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Infield Defense Clinic

ByCoach Mark

Notes from our Drop-In Clinic #3 on June 28, 2023

Throwing

Softball is about throwing and playing catch. It’s a fundamental skill that should be mastered and continually improved to be successful. Today, we put a lot of emphasis on proper mechanics when throwing. Players can and must improve on this each time during warmups.

  • 4-Seam Grip
  • Throwing arm in “L” position
  • How to use the Glove side as a Level
  • Using the inside of your foot to line up your target
  • Following through your throw

A Bowl of Soup

When preparing to field and moving towards the ball, believe that you carry a “bowl of soup” in your glove. Do not “spill” the bowl of soup. You can approach the ball with your glove at your waste, careful not to tilt your glove.

This visual cue reminds you to keep your glove “palm up” as you approach a ground ball. You do NOT want to “flip” your glove into the fielding position (a common bad habit by players). You want to “shovel out” to the ball and keep your glove on the ground. We say “ground up” because the glove starts low and raises to the level of the ball. Too many players start high, causing them to “flip” to the ball.

Use this verbiage with your team… it’s easy to remember and it’s a good visual tool for fielding.

Also, your glove should be outside your chin and not in your legs. This is accomplished by lowering your hips.

Creep & Split Technique

The Creep & Split was something we picked up as a method to get players into a position where they are ready to react to the ball when contact is made.

The Creep & Split technique starts when the pitcher rocks back to begin their delivery. As the pitcher throws the ball toward the zone, infielders creep forward and plant both feet (split) at ball contact. This puts a player in an ideal position to react to the ball entering the field. The timing here is crucial. If you plant too early, you’ll get stuck and lose your created momentum. If you leave too late, the ball is already moving while still in the air.

Fielding Through a Ground Ball

This takes constant practice. Two points we tried to get the players to understand:

  • The feet should stay in constant motion until the throw is made
  • For right-throwing fielders, the left foot will hit the ground when the ball hits the glove

Drills

We worked on moving through the ball with proper mechanics using a Zig-Zag and Cones drill so the players could feel themselves moving through the ball.

That’s about it. See you in the next session.

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