Outfield crash course

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Jun 19, 2014
846
43
Raleigh,NC
D will be getting to start today in Right Outfield. She is really nervous since it has been awhile playing outfield. This is an opportunity for her to earn some playing time when she isn't pitching. DH keeps telling her she isn't an outfielder....but, I see that she can play the position and for school ball, they need outfielders more than they need infielders. A recent coach told her that he wants to see softball players not positional players.
So for refresher, does anyone have any videos for outfielders? What are some tips and tricks to know? The biggest problem she has is how to judge the ball when it is going back? Or probably how to go back for the ball.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
Lot of coaches tell their outfielders to always take a step back then once they have handle on ball go.

If she watches the bat she should be able to tell if the ball or going left or right of her.

Anything not hit to 1st or 2nd get moving to backup 1st, not being there will probly annoy the coach more then dropping a ball.

(sense you title this crash course, it would be best if she avoided crashing into anything. :))
 
Last edited:
Dec 10, 2015
845
63
Chautauqua County
With faster pitching, I find RFers invaluable. Batters tend to slice the ball more when they go that way and a fielder needs to remember this when she's tracking the ball. She also can score points for backing up throws to first and hitting her cutoff. As for judging balls, a lot of it is initial positioning and then just experience, imho. We use a pirching machine for practice. And, most important in my mind, she CANNOT let the ball get by her. Become a hockey goalie if she has to but stop the ball. Good luck and make sure she knows right field in the upper leagues is important.
 
May 17, 2012
2,804
113
Some good stuff above. For a right handed batter the ball will tend to slice towards the foul pole (for lefties it is a hook). A good reminder is that the foul pole is a magnet and teh ball is attracted to it.

If the ball does get by her to her left between the foul pole and the fence it's almost always a cut 4 unless you have a really slow runner.
 
Feb 4, 2015
641
28
Massachusetts
I like this Kent State video for different techniques and it helps DD visually see what each should look like ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWWTFXbuGYs

Also, DD works on these drills...
- Drop step & qb drill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZNz_f3rCgs
- Lead drill. Throw over the shoulder as OF runs back. Straight back and angles to each side.
- Speed Triangle. Track fast over one shoulder, then range to opposite side, then come in for slide catch.
- Basket Catch. Run, catch ball over the shoulder.
- Crow Hop. Field ball while stepping through w/ crow hop https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkaBp_OjtQ4
- Shoot the Gap - getting a good angle to get behind the ball when fielding ground balls so facing/coming forward on the catch and throw.
- Accuracy - catch and throw to bases, 1-hop to home.
She also does a lot of bare handed drills with tennis balls to get "soft" hands for fly balls.
 
Feb 4, 2015
641
28
Massachusetts
PS... I agree with what the coach told your DD. Another told us the same thing... she wants athletes and kids who can play anywhere, not necessarily kids who can only play specific positions.
 
Jun 6, 2016
2,714
113
Chicago
Unless she just happens to be a natural at reading a ball off the bat (some people just have that ability), the absolute BEST way to learn to judge a fly ball is to just see a lot of fly balls. There are techniques on how to catch balls with different trajectories that are hit in all different directions, but seeing as many fly balls as possible is going to help her more than anything.

I'd start with throwing them or using a pitching machine (pitching machine downside is the dimpled balls, or maybe the wheel itself, can cause them to do some funky things a softball likely won't do). Just give her as many reps as possible until she gets a handle on how a ball goes up and down.

One thing I've noticed: A lot of newbie OFs tend to run to the ball's highest point and expect it to fall straight down. You need to get her to realize that a ball is still traveling away from home plate as it's falling (wind and possibly other factors could alter this, of course). I'm sure those who know the math could explain it better. One little trick that could help is to have her watch the flight of the ball from the side. Have her pinpoint the highest point and then have her point out where it landed. Sometimes seeing it from this other angle can help them better understand that concept.
 

Chris Delorit

Member
Apr 24, 2016
343
28
Green Bay, WI
D will be getting to start today in Right Outfield. She is really nervous since it has been awhile playing outfield. This is an opportunity for her to earn some playing time when she isn't pitching. DH keeps telling her she isn't an outfielder....but, I see that she can play the position and for school ball, they need outfielders more than they need infielders. A recent coach told her that he wants to see softball players not positional players.
So for refresher, does anyone have any videos for outfielders? What are some tips and tricks to know? The biggest problem she has is how to judge the ball when it is going back? Or probably how to go back for the ball.

Crystal,

Relax...enjoy the experience and opportunity. It's just a game, play loose and have fun! The sun will rise the next day. In fact, this is what you would call...part of the mental learning aspect of a game. It's as simple as that, not an over-complicated theory designed by a psychologist, or a NC travel ball coach. ;) Not - if she can do it, but that - she will do it. You know...the looseness of how many plays she'll make tomorrow, not the tension of will she make a mistake. It's an opportunity for her to inspire Ryan Braun on new position changes.

Maybe your husband can become more engaged with her opportunity, hit her 100 balls a night before or after practice. If not, there's no reason she can't ask her coaches for extra work before or after practice. I can assure you that her coaching staff would be delighted, for several reasons. I respect your character as a parent, as your approach is for your daughter to earn playing time. Hopefully, her coaches are aware of it.

Just be part of every play. It's that simple. Fielding, backing up another fielder on a play, communicating, slapping 5 = support. By hustling on & off the field every half inning, she's staying warm & loose = benefit if she's called on to pitch. She'll have more time in the outfield to become mentally complacent. She should always know the live game credentials like score, outs, pitch count and which base she's throwing to for any probable scenario. Play scenarios out in your mind, they will happen. She can also learn to read and mentally black book all kinds of useful data on hitters. Transcending positions, that can also be beneficial for her as a pitcher. You're noticing that being an outfielder is every bit as important as being a pitcher or catcher. Hence, her coach's comments about utility players.


Ball skills...it's just ground balls, fly balls, reads and angles. It's not complicated. Other folks have offered some very good suggestions. Make sure she has sunglasses.

Chris
 
Last edited:
Jun 19, 2014
846
43
Raleigh,NC
Unless she just happens to be a natural at reading a ball off the bat (some people just have that ability), the absolute BEST way to learn to judge a fly ball is to just see a lot of fly balls. There are techniques on how to catch balls with different trajectories that are hit in all different directions, but seeing as many fly balls as possible is going to help her more than anything.

I'd start with throwing them or using a pitching machine (pitching machine downside is the dimpled balls, or maybe the wheel itself, can cause them to do some funky things a softball likely won't do). Just give her as many reps as possible until she gets a handle on how a ball goes up and down.

One thing I've noticed: A lot of newbie OFs tend to run to the ball's highest point and expect it to fall straight down. You need to get her to realize that a ball is still traveling away from home plate as it's falling (wind and possibly other factors could alter this, of course). I'm sure those who know the math could explain it better. One little trick that could help is to have her watch the flight of the ball from the side. Have her pinpoint the highest point and then have her point out where it landed. Sometimes seeing it from this other angle can help them better understand that concept.
She used to play outfield and M/I well. It was last years school ball that destroyed her confidence in her playing ability outside of pitching. D was super nervous about playing because it has been awhile and she wanted to show she can play the field.
 

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