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When called on to bunt, players can assume two body positions, or stances: Square Around If a bunt is called for, after receiving the sign from the coach, the batter should assume his normal position in the batter’s box. Pivot As in the square-around position discussed earlier, the batter first assumes his stance, but when the pitcher begins his delivery, the batter pivots his body into bunting position without moving his feet. Bunting Strikes A common mistake that bunters make is bunting ...
Good communication helps to ensure player safety, create an efficient defense, and develop trust and confidence among teammates. Ensure Safety Perhaps the most important role communication plays on the practice or game field involves safety. On bunt defenses, double-play balls, rundowns, pop flies, ground balls, passed balls, wild pitches and wild throws, the need for cooperation is paramount.
Situational hitting is the ability to assess changing game situations and hit accordingly. As you know, game situations vary enormously, so each time a batter comes to the plate, he must take into account the game conditions before he decides what he should try to do with the bat. Strengths and Weaknesses of OpponentsYou and your players must account for your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses to know how your batter should hit the ball.
A typical list might include the following skills: Infielders • Footwork at the bases—force outs, tag plays, and double plays • Throwing to bases • Checking the runner • Fielding fundamentals • Grounders, including forehands and backhands • Pop-ups and communication • Diving • First and third situations • Fielding bunts Pitchers • Fielding bunts • Throwing to bases • Running the ball to first • Covering home plate on a passed ball or wild pitch • Intentional walks • Pitchouts • Backup ...
Use this drill to practice fielding an assortment of ground balls (requiring different footwork positions) and throwing to different bases, as well as to work on conditioning. 3. The player then loops around second base toward the shortstop position and is hit a ground ball, which she throws to first base. Variation: Begin at first base and throw the first three balls to third base.
Developing an offensive strategy for a game begins with the coach putting players in a batting order that maximizes each player’s ability and presents the greatest opportunity for scoring runs. The leadoff hitter is the player who can be trusted to get on base more than any other player on the team. The fourth hitter, sometimes called the cleanup hitter, also is one of the best hitters on the team but probably will strike out more often.
The batter becomes a base runner as soon as she puts the ball into play. Each batter will need to know how to react to the different ways the ball can be put into play: ground balls hit to the infield, ground balls or line drives hit to the outfield, and fly balls hit to the infield or outfield. If a runner turns in toward the infield (i.e., toward second base) after crossing first base, the umpire and other players might assume that the runner is trying to advance to second base.
Hitting is adjusting—adjusting to the pitch, the type of pitcher, the count, the umpire, and the situation. Good hitters consistently hit balls within their hitting zone (strength area), whereas weak hitters hit too many pitches in their weak area. With two strikes and a high-pitch umpire, hitters must enlarge the top of the strike zone.
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