Remember to bring your camera to each game to take action photos
Forward these pics. to cubspics@westsidecubs.net
2010 Game Schedule Now Available
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Remember to bring your camera to each game to take action photos Forward these pics. to cubspics@westsidecubs.net 2010 Game Schedule Now Available
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Teaching Youth to Play the InfieldAfter years of coaching, I have come to the conclusion that one thing is certain; All parents want their children to play the infield. However, there are only 4 infield positions and safety is the #1 priority in youth sports. While a 7 year old that still has his baby teeth is much less of a concern than an 8 year old who has "more permanent teeth", poor skills and a bad hop could scare a young child from ever playing baseball again or severely damage their psyche. Youth coaches have to resist parental pressures and place youth where their skill level allows. If a parent wants their child to play the infield, they should take the same tact that my father took: Find a flat piece of ground and hit them thousands of ground balls until they acquire the skills to play the infield. Anyone with any talent level can learn to play baseball if they are willing to work at it. While our Teaching Baseball section teaches the basic fundamentals of fielding ground balls and each of our position section teaches the responsibilities of each position, this section deals with the responsibilities of the infield as a team component. This is typically the first drill I teach during each first Spring practice. Each position has a specific responsibility and if players learn where they are supposed to be, the team is in a position to make any conceivable play. There are two basic rules I try to teach to keep it simple for youth:
On every hit ball, the entire infield is moving in a synchronized "dance step". It should be a fluid motion. Every player has a specific responsibility and specific place to be; either to make "that" play or the next part of "that" play if the play continues beyond the simple catch and throw for an out. Middle InfieldersThe second baseman and shortstop are always trying to position themselves to either catch the ball, back up the fielder, or cover the bag. For example, on a ball hit to the third baseman, the shortstop moves to his right to back up the third baseman. If the third baseman makes the catch the shortstop covers third base. On the other side of the infield, the second baseman is also breaking toward the ball, so he breaks to cover second base. The first baseman breaks "away" from the ball, in this case, and covers first. On a ball hit to the other side (first base), the opposite would occur. In youth ball (with short base paths) the second basemen would cover first on balls hit to the first baseman. On a ball hit to shortstop, the second baseman breaks (toward the ball) to cover second base (even if the play is not at second base). The first baseman breaks away from the ball to cover first and the third baseman breaks "to" the ball and if he can't make the play, he breaks away from the ball to cover third base and gets ready for a throw to third if necessary. The two general rules above should take place for almost every infield situation except bunts and then special plays have to be installed to decide which basemen cover which bases. ("who's on first" - "What's on Second" etc.). First and Third BasemanIf an infield is well-drilled and well-disciplined, I want my first and third baseman to cut off every ground ball they can. If my second baseman is not on the bag to cover first, I find a second baseman who will be. Every infielder must "trust" their teammates to be where they are supposed to be on every play. If my 1st or 3rd baseman can't make the play, I want them on the bag or behind the bag (first base on the bag) ready to receive a throw. The secret to teaching youth to play the infield is to keep it simple. While these two rules may not fulfill 100% of all game situations 100% of the time, they will satisfy most game situations. Keeping it simple is crucial. |
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