Baseball Fielding Drills

You may have realized by now, that fielding is one of the most important aspects of the game of baseball. For this purpose, baseball fielding drills are the perfect training routines to master this ability and become a better fielder. Fielding is not simply about running behind the ball and stopping it and then throwing it to the bases, one also needs in depth knowledge and training about positioning, timing, and improving the body’s flexibility.

The best baseball teams are invariably those that have the best fielders, not the best batters or pitchers. It is the fielders who balance out a team and help them overcome all the hurdles they may face during a game, and the art of fielding can only get better by practicing a lot of baseball fielding drills on a regular basis, and at an intense level. These drills improve technique, stamina, flexibility, strength and also boost the confidence of a fielder. The key is to keep one’s eyes on the ball while fielding and knowing what you’re going to do beforehand, and the more baseball fielding drills you practice, the better you will get at this.

Basic Baseball Fielding Drills

The best drills for baseball fielding aim at improving baseball fielding techniques with the help of constant coaching and supervision, and necessary feedback. Improving one’s baseball fielding techniques is all about dedication, and this can be achieved by combining theoretical baseball training with the practical application.

Catching the Ball

The most basic baseball fielding drills aim at teaching a player how to catch the ball properly with a baseball glove on. If the ball is above the hips then it must be caught with the fingers facing up, and if the ball is below the hips then the fingers must be facing downwards. The coach must stand close to a player and work on his catching skills along with him, by tossing him a high ball from every possible direction and angle.

Throwing the Ball

This is another important part of fielding, and the throw must be as accurate as possible. Not everyone is born with a strong throwing arm, but this is something that can be developed over time, and with the right baseball fielding instructions. The drill can be carried out by two players, and the distance between them can keep altering. Basically, get them to throw the baseball at each other as firmly as possible, and as accurately as possible. Increase the distance and make it as difficult as possible. Read more on how to increase throwing velocity.

Stopping the Ball

Baseball fielding drills also focus on stopping a rolling ball on the ground, scooping it up, and throwing it to the bases. Sometimes it gets quite difficult to judge the direction of a moving ball accurately, and picking it up and throwing it sounds easier than it actually is. The timing of the run and the path taken to intercept the ball is something that can only be mastered with experience. The baseball fielding drills that focus on this skill involve a baseball player trying to intercept many baseballs in quick succession, and then following through to get an accurate throw. Again, 2 people can practice this together.

Videos

Another very important drill for baseball fielding is the viewing of videos and analyzing them, and learning from them. A player can be made to view and study videos of himself, or of other people, and the necessary baseball fielding instructions can be imbibed to him from here. By watching the mistakes made by himself or by other people, or by watching the very things that need to be done, a player can learn a lot of tricks and secrets. But the most important thing is to actually go and adopt these lessons while playing in a real game, and this can only be done with the aid of a lot of physical training and practice.