Infield Play Expectations for Winning

Enhance your team's chances of winning by focusing on making routine plays, knowing what to do preemptively, and adapting equipment as players progress. This guide provides insights on infield play strategies and player development for success on the field.

• Baseball
• Infield Play
• Winning Strategies
• Player Development
• Coaching

tael966 Follow

Uploaded on Feb 24, 2025 | 0 Views

Download Presentation

Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.

The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author.If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.

You are allowed to download the files provided on this website for personal or commercial use, subject to the condition that they are used lawfully. All files are the property of their respective owners.

The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author.

Presentation Transcript

1. COACHING BASEBALL COACHING BASEBALL DEFENSE- INFIELD/OUTFIELD WEEK 3 SUTTON YOUTH BASEBALL LEAGUE COACHES CLINIC APRIL 12, 2021 TIM CUMMINS SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT SCOUT- SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

2. DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER My goal is to share my experiences as a coach Lessons learned: what worked for me I do not claim to be an expert, there are many ways to teach/coach baseball, and I m not here to debate them I am old school in how I teach fundamentals of the game- you will be disappointed if you came to hear about launch angles and spin rates After being involved in the game for over 50 years I still learn things every year Baseball is the greatest sport, and I hope over the next 4-5 weeks you feel that the time you spent was worth it.

3. CREDIBILITY CREDIBILITY Over 30 years of coaching experience- coached in over 1,000 games From tee ball on up to college summer leagues Won championships at all levels (several league and district titles) The privilege of coaching several players who went on to play in college and professionally (3 in MLB) The Boys of Summer Baseball Camp 1995- 2004 2010-2019 Area Scout- Atlanta Braves 2019- present- Special Assignment Scout SF Giants

4. SCHEDULE: ONE HOUR SESSIONS SCHEDULE: ONE HOUR SESSIONS Week 1 Week 1- - Coaching Philosophy/Practice Plan Coaching Philosophy/Practice Plan Week 2 Week 2- - Pitching/Catching Pitching/Catching Week 3 Week 3- - Defense Defense- - Infield/Outfield Play Infield/Outfield Play Week 4 Week 4- - Offense Offense- - Hitting/ Baserunning Hitting/ Baserunning Week 5 Week 5- - Game Day Game Day * I will attempt to talk about drills/ focus areas for all ages/levels * I will attempt to talk about drills/ focus areas for all ages/levels

5. INFIELD PLAY: EXPECTATIONS INFIELD PLAY: EXPECTATIONS Give your team the opportunity to win by: Give your team the opportunity to win by: Making the routine play (ground ball/fly ball) Making the routine play (ground ball/fly ball) Know what to do with the ball before it is hit to you Know what to do with the ball before it is hit to you- - (situation) (situation) As player gets older middle infield smaller glove As player gets older middle infield smaller glove

6. FIELDING A GROUND BALL (THE FIVE FS) FIELDING A GROUND BALL (THE FIVE F S) Focus Focus - Athletic position - Movement on pitch (step forward) - Positive first step Fielding Fielding - Triangle (glove out in front of feet/low to the ground) - Knees bent/buttocks down- left foot slightly in front of right foot - Barehand on top of glove (gator!) follow ball into glove Funneling Funneling - Come up with ball glove- middle of body - Sync hands with feet Footwork Footwork - Left shoulder/right ankle bone pointed at target - Body dictates where to throw the ball Finish Finish - Short arm action/get rid of ball quickly/maintain follow through - 4 seam grip - Come out of triangle position like an airplane taking off- don t stand straight up

7. INFIELD PLAY INFIELD PLAY Field ball left of center- momentum taking you toward throw Have feet take hands to the right spot X Drill- place 9 balls- middle ball routine GB- shows player the route and position to field ball in that area X-BH P X X X X X X X X- up the middle X slow roller behind mound

8. THIRD BASE PLAY THIRD BASE PLAY Third baseman Third baseman Understanding GB fielding- 45/90 degree angles Slow rollers- bunts- field arm side- still rolling field under ball Chopper field glove side- palm of glove up- belt high Fly balls (coming in call off catcher)- Foul ball- understand spin/wind Cut offs- turn glove side Communicate with SS on slow roller between third and mound Back up throw back to pitcher after pick off attempt at first

9. MIDDLE INFIELDERS MIDDLE INFIELDERS- - SS/2ND SS/2ND Double Play Double Play Position- double play- move closer up the middle SS/2nd baseman feeds- underhand, overhand, side arm Throw receive belt high/ throwing hand next to glove Second baseman receiving the throw Second baseman receiving the throw Go through the bag- left foot Tag and step off- left foot Tag and step off- left foot Shortstop receiving the throw Shortstop receiving the throw Go through the bag- right foot Catch and hop- right foot Step back- right foot

