Level 4 Infield Fundamentals - Baseball NSW

Infield Level Two.doc Peter Gahan Page 1 8/23/2011

Level Four

Infield


Backhand Plays

1. Routine backhand method

Right foot is positioned directly in line with

path of ball: “Foot behind the ball”.

Wide base (preferably wider than in these

pictures

Low posture

Head over the ball

Align left foot to target (weight is

substantially loaded on right leg)

Push off right leg

Fire & follow


2. Replacing the feet (when time is ample)

Field the ball as per Routine play (see

above)

Push off right side

Replace the feet

(crowhop ensuring right

foot comes down where

left had been)

Fire & follow


3. Field ball on left foot (when unable to adjust feet for preferred method; see above)

Left foot in line with path of ball

Wide base

Low posture

Head behind ball

Replace the feet

Bring ball to throwing position

Fire & follow


Slow rollers

1. Using glove (to left side in this case)

Attack ball

Lower body as you

approach ball

Get glove down and out in

front

Field ball while running

under control

Maintain momentum and throw on the

run


Slow rollers

2. Using bare hand (for stationary ball or one moving very slowly)

Attack ball

Lower body as you

approach ball

Get hand down and out

in front

Field ball while moving

under control

Maintain momentum

Throw from low angle

& across body

Continue running on

same path as prior to

reaching ball


Double plays: Feeds by 2nd

Short Stop

1. Backhand feed (Ball hit some distance to right of SS)

Field in front of right foot

Open left leg to target

Stay low

Throw face-high to 2B

2. Unassisted turn (when fielding DP chance close to 2B)

Field

Maintain momentum

toward base

Adjust feet to

allow left foot to

come down on

base as throw is

made


Double plays: Feeds by 2nd

baseman

Reverse pivot (Ball hit substantially to right of 2nd baseman)

Move rapidly to path of ball

Lower body as you approach

Field ball to side of body using one hand

Halt momentum away from base

Replace feet while turning glove

side

Retain low posture

Move ball into throwing position

simultaneously

Make a firm face-high throw to SS


Double plays: Turns by Shortstop

Inside turn (throw to inside of base)

Right toe on

left-field

corner of bag

Athletic,

lively

posture

Read direction

of throw

Move right foot out

behind path of throw

Drag left foot

across bag

Swivel on right

foot

Step directly to base

Make firm, accurate throw

Be ready to lift cleats clear of

ground (if collision is likely)


Double plays: Turns by Second Baseman

1. Routine turn (Accurate throw from SS or 3B)

Left toe on centre-field

corner of base

Wide base

Shoulders aligned to 1B

Move weight onto right foot and turn left foot as ball is transferred for throw

Firm accurate throw

Be ready to lift cleats off

ground (if collision with

runner is likely)

Variation

Feet adjacent to corners of base

Shoulders aligned to 1B

Read throw

Move right foot to base as

ball is transferred for throw

Step toward 1B

Firm accurate throw


ground


2. Wide throw (to centre-field side)

Set up as for a

routine feed

Step wide with right foot

Retain base contact with left foot

Drag left foot as anchor to prevent help

retain balance

Drive off right foot to throw

3. Wide throw (to infield side)

Set up as for a

routine feed

Step to ball (over

base) with left foot

Replace feet & throw

Be ready to lift cleats off ground (if collision with runner is likely)

Variation on a low feed, moving through the base (Inaccurate throw from SS or 3B)

Under control as you

approach base

Read throw

Left foot on bag as ball

hits glove

Weight on right foot, left

foot to target while

transferring ball

Firm accurate throw


ground (if collision with

runner is likely)


Double plays: Feeds by Third Baseman

1. Backhand double play (ball non-glove side)

Field (preferably in front of right foot, although at times this

may not be practical)

Push off right foot, toward 2B

Fire & follow

2. Self-executed double play (with runners on 1st & 2

nd, ball on backhand side which leads 3

rd Baseman to base”)

Field the ball

Maintain momentum toward

the base

Adjust footwork to touch base with right foot

Push off toward 1B

Fire & follow


First Base Play

1. Feeding the ball on a “Pitcher’s Cover”

Routine Feed to a pitcher covering 1st Base (ball at you or slightly to 1

st Base side)

