OUTFIELD PLAY
- Communication is key
- Go get it ball- Never drift!
- Going back on the ball / Get behind the ball on a dead sprint
- Soft low ball in front / sell-out
- Getting rid of it! Get rid of ball quickly on a line (no rainbows / stop the runners)
- Do or Die play on ground
- Getting behind routine fly-balls in preparation to throw
- Quick, Slow, Quick to a ground ball
- Head in the glove on a ground ball (ball never gets under the glove)
- Never run with your glove extended
- 6’ circle / creep steps
- A ball isn’t dropping in this OF Aggressive!
- Cut-off responsibilities
- Throwing thru relay/cut-off men’s arms
MIDDLE INFIELD PLAY
- Body control play- off to side w/ 1 hand and throwing off of right foot
- Going to get shallow fly-balls in OF- everything is your’s (don’t expect to be called off)
- Playing the game a pitch ahead- knowing where to go/be or where to throw to
- Double play depth- give up the holes (get there in time)
- Not communicating- should be talking on every batted ball
- One is a must, two is a plus (fielder is delivering a solid throw chest high to 2nd base)
- Playing through the ground ball
- Working underneath the ground ball and out in front
- Tag plays- sell it! (no high tags)
- Finding the good hop
- Relay responsibilities (“relay relay” w/ hands up)
- Tandem relay (sure doubles)
- Communicate before plays
- Communicate during plays
3B PLAY
- Body control play- off to side w/ 1 hand and throwing off of right foot
- Going to get shallow fly-balls in OF- everything is your’s (don’t expect to be called off)
- Playing the game a pitch ahead- knowing where to go/be or where to throw to
- Not communicating- should be talking on every batted ball
- Playing through the ground ball
- Working underneath the ground ball and out in front
- Tag plays- sell it! (no high tags)
- Chest over ball and push in on stopped or very slow rolling ball
- Be aggressive to glove side
- Cuts- get there early w/ hands up
- Finding the fence
- Finding the good hop
- Cut-off resposbilities
1B PLAY
- Tackle all ground balls in front
- Bouncing hard off of 1B after holding runners
- Pick plays- be aggressive w/ glove to the baseball
- Bad throw tags
- Cuts- get there early w/ hands up
- Finding the fence
- Close gap on 1st movement breaks w/ LHP (create angle)
- Back-picks from C
- Back-picks w/ runner on 2B (LHP and RHP)
- Cut-off resposibilities
CATCHER PLAY
- Framing the low pitch- don’t let glove be taken down by the ball
- Framing the C arm side pitch- don’t let glove be taken away from your body
- Block and Pop up- square the ball up
- Expect runner to steal on every single pitch
- Feet and hands must work together on throws
- Don’t be afraid to back pick- work on it!
- Communicate and Lead! Reminders…
- Give signs early and keep knees closed and signs high up against cup
- Establish a positive relationship with the umpire early and often
- Communicate umpires strike zone with team early in the game (assist our hitters)
- Passed ball cover home play (rounding ball / chest over ball)
PITCHER- Defensively
- Holding runners
o Moves to HP (3)
o Moves to 1B (A, B, C), 2B (inside and jump pivot), 3B
o Vary looks and timing
o Be quick to HP
- Tackle the baseball on GB’s back to you
- Close the gap to 1B on routine balls back to you
- Set your feet on comebacker with DP (chest high on top of 2B) Just get the lead out!
- Backing up bases (we always go somewhere)
RUN-DOWNS
- Go get him- make runner fully commit (back to ball)
- Ball up in throwing hand immediately prepared to throw
- No ball fakes
- Create a throwing lane (both thrower/receiver)
- Close gap
- Try to force play to happen at previous base
TEAM DEFENSE
- Relays, Tandems, Cut-offs
- Secondaries- OF’s sprinting to IF (back-up) on any ball they are not involved in
- Communication
- Get an out! No big innings! Outs are like gold!
- Keep game moving when we are on field. Get back in dugout quickly.
- Positioning is key!
o Verbals/Visuals by coach
o A- standard / B- pull / C- oppo / D- deep / E- shallow
- Showing outs- visual/verbal (show it and say it / all fielders)
Know your sun, your surface (quick/slow) and your wind
