Lecture Notes: Infield Drill and Techniques
**Hands Routine Drill
- Purpose: Improve fielding consistency and technique; essential part of training for better gameplay.
- Frequency: Conducted daily before any other fielding activity such as rolled or fungo ground balls.
**Drill Setup
- Starting Position: On knees, preferably on grass for better hand positioning.
- Focus: Force hands out in front, flat back, eyes tracking ball, ensuring hands and the ball are visible simultaneously.
Drills:
---Bare Hand
- Goal: Field the ball off the index finger consistently.
- Funnel to chest pushing elbows out.
- Side flip back, rinse and repeat (20 Reps)
- Aim: Improve control and consistency in ball handling.
- Common Mistake: Inconsistent fielding points leading to mishandling during transfer.
---Flat Glove
- Purpose: Enhance the glove-to-hand exchange without closing the glove.
- Funnel and Go To Short Arm Throwing Position
- Used to practice deflecting the ball effectively.
---Regular Glove - Standing
- Final step: Apply learned techniques using the proper glove.
- Encourages maintaining mechanical consistency even under speed.
- Transition: After kneeling, stand to incorporate full-body movements.
- Focus**: Incorporate footwork with hand positioning.
- Footwork, Field, Funnel, Fire (Short Arm to 2nd)
- Replace feet: Right foot to left, left to target.
- Aim: Maintain shoulder alignment and effective throwing position.
---Backhand and Forehand
- Incorporate one-handed plays for extended positions.
- Emphasize staying down low and extending arms properly.
---Hop Management - Avoid in between hops
- Short Hop vs. In Between vs. Long Hop
-Goal is to always shorter hop on routines (Medium to soft hits)
-Drop Step on hard hits.
- Aim: Field on either short or long hops.
- Avoid: In-between hops that complicate control.
- Practice creating favorable hops by positioning and movement.
- The idea is to create space or close off space
--Line Back up Drill
- Step and and open up to forehands and backhands - Insta Video
**Advanced Tips
- Hop Reading
- Count hops during practice to tune into the ball’s bounce.
- Practice catching on predetermined hop counts to master timing and positioning.
**Creating Space
- Dictate the hop: Adjust body positioning to transform in-between hops into manageable ones.
- Avoid "goalie" approach: Use feet to move and create better fielding opportunities.
---Outside In Drill (10 Reps A Player)
- 4 Cones, Stand Behind, 2-3 Shuffle Steps, Step Thru - practicing good field technique.
---4 Corners (4 Reps)
- Around the horn, 1 hop, work on quick release, and time how fast they can get around the horn 5 times.
---Infield Practice (Technique Coaching & Situations)
- Throws To First
- Throws To Second
- 3rd Bag Step and the Double Play
- First Bag Step and Throw To Second
- Short Turn 2
- Second Turn 2
Practice Philosophy
- Repetition: Thousands of reps required to build instincts, aiming for autopilot performance during games.
- Structured Practice: Mix predictable drills with dynamic, unpredictable scenarios to enhance real-game proficiency.