Outfield Fundamentals

1
Outfield Fundamentals
2
Outfield Checklist

• Before The Game
• 1. The field Size of the field, how much foul
  territory exits, etc.
• 2. Direction and intensity of the wind and how it
  will affect fly balls during the game.
• 3. Condition of the turf. Is the grass
  long/short/wet?
• 4. Sun Will glasses be needed for my position?
  Do I need Eye Black to protect against glare?
• 5. Fence The type of fence will affect how the
  ball plays off of it.
• 6. Scouting report Who are the power hitters,
  opposite field hitters, team speed, etc.
• During The Game (Each Inning and Each Hitter)
• 1. Score Are we ahead, behind, or tied.
• 2. Wind Sun Has it changed?
• 3. Pinch hitters What are there strengths.
• 4. Situation and count on the hitter. Are there
  runners on base. What base will I need to throw
  to if a base
• hit occurs. Where will I throw if an extra
  base situation develops?
• 5. Who is pitching for your team. Does he have
  good velocity? Is he a breaking ball pitcher?

3
Pre-Pitch Position

• As the pitch is being delivered to the plate, the
  outfielder should be in a balance and relaxed
• stance.
• Outfielders should utilize a pre-pitch
• movement similar to infielders.
• The outfielder should focus on the plate and
• attempt to read the ball coming off the
  bat.
• The pre-pitch ready position of an outfielder
  will be higher than an infielder due to the fact
  that an outfielder will need to cover more ground.

4
Drop Step Getting Behind The Ball

• If the ball is hit and you recognize that it will
  be over your head, your first step should be a
  drop step.
• The drop step is executed by turning the upper
  body while taking a positive backwards jab with
  either the left foot if going left or the right
  foot if drop stepping right.
• The eyes should remain on the ball.
• If required due to a change in the path of the
  ball or a misread by the outfielder, a snap turn
  must be made.

5
Catching The Ball

• Once the outfielder had gotten in back of the
• ball, he should attempt to have some
  momentum forward to facilitate a potential throw.
• The fly ball in a normal situation, should be
• caught with the fingers to the sky.
• Catch the ball on the throwing side of the body
  with two hands to improve your transfer time.

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Momentum Into The Catch

• Whenever possible, catch the fly ball with
• forward momentum. This will assist you
  during the throwing action.
• Catch the ball with two hands on the throwing
• side of the body.
• NOTICE The outfielder in this picture is
• violating this rule.
• EVEN BIG LEAGUERS HAVE DROPPED
• ROUTINE FLY BALLS!
• Picture Jose Canseco misreading a fly
  ball which hits his head and bounces over the
  fence. HOME RUN!!!

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Ground Ball Technique I

• No Runners On Base
• With no runners on base and a routine ground ball
  single hit to you, drop down to insure
• that the ball cannot possible get by you.
• Upon securing the ball, quickly step up
• and make an accurate throw to 2B base or
• to the cutoff man.

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Ground Ball Technique II

• Making A Immediate
• Throw To A Base
• In situations where a ground ball is hit to an
• outfielder and an immediate throw must be
• made, the outfielder should execute the
• following techniques.
• 1. Get to the ball quickly. If possible,
• round the ball in order to get your body in
  
• alignment with the base and/or cutoff man
• you will throw to.
• 2. As you approach the ball, stutter step your
  feet
• in order to come under control.
• 3. Reach out with your glove side foot slightly
• in front of your throwing side foot. The
  glove
• is out front and to the side of your lead
  leg.
• 4. Keep the palm of the glove up, secure the ball
• with your eyes and glove and quickly begin
• the crow hop throwing technique.

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Crow Hop Fly Ball

• After the catch, transfer the ball from your
  glove to your throwing hand.
• As you are transferring, the throwing side leg
• makes a positive step up action.
• During the step up (crow hop) the upper body
• squares to a position where the shoulder
  turn
• in order to be aligned properly to the
  intended target.
• When the front foot hits, the outfielder should
• be a t position in order to throw with
  accuracy and velocity.

10
Crow Hop Ground Ball

• On a ground ball situation where the outfielder
  must come up throwing to a base or cutoff man,
  the technique should be executed.
• Approach under control, and field the ball with
  slightly staggered feet with the glove out front
  and to the side of the lead leg.
• Secure the ball, transfer to throwing hand while
  stepping up with the throwing side leg.
• Upon foot strike of the lead foot, the outfielder
  should be in a mechanically correct throwing
  position.

11
Appropriate Angles

• Many young outfielders make the mistake of
• not taking appropriate angles on line
  drives and balls over their heads over in a left
  or right trajectory.
• The common mistake is to run parallel to the
• infield.
• Always attempt to head the ball off. Taking a
• diagonal approach to a position where you
  judge the ball to land, will provide you more
  time to run to that point and make the catch.

Incorrect Angle
Correct Angle
12
Diving For The Ball

• General Rules When And When Not To Dive
• 1. Game tied or behind by several runs. Do not
• let a single become an extra base hit.
• 2. Your team is way up, pitcher is throwing a no
• hitter or perfect game.
• 3. Ball is over your head and is a sure extra
  base
• hit.
• 4. Foul balls unless the winning run is on 3rd
  and
• less than 2 outs.

13
General Rules When Throwing

• Know the situation and where the throw should be
  made.
• Keep the throw flat to the base and/or cutoff
  man.
• When throwing directly to a base, focus on
  throwing the ball waist down to the infielder.
• When throwing to a cutoff man, attempt to hit him
  above the waist preferably in the chest.
• When throwing home from centerfield, focus your
  throw to the top of the mound.
• Two Most Important Rules
• Hit The Cut-off Man!
• Always Keep The Double Play In Order!

14
Dealing With The Sun

• If you are playing a sun field and a fly ball
  is hit in your direction, execute the basic
  techniques of getting behind the ball and
  movement into the catch if possible.
• Shield the sun with your glove, while flipping
  your sunglasses down if you are
• wear Flip Downs.
• Do not panic. If the ball is directly in the sun,
  it will eventually come out of the glare.
• If you have no idea where the ball is, do
• not drop your head and give up. Continue
  to scan for the ball.
• Always have glasses on if you have the
• sun field!!!

15
Ball Against The Fence

• In a long, high fly ball situation which takes
  you to the fence.
• 1. Drop step and get to the fence as quickly
  as possible. Depending on the ball, if you have
  time, find the fence with your throwing hand
  extended while keeping your eyes on the ball.
• 2. If you are on a dead run, your fellow
  outfielder must alert you if you are approaching
  the fence. Good outfielders know based on where
  they are playing, how many strides they can make
  before they approach the fence.
• 3. If the ball is over the fence, try to time
  your jump.

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Trajectory Tendencies On Line Drives
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Communication

• Outfielder Colliding With Outfielder
• 1. Always yell BALL, BALL, BALL when calling
• for fly ball priority.
• 2. Know the priority system for fly ball coverage
• in the outfield.
• 3. Never call off an outfielder who is camped
  under
• a ball.

• Infielder Colliding With An Outfielder
• 1. Always yell BALL, BALL, BALL when
• calling for fly ball priority.
• 2. Infielders are coached to go out until they
• are called off by an outfielder.
• 3. If the outfielder takes control of the play,
  he
• should yell RED, RED, RED to alert the
  
• infielder.

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OF/IF Priority System

• General Priority Rules
• Outfielders Have Priority Over Infielders.
• The Centerfielder Has Priority Over The
• Left and Right Fielders.
• SS Has Priority Over 3B and 2B.
• 3B and 1B Priority Over The Catcher.
• Pitchers On Higher Levels Have Little
• Priority On Fly Balls.