Lively ready position

Secure the ball

Moving whole body toward the base while staying low, use a stiff-armed push to

deliver the ball

Continue to follow the ball after it has left your hand

Ball hit down foul line

Field ball Move toward 1

st Base

Make same stiff-armed underhand feed used above


Ball hit slightly to 2nd

base side

If there is time, get around the ball (move past the

line of travel so that you can field it with some

momentum back to 1st Base)

Stay low and drive back to 1st base

Use same stiff-armed push to deliver the ball

Continue to follow the ball after it has left your

hand

Ball hit substantially to 2nd

base side (reverse pivot)

Field the ball Turn glove side Push of left foot and throw


2. Getting into position to receive a throw from an infielder

Read the ball off the bat

As soon as you know you can not field it, hustle to the base

and locate it with your throwing-side foot

Retaining the feel of the base with that foot, turn to face the

direction of the throw

Be in an athletic position, ready to move in any direction

Footwork for preparation and receiving of the ball

Move quickly to

the base

Locate base

with throwing-

side foot

Square up,

throwing-side

heel on base

Athletic

posture

Read the

throw

Turn back

foot sideways

Step to ball

with glove-

side foot

Back foot,

being

sideways, is

less likely to

drag off

Step off base

once out is

made


3. Receiving a throw

Active, well balanced ready position, throwing side heel on

base

Read the throw

Turn rear foot sideways

Step to the ball

Make the catch with the head over the ball whenever

possible


4. Handling misdirected throws

Low throw: straight or to infield side

Get forward as far as possible,

Body low, head over ball

On short-hop, use forward

scooping motion

Use backhand if ball is on

inside of front leg, forehand if

outside (see below)

Low throw to right-field side

Move rear foot to outfield corner of base

Body low, read the ball

Use forward scooping motion on short-hop

(giving with the ball with softer hands may be

necessary on in-between hop)

High throw to right-field side

Move rear foot to outfield

corner of base

Step as far as required with

glove-side foot

Show umpire contact


Low throw to infield side

Keep (or move) rear foot in contact with

infield corner of base

Step as far as required

The wider the throw, the more important it

may be to show the umpire contact with the

base

Tag-play: when the throw draws you down the line

Move off base to make the catch, remaining in fair

territory (so as to avoid a collision)

Tag the runner, spinning as he goes past (two hands

may be used)

Continue to turn counter-clockwise to look for the

next play

High throw overhead

Jump up for ball if necessary

Once ball is secured, look down for base

Try to land one heel on the base (less

likely to damage ankle or leg)


5. Moving off the base as a pitch is made

As pitcher begins delivery, take one step and one side shuffle to square up to home

Develop rhythm so that you land in an active fielding posture as ball reaches the plate

If ball is not hit, side-shuffle back toward base in case of a throw from the catcher.

Returning to base and applying a tag

As above

Read throw from catcher: if it is off-line, the first priority is to secure the ball

If good, continue to base and turn body to put yourself in a good position to make tag

Apply tag


6. Handling the “early break” on a pickoff

Square up to pitcher as soon as

runner breaks

Step to ball, replace feet and

make firm accurate throw to the

inside portion of 2nd

base

High throw Throw on the 2nd

base side

Throw to foul side

Shuffle to side (if possible) staying square to pitcher

Make sure of the ball, replace feet and make firm accurate throw to the inside portion of 2nd

base


7. Initiating a double play

Ball hit on 2nd

base side

Move off base as the pitch is made

Continue after ball, field it cleanly

Maintaining your rhythm, make a firm, accurate throw and return immediately to 1st base (“throw it & forget it”). For this play, a left-

hander has a marked advantage.

If required, get into position and receive returning throw as for any throw from an infielder

NB In many cases, the pitcher will be there to cover the base


Ball fielded close to 1st base

If you field the ball close to 1st base, it may be quicker to touch 1

st base before throwing to 2

nd base

Since the force has now been removed, the middle-infielder must now tag the runner advancing to 2nd

base

As you throw, call “tag!” loudly to ensure he understands that the hitter-runner is out.


8. Cutoffs and Relays

Relay play

Position yourself on direct line

between thrower and Home

Raise arms to help thrower

identify his target

Listen for the catcher’s call

Turn body side-

on in readiness

to receive the

ball

If catcher call “Four! Four!” catch the ball on glove side of

body

Maintaining momentum to Home, replace feet & throw to

Home

Cutoff Play

Set up as above If catcher call “Two! Two!” turn and catch ball on throwing arm side

of body

Replace feet and throw to 2nd

Base

Documents

Level 4 Infield Fundamentals - Baseball NSW