10. MIDDLE INFIELDERS MIDDLE INFIELDERS- - SS/ 2 SS/ 2ND ND BASEMAN BASEMAN Fly balls- turn cross over- go out until called off by the outfielder (know positions of the outfielders) Relays- turn glove side to throw Tag- throws down to second- who is covering- try not to reach, let ball come to you Chopper field glove side- palm of glove up- belt high (turf field)

11. FIRST BASEMAN FIRST BASEMAN Receiving Throws: Receiving Throws: Stretch out- make semi-circle- Throw outside circle- take on bounce; inside circle stretch and catch Move feet (at the bag) while ball is in flight Throws from catcher- indicate inside/outside Throws off-line- get off base- block Ground Balls: Ground Balls: Pitching covering- lead the pitcher- underhand/overhand (Pitcher turn up) Bunts- turn glove side to throw (back to first) GB in hole communicate with second baseman 3-6-3 double play- get back to first to receive the throw Balls hit into OF- watch batter-runner hit first base- follow down to second if double cut Pick Pick- -offs: offs: Right heel on front edge of bag closest to the pitcher

12. INFIELD PLAY INFIELD PLAY Run Downs Run Downs Follow your throw (outfielders come in as back up) Try to tag runner three throws or less Run runner back to previous base When running toward the runner- ball showing (in throwing hand) Put hand in glove to make tag Who do you tag- two men on base? Infield Fly Infield Fly Runners on 1st/2nd or bases loaded less than 2 outs Umpire declares infield fly- batter is out (if ball in fair territory) Runners advance at their own risk- it is not a force (tag play) Instruct infielders to drop fly on purpose?

13. INFIELD PLAY INFIELD PLAY- - DRILL DRILL 3 coaches one at second base- two at home with fungos 3 buckets at home, second base, first base Start with all the balls in home bucket Players at 3rd, SS 2nd and First Coach in RH batter s box- hit to 2nd baseman and first baseman Coach in LH batter s box- hit to 3rd baseman and Shortstop Round one- 2B throws to 1st/ 3B and SS throws to coach at second 1B puts ball in bucket/ coach at second puts ball in bucket Round two 3rd baseman throws to 1st/ 2nd andSS throw to coach at second Round three SS throws to first/ 2B and 3B throw to coach at second Repeat

14. OUTFIELD PLAY OUTFIELD PLAY Expectations Expectations Catch routine fly ball Throw to right base (know situation) Base hit- keep DP in order (keep hit to a single) Pregame Check Pregame Check Length of grass, wind, sun, fence, warning track, lights/background Positioning Positioning Athletic- moving on the pitch Opposite field position 2-3 steps in No doubles (late in game-situation) Centerfielder communicator (close to fence/calls off infielder As player gets older- a bigger glove (outfielder glove)

15. OUTFIELD PLAY FLY BALL MECHANICS OUTFIELD PLAY FLY BALL MECHANICS Get body behind the baseball- catch ball in front of face Runners on- throwing hand close to glove/body in position to throw Take correct route to the ball (no back pedaling) Crossover steps Make throws head high- easy for relay player to catch Route to the ball- best drill is batting practice (reading ball off the bat)

16. OUTFIELD PLAY OUTFIELD PLAY- - GROUND BALL MECHANICS GROUND BALL MECHANICS Get to ball quickly, put body in position to throw, hold runner to single (keep DP in order) Runners on (not a charge situation) field ball like infielder No runners on- block ball one knee Charge situation- field ball on glove side- run through ball Throwing- - long arm action (Chicago Cubs C) Crow hop

17. OUTFIELD PLAY OUTFIELD PLAY- - DRILLS DRILLS Foul pole to Foul Pole Foul pole to Foul Pole- - run on balls of feet run on balls of feet- - Ball in gap Ball in gap Defensive back drill ( practice first step Defensive back drill ( practice first step- - crossover) crossover) Coming in Coming in - -3 ball drill 3 ball drill Catching ball in sun Catching ball in sun- - shielding the sun with glove shielding the sun with glove- - younger players use tennis balls younger players use tennis balls Soft Soft- -toss toss fungo fungo hitter hitter Arm strength Arm strength- - long toss long toss Hit the hat drill Hit the hat drill- - hat 10 in front of partner hat 10 in front of partner- - work on staying on top so throw is more on a line line work on staying on top so throw is more on a Relays Relays- - double cuts double cuts Positioning Positioning- - LH LH in Left field in Left field RH RH in right field in right field

18. COACHING BASEBALL COACHING BASEBALL Have fun Have fun- - enjoy!! enjoy!! Questions? Questions? Contact information: Contact information: Timothy.cummins11@gmail.com Timothy.cummins11@gmail.com If you have a future major leaguer call cell immediately If you have a future major leaguer call cell immediately: 508 : 508- -612 612- -6250 6250