HOW TO GET THAT GOOD-TIME FIELDING: Tips, Hints, and Reminders

BASEBALL HEMMINGFORD: LEARN IT; LOVE IT...BASEBALL

GROUND BALLS

GROUND BALLS in the outfield

- WATCH THE BALL ALL THE WAY INTO THE GLOVE. -KEEP THE GLOVE LOW AND WIDE OPEN -HAVE YOUR THROWING HAND READY TO  COVER THE BALL IN THE GLOVE AND GET IT OUT  QUICKLY -PULL THE BALL UP TO CHEST HEIGHT, SET UP AND THROW TO THE PROPER BASE

- SINCE THERE IS LESS RUSH AND NOBODY IS BEHIND YOU IN THE OUTFIELD, YOU CANNOT TAKE THE CHANCE THAT THE BALL WILL ROLL PAST YOU. THEREFORE, PUT ONE LEG DOWN IN A SIDEWAY CROUCH AS A BACK-UP BLOCKER. AS ALWAYS, WATCH THE BALL ALL THE WAY!

HEMMINGFORD'S OWN TYLE JADAH DEMONSTRATES SOME GROUND BALL TECHNIQUES, ESPECIALLY LOOKING THE BALL ALL THE WAY INTO THE GLOVE. AT LEFT, TYLER IS MAKING A SIDESTEP OUTFIELD PICK-UP WITH RUNNERS ON BASE. NOTE THE WIDE-OPEN GLOVE. AT RIGHT, TYLER IS PROPERLY USING THE HINTS ABOVE ON AN INFIELD GROUNDER.

FLY BALLS

COVERING 2ND

- ANTICIPATE THE PLAY, SO THAT YOU WILL EASILY BEAT THE RUNNER TO THE BASE AND BE IN A GOOD POSITION TO TAKE THE THROW. -STRADDLE THE BASE, WITH ONE FOOT ON EITHER SIDE, SO THAT YOU ARE NOT BLOCKING THE RUNNER'S PATH BUT ARE STILL IN GOOD POSITION TO MAKE  A TAG -WATCH THE BALL; NOT THE RUNNER. -DO NO REACH FOR THE THROW; SIMPLY WAIT FOR IT, AND THEN MAKE THE TAG LOW TO THE GROUND.

- WATCH THE BALL AND QUICKLY GET TO THE SPOT WHERE IT WILL COME DOWN. (Only practice will bring you this ability.) - RUN ON THE BALLS OF YOUR FEET, SINCE RUNNNG ON YOUR HEELS WILL ADD TO YOUR BOUNCE AND MAKE IT HARDER TO FOLLOW THE BALL - GET YOUR GLOVE WIDE OPEN AND HAVE THE OTHER HAND READY TO BOTH GUIDE THE GLOVE AND CLAMP ONTO THE BALL IN THE GLOVE -ALWAYS MAINTAIN THE BEST BALANCE POSSIBLE, IN ORDER TO BOTH CATCH AND BE READY TO THROW.