Coach Candrea and Team USA work with SportSkool to teach the softball fundamentals of fielding ground balls. Coach Candrea deconstructs fielding ground balls by demonstrating the ready position, the approach, securing the ball, proper foot work, and fielding ground balls in the outfield.
Key Points:
Ready Position: As an infielder, you must anticipate that on every pitch the ball is going to be hit to you. There are two types of ready position: 1) stationary movement, and 2) dynamic forward movement.
- Stationary movement: Subtle movement to the left and right that keeps the fielder light on their feet
- Dynamic movement: Slow, small forward movement toward home plate
Infielders must be prepared to move in four directions: charge the ball, cross over step to the left or right, and a drop step to retrieve a pop up over your head. As the pitch enters the hitting zone, the fielder's shoulders, hips, and feet need to be square to home plate so that they can move to either the left or right.
The Approach: To field a ground ball, the infielder needs to gradually lower their center of gravity. The desire is to keep the ball on your glove hand side, so as you approach the ball, banana around the ball to allow you to get your momentum moving toward the target. Keep your hands toward the ball.
Securing the Ball: When securing the ball, keep the ball on your glove hand side since this is where your hand is most relaxed and keeps the glove open. As you approach the ball, stagger your feet that allows the fielder to stay on the balls of their feet, get the butt down, and field the ball in front of the nose. This creates a triangle with the feet at the base and the glove at the apex. As the ball approaches the glove, put your throwing hand above the glove with your fingers up (like an alligator's mouth). When securing the ball, think about redirecting the ball to your throwing hand.
Foot Work: Foot work is important to transition into the throw. There are three types of foot work: 1) the forward step, 2) replace the feet, and 3) the step behind.
- Forward step: When the ball is hit directly at you, to secure the ball step with your right foot toward the target, turn the hips and shoulders to line up with where your throwing, then make a strong accurate throw.
- Replace the feet: When moving fast through the ball, the right foot replaces the left foot, turn the hips and shoulders toward the target, then make the throw.
- Step behind: When your momentum is taking you away from the target, like a play up the middle for the shortstop, the quickest and most efficient way to line up with the target is to step behind with the right foot, turn the hips and shoulders, then make a strong accurate throw.
Glove Hand Side Fielding: When the ball is hit hard to the fielder's glove side and they can not get in front of the ball, the fielder makes a cross over step to reach the ball. Many times the step behind movement is quicker to turn the hip and shoulders.
Back Hand Side Fielding: When back hand fielding, field the ball out in front of your body using the elbow as a hinge to give with the ball. Three ways of getting to the ball are:
- Left foot forward which requires a quick step with the right foot to get into the throwing position
- Right foot forward then gather your weight on the inside of your back leg to throw
- When you can not get around the ball but can get your body momentum moving toward the target, then rake through the ball with the glove to get into the throwing position
Fielding Ground Balls as an Outfielder: Unlike an infielder, an outfielder may needs to make a long throw. To utilize their leg strength, an outfielder will crow hop to turn their hips and shoulders. There are three ways to field a ground ball in the outfield: 1) like an infielder, 2) do or die play, and 3) down on one knee.
- Like an infielder: When a quick play to second or third is required. Keep the ball on your glove side. When fielding the ball with your glove foot forward, then replace your feet to turn your hips and shoulders. When fielding the ball with your throwing foot forward, then crow hop to turn your hips and shoulders.
- Do or die play: When fielding the ball with the glove foot forward, the outfielder can move directly into the crow hop. When fielding the ball with the throwing foot forward, the outfielder needs to take a half step to secure the ball before crow hoping. Either method is effective and depends on which way the outfielder is more comfortable.
- Down on one knee: When an outfield is rough, the outfielder needs to use their body to help stop the ball that takes a bad bounce. By dropping the throwing foot knee, an extra barrier can be created to keep the ball from getting past the fielder. After fielding the ball, the fielder comes up into a crow hop to turn the hips and shoulders.
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