Teaching outfielders to read ball off the bat

[RichK]

We've identified the need to work with our outfielders on getting a better jump on balls. Any suggestions on:

1. Best outfield ready position to get a good break on a ball
2. How to teach reading the ball off the bat -- ie, pitch, bat angle, etc.
3. Anything else -- outfield (and infield) communication, etc. etc.

And above all, how to teach, drill and practice these things...TKS

We just saw too many balls hitting the green this weekend : <

 

[Amy in AZ.]

Rich, I forget what age group you are. Do you need to start at the beginning, where the player stands and tosses a tennis ball, to them selves (no glove)?

Anyone (volunteers) can toss tennis balls to the OFers. They use a tennis racket or a Chucker.

If you have a pitching machine, line the girls up in the OF and feed them fly balls from the machine. They line up, catch the ball, put it in a bucket and run to the other side. Stress to them, that most of the time their first step is back.

I read the batter as she is in the on deck circle and her stance in the batters box.

 

[starsnuffer]

Repetition, repetition, repetition.

Outfield is hard. At young ages, you'll get coaches trying to "hide" kids in the outfield. These are usually players who will not make it to 14u, and definitely not 16u and beyond. This means that when you do play 14u or 16u, you're taking kids who have probably always played infield and expecting them to be good outfielders, when they've missed out on years and years of repetition and practice.

To answer your questions:

1.) There is none. Use the ready position that the player is more comfortable with. Each player is unique.

2.) Repetition with real fungo, not machines, not throwing. The coach should fungo from the right side and the left side as the ball breaks differently. Once players are doing this well, they need to take it a step further and start expecting from the pitch rather then from after the impact. They should be moving the right way as soon as the ball is no more then 10-15 feet off the bat. And no, the correct answer is NOT "first step is back", that's for rec ball and is akin to saying "squish the bug" to a batter.

3.) Have a clear hierarchy. Put a good leader in center field who is going to take control. Ultimately, because the CF usually has preference over any ball in the outfield and outfielders have preference over infielders for fly balls, the CF needs to be a ball hog not only capable of catching over a wide area but capable of calling the ball early and owning her territory. Your left fielder needs to be your quickest kid who loves to dive (getting those outs in foul territory) and your right fielder should have the best arm to turn anything hard hit ball to RF into an out.

-W

 

[David Carter]

While mechanics are important the only way to get a better jump on balls is catching batted balls.

You can use thrown balls or ball from a machine to teach techniques (crossing over, drop step, proper path to the ball, etc.), but to understand how the ball comes of a bat you have to watch balls come off a bat.

Hopefully you are doing as much work with your outfield as you do your infield, outfielders should be getting just as many balls as infielders in practice.

Almost always the biggest mistake is that first step in especially on balls hit right at you (edit: to star's point I'm not advocating back just break the habit of up every time, once your outfielders get really good if the ball is falling short they will be running up right after contact but sounds like you are not there yet) . Balls hitting the green in front of you while not a good thing if the ball should have been caught is not unforgivable you want to focus on not letting balls roll to the fence.

 

[Cannonball]

This is my handout for my outfielders in High School Baseball. I hope this helps some.


Jump on ball – speed – strong arm – smart – quick

Know situations – outs, score, where runners are, keep runners off what base

Know what to do with the ball before it is hit to you. (If all else fails, get to infielder.)

Must practice – who backs up where, relay man hands (quick, smooth, circle motion, communication to outfielder.)

Before all games, check
1. obstacles
2. fence
3. stands (glare etc.)
4. warning track
5. wind
6. sun,
7. communicate with others on your angles with sun

Gear – glove 12 1/2” or 13” for high school players

Stance – comfortable, relaxed movements but on balls of feet – movements should be slightly forward – feet slightly (slightly) staggered – as outfielder comes forward, he should focus on the pitcher then as pitcher gets ready to deliver, draw a square in front of the hitter.

Footwork – step slightly forward, practice a crossover step to both directions – must work on groundballs to both directions. Must practice spin move for right-hander when going left and just the opposite for the left-hander.

