1. Athlete Baseball By Miles Noland

2.  4 seam grip; place index and middle finger over the four seams  Spread other 2 finger ¾ inch apart  Place inner side of thumb on bottom of ball so it is in line with your middle finger  Hold ball loosely in your fingertips  Release ball with a ¾ overhand motion for optimal accuracy and velocity  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ3ukLk mPTs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ3ukLk mPTs

3.  Hand, ball, and glove start off together  Early throwing drills- on one knee (cue: thumb to thigh, ball to sky)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVfiAwnfL cc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVfiAwnfL cc  Firm glove  Form 90-degree angle between upper arm forearm (cue: stay on top of the ball)  Follow through in direction of target  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFa7RyeM f28 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFa7RyeM f28

4.  Shoulders are lined up with target as you begin the throw  Stride directly at the target  Drive front side at your target, creating a straight line  Take chest toward your glove

5.  Knees bent, shoulder width apart  Show target (glove and throwing hand up)  Expect a bad throw  Move feet to get body behind ball  Take pride in not letting the ball get by you  All good players can catch and throw  Can work on skills while playing catch-not a time to goof around

6.  You must move your feet ◦ Ball of foot to ball of foot ◦ Develop rhythm and tempo  Always have a target ◦ Begin easy and short ◦ Lengthen to long toss when you are ready ◦ Shorten to 60 feet after long toss

7.  Creep step  IF-knees bent, glove out, head down, butt down, work up and out through ball  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZJCZatuz5M http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZJCZatuz5M  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjzn33KzR6g &feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjzn33KzR6g &feature=related  Backhand play- occurs when you cannot get behind ball; turn glove over, longer throw  Forehand- fielding ball on your gloveside

8.  Slow roller-slow hit ball, run through it, throw from a lower arm slot; true test of IF  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZuWfQfYuT Q http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZuWfQfYuT Q  IF’s possess soft hands (3B, 2B, SS), quickness, and a strong arm  3B-strong arm and good hands, less mobility  SS-best IF, strong arm, great hands  2B-very good hands, lesser arm strength  1B-great hitter, good hands, arm not usually good

9.  Four corner (throwing, flips)  Short hops (straight on, backhand, forehand)-use glove hand only  Relays  Dive play (on knees)  Double play turns

10.  Know assignment on bunts  Cover assigned base during steal, 2B play, etc.  Communicate with IF’s, P’s, and OF’s  Effectively execute a rundown  Cutoff man on outfield throws  Keep ball in IF when necessary (preventing a run)  Hold runners  Make average plays  Understand double play depth

11.  Play with energy  Overcommunicate  Be aggressive  Block balls with body, nothing gets by  Make average plays  Back each other  Know the game situation and what you will do with the ball when it comes to you

12.  All defensive players must know the # of outs, hitter up, running ability of hitter and runners on, inning, and the score  All are factors that affect decisions  Why would knowing the running speed of the hitter affect an IF? a catcher? An OF?  The conditions (rain, cold, sun, field surface, windy, etc) and how it will affect their play

13.  On a steal- defense has options (throw to 2 nd, throw to a cutoff man, fake to 2 nd throw to 3 rd, no throw-all based on game situation)  Early leave-runner on 1 st gets into a rundown trying to score the runner from 3 rd (defense has to understand game situation)

14.  Communicated to team by the catcher (usually through the coach)  Ex.-pitcher cover 3 rd base line, 1 st base covers 1 st base line; pitchers covers 1 st base line, 3 rd baseman covers 3 rd base line, wheel play (runners on 1 st & 2 nd, trying to get lead runner)  Defense must be poised and in control (always want to take an out, do not hurry)