Techniques on How to Properly Field a Ground Ball at Any Level, So You Do Not Get Hurt

There is a correct way to do everything in life, and today I am going to teach you how to properly field a ground ball! If you have never played baseball before, I suggest that you play catch and get used to using a glove and catching a ball. If you have played before and you know the concepts of the game this will make sense to you. First things first, is safety, and things that you can do to protect yourself.

Step 1: Make sure that you are always wearing a nut cup or pelvic protector (for girls). This makes sure that if you do get hit in the private parts, and it will protect them or cushion the blow. Consider this your warning, if you do not wear protection you would be seriously hurt and could need surgery.

Step 2: Having the right apparel on can make a difference too. Make sure that you have a baseball glove, a ball cap, and cleats on. When choosing a glove there are different types meant for different positions. Also, you need to figure out what hand you feel more comfortable throwing with. For example, if you throw better with your right hand, you need to get a glove that goes on your left hand, and vis versa. An infielder usually has a smaller glove; this helps them get the ball out of their glove faster in order to turn double plays. Outfielders have bigger gloves, this helps them catch the ball, because there is more space for the ball to land. Without a glove it will be difficult to properly field a ground ball. Having a ball cap on helps protect your eyes from the sun so you can see what is going on. Cleats help you move quicker, and prevent you from slipping.

Step 3: Paying attention to what is going on in the game will also help you be more safe, and keep you awake in the game. Also, it helps to pay attention so you know the game situations and what base you need to throw to if you get the ball, and it will keep your safer.

Step 4: Getting in a good defensive position will help you to react to the direction of the ball much quicker than if you were standing straight up and down. If you have ever stood straight up and down and then tried to run, you can see that you have to lower your body before you can run. Being in this position helps you skip the lowering your body to run. The proper stand is to squat like you are sitting in a chair, but with a wide base and your shoulders over your toes. This makes you stay on your toes, and your reaction time will be faster. Your hands should be off of your thighs and out in front of you ready to receive the ball if it is hit to you. Always make sure that you are in front of the ball, because you can make a better play on the ball. If and when the ball is hit to you, you need to make sure that your glove is all the way to the ground. This makes it harder for the ball to go under your glove, and for you to cause an error. Also, you should have your head down. Having your head down makes you focus on watching the ball into your glove. If someone were to take a picture of you fielding the ball all they should see is the top of your head. Please refer to the picture at the top of the page to see what it should look like fielding a ground ball. As you are watching the ball into the glove, your free hand should be ready to guide the ball into your glove. When you are guiding the ball into your glove this helps you secure the ball, and be quicker in throwing the ball. Being in this position also serves as a backstop. How you ask? Well when you are in front of the ball and it takes an unexpected hop, or hits off your hand or glove weird, it will hit off of your chest and fall in front of you. This prevents the ball from going into the out field and from the running gaining an extra base. If you do not throw them out it is OK, as long as you do not completely miss the ball and give them a free base. Sure there are times when the ball will hit you in the face or in the neck or chin, but that proves that you are in the right position. The name of the game is to not be afraid of the ball, if you are afraid you are going to make more errors. After you have fielded the ground ball, do not feel rushed like you have to get the ball to the base right away. Take a shuffle step and throw the ball to the base.

Step 5: Every ground ball that is hit to you can be different. The way the ball is spinning is not always the same. The ball will not always be hit right to you, you will have to go in the direction the ball is hit. Sometimes the ball will be bouncing and you will have to judge the hop, we will talk about that in a later step. Also, the ball could get caught in the grass and it could stop rolling, again we will talk about this in a later step.

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