Footwork is best worked on by throwing drills. Also important to footwork is the proper shoulder. If wrong shoulder pointed at the ball, conscience decision to drive the opposite shoulder at the ball.

Catching the ball, Fly Ball:

1. catch the ball by being 2 steps beyond the ball. Must practice this since it is not a natural movement.
2. catch the ball throwing side.
3. if catch the ball running away, then spin move.
4. If burned, duck and sprint to the spot.
5. Always use two hands with the throwing hand next to the glove to enable the outfielder to get the ball out fast.
6. never practice the simple catch. Always practice the catch that requires a throw. In reality, this will ensure that the outfielder is ready to make the simple catch.

Catching the ball, Ground Ball:

1. Charge and don’t let the ball play you.
2. catch the ball off of the front toe (Never catch it in between your legs unless you are down on your knees.)
3. Know the situation – No throw situation. Go down on one knee with the other leg jutting out to the side. Block this ball at all cost. No throw – clean hit slow to average runner, ball is in front of you.
4. right-hander – practice running on ball to the left and catching the ball and then spinning to throw. Must practice this spin and then throw to cut off.


Catching shoestring:
1. Must practice this gap or in front catch.
2. Communication must occur to let outfielder know that they are being backed up.
3. Easiest to practice when the ground is moist and soft.

Catching the Foul Ball:

1. know fence
2. know foul line
3. know situation. Example – Winning run on third and tagged up, don’t catch foul ball if running away from home plate.

Communication:
1. Centerfield has priority over all!!!
2. Outfielders have priority over infielders.
3. Practice infielder going down on one knee when outfielder calls them off.

Throwing:
1. Throw overhead
2. Butt up in the air – arm must end picking up grass.
3. Crow hop
4. Throw to lead base. Never throw behind the runner!
5. Hit cutoff man in the head.

Line Drives:
1. Know nature of ball – line drives can rise or sink rapidly.
2. Hardest ball to catch since by nature take a step in. Must adjust fast.

Rundowns/Other:

1) Know what infielders go where
2) Outfielder is third rotation in on all rundowns.
3) know bunt situations
4) know pickoff plays and cheat
5) know responsibility on stolen base throws. (Play batter first.)
6) Check wind each inning!
7) Know arm strength (be honest) on mandatory throw to plate.
8) Outfielders back up a base on every play.
9) Listen for coach to direct you to position on playing hitters.
10) Be careful not to drift!

Throwing continued:
1) Nobody on:
a) Single – throw to 2b
b) Extra base hit – throw to cut off man. Other outfielder should be telling you who throw to.
2) Runner on 1st
a) Fly ball – throw to 2
b) Single – throw to 2nd
c) Extra base – throw to cutoff man either 1st baseman or 3rd baseman.
3) Runner on 3b
a) Fly – throw to home
b) Single throw to 2b
c) Extra bases – throw to cutoff man
d) Game winning situation – must be in position to throw out runner!!!
4) Runner on 1b & 2b
a) Fly – medium throw to 3rd.
b) Deep fly throw to 2b
c) Single score close throw to cutoff - no excuse for miss of cutoff.
d) Score not close – keep additional runners off of second. Don’t get lazy and allow a team to creep back into a game by putting runners on second.
e) Extra bases – Throw home to proper cutoff man.
5) Runner on first and third:
a) Fly ball – judge distance, game situation, and honest with arm strength. If throw home, don’t miss cutoff man. Reality, many times get cutoff and throw to second.
b) Single – throw to third.
c) Extra Base – throw home.
6) Runner on 2nd and 3rd:
a) Fly – close game throw home. If not, throw to third – shortstop should be covering.
b) Single – score close throw home (3rd base cutoff). Be sure can be cutoff! Score not close throw 3rd.
c) Extra bases – Hit cutoff man!
7) Bases Loaded:
a) Fly ball – throw home but hit cutoff
b) Game situation – throw must limit other scoring opportunities. If big lead, throw to 2b.
c) Single – get the second runner at home if strong arm. Also game situation dictates this. 90% of the time, they will be sending second runner.
d) Extra bases – hit cutoff man.

Important on throwing situations – a poor throw or the inability to hit the cutoff man can cost a team the game. Do not waste the throw – make a constructive “team” play.

