Playing the Infield in Adult Slowpitch Softball
By Dan Hughes, Author of Managing and Coaching Slowpitch Softball
Here is some very basic infield theory. Most of us learned these rules in Little
League. But I always find it unbelievable how many adult softball players have
forgotten the basics, or maybe they just never played Little League. Or maybe
they had a coach who never taught them this stuff.
First things first – when you’re fielding a grounder, get your body in front
of the ball. Catch the ball in front of your left leg if possible (if you are
right-handed). Use your leg as a backstop - you feel like an idiot when the ball
rolls between your legs and keeps on going.
Never reach left or right outside your legs unless you don't have enough time to
get in the path of the ball.
As the ball is coming toward you, keep the fingers of your glove on the ground.
Bring your glove up only if the ball comes up first.
Remember this: If the ball goes OVER your glove, it took a
bad hop and you did nothing wrong. But if the ball goes UNDER your glove, you
blew it and it's your fault.
As you watch the ball into your glove, keep your bare hand above your glove
hand. In Little League, they call it making Alligator Jaws. There are two
reasons for doing this:
First, you’ll guide the ball into your glove, and then retrieve it quickly to
throw.
Second, you’re
protecting your face if the ball takes a bad upward hop.
After you field the ball, you must get it from your glove to your throwing hand
quickly to throw out the runner.
A special note on this, just for pitchers and second basemen: If you're close
enough to first base when you field the ball, and the runner isn't yet close to
the bag, use an easy underhand toss to first. Don't throw it overhand if
you’re really close to the first baseman.
For the shortstop and third baseman: When you throw the ball to first, aim at
the first baseman's head. Many books tell you to throw at his chest, but
when you do that you're more likely to put it in the dirt. Keep it off the
ground by aiming a bit higher than you need to.
Look at your first baseman's head the entire time you're throwing the ball to
him. Keep the target in your sights!
Catching the ball at head level lets him stretch out farther towards you
catching the ball an instant sooner. I can still hear my old first baseman
yelling, "Throw the ball at my HEAD, not my FEET!"
And for the first baseman: If other players are on base, be aware that they may
try to take an extra base on the play. Don't just hold the ball after you've
caught it; be ready to immediately throw it to another base.
There's nothing prettier than the first baseman gunning down a runner at home
who tried to score from third base on a groundout.
I'm tempted to discuss cutoff theory, but that is best learned from books with
diagrams. These books are easy to find.
And if you don’t want to spring for a book (or a library card), here’s a
good website with detailed discussions of every possible base-running situation:
http://tinyurl.com/awzd38.
Okay, back to the game:
When the pitch is released, the infielder should be standing with feet apart,
his glove down and between his legs, and leaning slightly forward.
If the ball is hit to his right, he should not shuffle his right foot toward the
ball. Instead, his first step should be with his left foot, forward and
toward the path of the ball. Similarly, when the ball is hit to his left,
his first step is with his right foot.
These movements are awkward until you get used to them. But they are
important, because they will save the fielder a full step and allow him to get
to the ball faster. Practice them until they come naturally.
Copyright © 2010 by Dan Hughes
My Internet Radio Shows on Slowpitch Softball