out in
front. After receiving the ball, she then quickly shifts
her feet into proper throwing position. She then makes
an accurate throw to first base.
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Individual Infield Defensive Drills
Now that a fielder knows how to execute proper techniques when fielding a ball in the infield, we can move on to some individual defensive drills that incorporate these techniques while involving all infielders in the same drill. Here is a brief overview of 3 specific drills.
Drill 1: Multiple Ball Infield Drill
The purpose behind this drill is to give the infielders a lot of repetitions with ground balls and accurate throws concerning specific targets. The drill is very fast paced, with two balls being in play at one time. There are 3 phases to this drill:
Phase 1:
Third Base: ground ball to first base
Shortstop: starts the double play
First Base: ground ball to first base
Second Base: starts the double play
Phase 2:
Third Base: starts the double play
Shortstop: v-cut to first base
Second Base: v-cut to third base
First Base: starts the double play
Phase 3:
Third Base: bunt to third base
Second Base: grounder in the hole to first base
Shortstop: grounder in the hole to third base
First Base: bunt to first base
The drill works as follows:
All of the infielders go to their respective positions. There are two coaches that alternate hitting ground balls. The first phase of the drill should begin. The first coach hits a ground ball to the third baseman, and she throws the ball to first base. When she starts to throw the ball, the second coach hits a ground ball to the shortstop, who in turn begins the double play. This phase continues in this manner until the coaches wish to move on to the second phase of the drill. The coaches should hit the ground balls to the infielders in the order that they are written in the above phases. This allows the drill to continue in a smooth fashion without having to wait for an infielder to get back into position.
The purpose behind this drill is to give all infielders practice at using proper cut mechanics during a relay situation from the outfield.
The drill works as follows:
The infielders should get in groups of three and stand about 60 feet away from each other. One of the players on the end starts with the ball. The player in the middle should stand with her shoulders square to her target with both arms in the air. Her feet should be positioned so that her hips are perpendicular to her target with her knees flexed. She should yell "here, here, here" loudly to receive the ball. Her partner then throws the ball to her. There are three types of throws that she can make:
1. Good throw, chest high
In order to properly catch this type of throw, the infielder should always catch it
while turning to her other partner. She does this by allowing the ball to travel past
her face to her glove. She then catches it (with two hands) and then shifts her
weight to her back foot in order to get into proper throwing position. The infielder
then completes the relay by making a good throw to her partner.
2. High throw, over her head
In order to properly catch this type of throw, the infielder should take a couple of
steps back to meet the ball. She should NOT back peddle to do this. Because her
feet are already positioned so her hips are facing to the side, she should travel
backwards by leading with her back leg. She then catch the ball while turning to
her partner. She then catches it (with two hands) and then shifts her weight to
her back foot in order to get into proper throwing position. The infielder then
completes the relay by making a good throw to her partner.
3. Low throw, near her feet
In order to properly catch this type of throw, the infielder can do one of two
things. She can either come up to meet the ball before it bounces, or she can
choose to take a couple of steps back so she can get a better hop. Both of these
techniques prevent a short hop from occurring. The preferred method is to come up
and catch it before it bounces. This ensures that the infielder won't mishandle the
ball on a bad bounce. She should then make the catch, turns, shifts her weight to
her back leg, and then makes a good throw to her partner.
The coach should time each group, and then rotate positions after time is expired. This drill should move very quickly without the player in the middle standing around waiting for a throw back.
Drill 3: Individual 1st and 3rd Drill
The purpose behind this drill is to give the catcher and infielders practice at executing individual pieces of the 1st and 3rd drill.
The drill works as follows:
All of the infielders go to their respective positions. There should be two pitchers and two catchers on the field, with one pitcher and one catcher working together. Each pitcher lines up to each side the of the mound, and each catcher lines up to each side of the plate. The catcher on the third base side is practicing on deciding whether to go to third base if the third baseman flashes her arms or whether to go to second base on a straight steal. If the third baseman receives the ball, she is practicing on the rundown with the catcher between third base and home plate. If the shortstop receives the ball, she is practicing on her throw back to home plate to get the runner running home from third base. The catcher on the first base side is practicing on her throw to the second baseman who is in the baseline for a delayed steal. Once she receives the ball, she is practicing with the first baseman on executing the walk back rundown technique.
The purpose behind this drill is to give the infielders and the catcher practice on executing a double play when the bases are loaded and their is a play at home from a ground ball hit to an infielder.
Some points to remember:
1. The catcher should position her feet so that they are just behind the
back corners of the plate and her hips and shoulders are square to who
she is receiving the ball from.
2. As she is receiving the throw, the catcher should step just in front of
the plate with her glove-hand foot while sliding her other foot across
the plate, so that her feet and hands can quickly be transferred to
proper throwing position with her left shoulder and left hip pointed at
the first baseman.
The drill works as follows:
All of the infielders go to their respective positions and are pulled in (as if the bases are loaded). The coach hits a ground ball to each infielder, one at a time. The infielder properly fields the ground ball and throws it to the catcher. The catcher then executes the home to first technique properly ending with an accurate throw to first base.
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