WebBall.com - Know Your Role

Most hits come your way

The best middle infielders are good physically and work well with their teammates because most 'outs' depend on at least one other player.

Anticipate and react.

Before the pitch...
- Communicate! Who's got the bag? (Signal behind gloves to hide from runners)
On the windup...
- Lean in, balls of your feet, square to the plate, glove down, butt down, head up.
On contact...
- Read the ball, pivot and run, keep the body low.
On catch...
- Keep your glove below the ball. It's easier to pull arm up and in than push it down or out.
- Glove side short hop - scoop it.
- Throwing side short hop - backhand stab.
- Long hop - get behind it, plant back foot for throw.
- Chopper - hustle, take short strides (to anticipate bad hop).
To throw...
- Middle distance - Goal post stance, flip turn and gun it.
- Or drop knee to ground to keep throwing elbow/shoulder level.
- Or straight-arm shovel toss.

Skills to work on

Ball transfers -
- Catch with heel of glove, deflecting to throwing hand
Short toss feed -
- 2B to short: use backhand toss, else underhand.
- Short to 2nd: shovel toss
- Keep the ball dead, no spin.
  (For no spin keep arm stiff, no wrist break.)
Dirt Ball...
- Bad hops, off dirt, off grass lip.
Pivot Throws...
- Throwing from all angles to all bags and home.
Pick Offs...
- Work work with all pitchers.
- Practice signals and cues, not just the mechanics

Drill work

All drills help, these are especially important if you play first. Put extra effort into them when the coach runs these during practice.

Double Play Drill... practice all feed types, work closer in and farther from bag.

Triangle Drill... 3 infielders working around the bag, moving in and out, doing shovels and backhand tosses.

Round the Bags... you won't be at 2nd much, but you can practice swipe tags as and pivot/jump throws from all bags.

Bunt Loops... work on the part where you charge over to 1st (or 3rd) to be next up.

Pre-Game... work on your relay angles with all outfielders.

Cut-Two... work on footwork at the bag, when receiving.

Pop Fly Drill... Wave area clear, call it, shield sun.

Special Situations

Double Play...
- DP Depth: Cheat two steps in, two steps closer.
- Catch the grounder off glove heal, deflect to throwing hand.
- Stay behind the bag. (Get one sure out!)
- 2B: Hit bag with left foot, plant right to throw.
- SS: Hit bag early with left, or drag right across.
- Pivot, throw, hop (to avoid slide).
High throws
- Springboard off bag, land and back off (never forward).
Tag Plays...
- Glove down, runner comes to you.
- Swipe tag - don't freeze.
The Rundown...
- Work on coverage, technique, communication