2B catching/throwing issue

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Apr 30, 2018
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I've been working with my DD on playing 2B. When playing a casual game of catch she has no problems with accuracy from 30 to 45 feet. When we work on catching ground balls and making the throw to first, the accuracy is gone. Throws are wild and go wide or high. Any suggestions on some drills or videos we can work on to get this sorted?

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Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,044
113
How old?

It's probably a footwork problem where she's trying to rush the throw before she's lined up on the target, and she's not finishing. Get her lead foot moving toward her target as she gathers and then separates, and get her to find a rhythm. Work slowly at first...field the grounder, and then "play catch" with 1B.

I've had the same issue at times, but it's more in my head than feet. A friend once wondered out loud how I could hit a bucket from 100+ ft but have trouble with a short throw. Throwing some long-toss off a ground ball helps me find that rhythm for the quick, short throw.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
Agree with above, at 2nd she should have some time. If she does not feel she does for whatever reason have her move up a step or 2 at least temporarily.

If you have a bunch of balls just roll them to her and put something on 1st base she need to hit or get close to. Make sure she is not rushing, getting everything lined up.

Other thing DD used to play 2nd a fair amount, she did not aim at 1st base in general. She aimed specifically at 1st basemen's head. Your DD can pick another focal point but have her pick something specific.
 
Last edited:
Sep 28, 2015
150
18
Make sure the feet are keeping up with the arm and staying in balance. In addition I have seen kids struggle because they don’t adjust their arm circle to the distance and situation. My son has this problem and he tries to slow his arm down at 15ft with a full arm circle instead of shortening up the arm and snapping it. His throws look awkward and out of sync and releases high a lot.

I am having success having him do easy grounders and giving me a quick throw to me or 1B. Do the same at 3B and require a longer throw and hope they start to understand the difference!




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Jul 16, 2018
120
18
Rule #1 for all fielders is to keep your feet moving (and sorry its been beaten to death here already).

But also i would have my infielders working on hand drills then footwork drills then finally put it all together

Lots of short hop drills to get comfortable with getting your hands in the right position then lots of stationary work making sure to go right left to the ball. It all works its self out.

However in most of the kids I see out there who struggle with their throws is usually stopping their feet which stops their momentum

Theres some very good stuff here http://www.infieldfundamentals.com/drills-cornerstone/

Not all of it applies to softball due to the speed of the game but very good fundamentals to know.




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Jul 16, 2018
120
18
Oh and also for the love of everything when taking grounders before the inning have your 2b take grounders from SS.

Build the arm strength and the mentality of making a throw instead of a the short dump from 2b


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Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
Without seeing her throw over there it is difficult to say what is going on. Sometimes it is a mental block (Chuck Knoblauch anyone?) but more than
likely it is something mechanical. One thing I would say is make sure she is funneling the ball to the same spot (middle of the chest) everytime to throw. You can drill
her on that without even having her throw the ball.

 
Apr 30, 2018
349
43
Thanks for all the replies. My DD is 8 playing 10u. We have been working on doing high level throwing this fall and it has really helped her general throwing. I'm sure it is probably in her footwork transitioning from catching a grounder to the throw. If we can ever get a break from this rain (SE Texas) I'll set up our bow net as 1B so I can watch her mechanics and try and take a video. We have already had 2.5 weeks of practice rained out plus 2 games. Really wish we had an indoor place to practice, but our small town doesn't have anything.

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May 1, 2018
659
63
Thanks for all the replies. My DD is 8 playing 10u. We have been working on doing high level throwing this fall and it has really helped her general throwing. I'm sure it is probably in her footwork transitioning from catching a grounder to the throw. If we can ever get a break from this rain (SE Texas) I'll set up our bow net as 1B so I can watch her mechanics and try and take a video. We have already had 2.5 weeks of practice rained out plus 2 games. Really wish we had an indoor place to practice, but our small town doesn't have anything.

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I feel ya. North of Dallas and we have rained out 6 games and 3 practices already.
 

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