Some conclusions about playing outfield:

1) Hustle at all times – it is easier for an outfielder to get lazy since they are farther away from the action.
2) Back up all plays – you never have a time to stand.
3) Throw the ball to the right base always.
4) Know how many outs there are always.
5) Have game situation in your mind. Know what to tell other outfielders if you have to tell them where to throw.
6) Throw the ball overhead. Any throw side arm will drift and can possibly get an infielder hurt.
7) Never drift on a ball. Sprint beyond the ball. The inability to do this shows sloppy practice habits and a lack of hustle and pride.
8) Know the wind. The wind is not the same at all places and is not the same from inning to inning.
9) Know the sun and the time of the year. For example in high school ball, the sun will be changing and then the time changes. Therefore, the sun poses many different problems.
10) Know the hitter and his style (ex – punch hitter, power hitter) and know his speed.
11) Back up all plays.
12) Be aggressive on ground balls. Don’t let the ball play you.
13) Ball above the waste fingers up ball below the waste fingers down in the glove.
14) Keep your throwing hand next to the glove on the catch. In fact, your thumb should be touching the glove. Don’t play like the pro’s on fly balls.
15) Take charge on fly ball between you and the infielders.
16) Communicate at all times. In fact, talk between each inning.
17) Have a player that is not playing ready to warm you up between innings. Never wait for these players. Don’t play catch with a player that has other responsibilities such as bullpen catcher. They may be warming up the next pitcher.
18) Remember, good outfielders never never backpedal.
19) Run on the balls of your feet. Never run on your heels.
20) Know your pitcher and coaching staff and how they think on pitch selection.

Drills:

1) Ball off the wall
2) Forward roll
3) Long bounce
4) Blocking
5) Grounders with spin moves
6) Throws from coach or other outfielder working on correct shoulder
7) Three ball drills off of the machine.
8) Sun drills
9) Relay catch. Spread outfielders all around the outfield and play long catch hitting each other in the head with throws.
10) Practice using sun glasses.

 

[quincy]

Might be DD’s Team but they can all catch a fly ball and keep the ball in front of them.

The OF is hit and miss on backing up and really poor at going after the ball. Oh she will get that.

I think during games the HC, or an AC, needs to pay a lot of attention to the OF. Hopefully the fans do not notice the RF ran 30 yards to backup 1st base, the coaches should.

OFs need an attitude that every ball that is hit is theirs; you need to keep reinforcing it during the games.

 

[RichK]

Thanks everyone! I actually don't have time to read through all this now (at work, tired after a long weekend at the fields : >) but really appreciate it. Cannonball, think I'll be printing out your sheet to give our girls some homework, TKS.

We are a 14U "B+" team that we try to train as an A team and continue to add talent and build our existing athletes bit by bit to get "all the way there"....

We spent about a month this summer really working outfield cuts and have had great success. We not only make consistent outs at the plate but pick up an out or two per game at other bases, or at least holding runners from extra bases.

We have identified our next leap forward needing to be better "go and get it" skills and attitude.

I agree on the repetition, repetition, repition, just want to accelerate that with good drills and skills presentations to our girls. TKS everyone, great stuff.

 

[Dtwn92]

What a great thread and Cannon if you don't mind I'll be using that as well.

 

[marriard]

Nice Cannon.... I'll be using a lot of this for the upcoming season as well.

As went through the teaching of former IF players to OF and working to get of the conception that the OF is less important than infield. A couple of wins/losses from great outfield play put that in perspective especially after we rallied after a great diving catch from our CF in a tight game.

We also teach: Ball, Base, Backup for any fielding situation not covered. So if you haven't seen a situation before in the field or you are not sure what you should be doing (which is common in younger age groups), then this is your thought process on how to play the ball off the bat...

- Can I get the ball (YES - go for it)
- If no, do I have responsibility for a possible runner coming to 'my' base (Then get to a base)
- If no then backup up the play

Seem to work well for 90% of the plays. For OF we switch to Ball, Backup, Base as there is less likelihood they need to be on a base until a play develops and they need to come in for a pickle or to cover a bad throw, etc.