1 Infield Play the Dexter Way!

2 Areas That Will Be Covered Throwing Fundamentals What makes an infielder exceptional Stance Fielding the ground ball How to create the best angle Fielding through the baseball Forehands and backhands Drills to improve skills

3 Throwing Fundamentals Whenever possible catch with two hands Always have hands up before receiving ball. Move feet to get yourself in throwing position before receiving ball. Hold ball across the seams, four seam grip will allow straighter throw Ball should be held in the fingertips and rather loosely. Aim with the Shoulder - Play catch on gym/track line Elbow should be level with the shoulder. This will allow an overhand throw, which will get maximum velocity and accuracy ALWAYS MAKE GAME THROWS IN WARM-UPS AND PRACTICE! Always throw to a target. LONG TOSS LONG TOSS: THROWS ON A LINE

4 Ingredients for a quality infielder Quick feet Quick feet Soft hands Soft hands Strong arm or a quick release Strong arm or a quick release Must be able to move laterally quickly Must be able to move laterally quickly Baseball IQ Leader Dirt Bag

5 Ready Stance Pre-Pitch Approach - when pitcher starts wind-up Right foot first, then left, on Balls of Feet Feet should be double shoulder width apart Glove positioned slightly above the knees with palm open Weight should be on balls of feet Stay loose, tensing up will cause slow reaction time Discourage getting too low, limits range

6 Fielding the Groundball Be aggressive, charge every ball possible Maintain good running form as long as possible. Trust your hands out front Break down into a position low to the ground. Move with palm up and open to ball, eye in glove Move with palm up and open to ball, eye in glove Never flop glove over, always palm up for entire path to ball (airplane landing) (eyes behind ball drill) Shoulders square to ball Quick to it, slow through it, quick to get rid of it

7 Where the Baseball is Hit Cross over step is ideal in creating a good angle when ball is at you or slightly to right We want to field on left side of body for right handed thrower Cross over allows line of sight and a good rounding of baseball, banana route (cone drill demo) - Vision of Banana Route Creating a good angle and eliminating bad hops by charging promote success

8 Arriving at the baseball Right-handers Right-handers -Field ball in center of body toward left foot. Left-handers -Field ball in center of body toward right foot. -Field ball in center of body toward right foot. This allows us to have our three checkpoints moving towards our throwing target Extended arms, elbows away from body Two hands, like Pac-Man coming to the ball Eyes on ball, show the button of cap

9 Hands Through the Baseball or Hands to Gut Area? How were you taught? We believe that taking hands through ball cuts down on errors and is efficient Encourages aggressive play Maintains athletic, ball of feet play, going through baseball Hands, Feet, and Throw all moving towards the target

10 Drill work routine to stress proper fundamental fielding play Triangle rollers on knees bare hand, stress hands out front palm up (10) Bare hand rollers (10) Bare hand backhands (10) Training Glove - Short Hops (10) Kneeling Glove Only Picks (10) Glove short hops (10) Glove rollers (10) Cross over routes with rollers (10) Glove backhands (10) Drills with Player

11 Forehand Arm extended Glove about knee high Thumb up Square left shoulder with first base before throwing Swing butt around baseball after fielding Must pick up target and get momentum headed in that direction

12 Backhand Plays Move in direction and throw opposite shoulder at the ball Travel in a low running position to ball Arm extended Glove about knee high Thumb down Cross over step near baseball Field in front of right foot ideally, exposing eyes of glove Field in front of right foot ideally, exposing eyes of glove Have glove down and adjust up Squeeze & pull up

13 Reps, Reps, Reps Practice Makes Better The Player Must be willing to stick nose in the ground

14 Drills 1. Short Catch – about 50 feet away, catch ball on throwing side by moving feet quickly before receiving ball, hands should be raised in preparation for the throw. This drill is done very fast to develop quick hands and quick feet. 2. Wall drills – throw ball into wall using proper technique, then field groundball using proper infield technique. This drill develops soft hands, quick feet and is an excellent conditioner. 3. Side to side fielding - coach feeds one ground ball to right, then after it is fielded, immediately rolls one in the opposite direction and repeat, 8-10 total 4. Bare Hand drills – roll ground balls to infielder that is about 25 feet away. Check infielder for proper fielding mechanics such as squaring shoulders to throwing target 5. Training gloves – good for developing soft hands and good concentration.

15 Drills continued 6. Triangle short hops – two players throw while one player picks from his knees 7. Phantom drill – ball in glove, player simulates all plays that will come his way. 8. Four corner drills – works on agility, quick feet, soft hands and flips. Player will always throw it across the rectangle, and roll it to his left. Four corner flips: replace where you flipped 9. One hand drill-throwing arm behind back, fields grounders relying on extension of glove out in front of body