Author Archive
Jul
13
Baseball Conditioning Series Part 3
Posted by: | CommentsBaseball Conditioning Series continues with our next exercise. Hope you find this series helpful. Please let us know by commenting if you can. It would be appreciated.
Baseball Conditioning Exercise 3 – Reach Through Stretch:
- Take the position as shown in the picture below.
- Spread your legs as far apart as possible while keeping your balance.
- Bend at the waist and place your palms flat on the ground. Hold for 10 seconds, repeat 10 times. Raise your body back up before repeating.
- Keep your knees from bending if possible.
- After touching the ground you can add a reach through to the stretch by reaching back between your legs. Complete 10 reps and repeat for 2 sets.
Baseball Conditioning Reach Through Stretch
Jul
12
Baseball Conditioning Series Part 2
Posted by: | Comments
Baseball Conditioning Series continued…
Baseball Conditioning Exercise 2: Trunk Twist
- Stand tall.
- Put both your arms out to your side as shown in the picture to the below.
- Twist your body at your mid-section to the right and then back to the left.
- Complete 2 sets of 10 twists.
Baseball Conditioning Trunk Twist
Jul
12
Baseball Conditioning Series Part 1
Posted by: | CommentsHere is the first post in a series on baseball conditioning. Over the next several weeks we will post a daily conditioning drill that you can add to your baseball program. These exercises can be used at all levels of baseball to prepare your players for practice and games.
Hope you enjoy the series.
Baseball Conditioning Exercise 1: Arm Circles
- Stand tall.
- Put both your arms out to your side as shown in the picture to the right.
- Keep the arms up and level with the shoulders.
- Rotate/circle your arms in small circles forward 10 times, then 10 times in the opposite direction.
- Complete 2 complete sets in both directions
- See picture below
Baseball Conditioning Arm Circles
Jul
10
Playing First Base – Fielding Fundamentals
Posted by: | CommentsPlaying First Base – How to field the baseball
- When a baseball is hit to first base it’s always a good thing to remind the pitcher to cover the bag even if the first baseman can make the play without assistance.
- You can always call off the pitcher but you don’t want to find yourself in a position to not have someone covering the base.
- If the player must throw to the pitcher coving first base it’s usually completed with an underhand toss.
- The player should field the baseball, take a step toward first base and flip the ball underhanded to the pitcher covering the base.
- Get the ball out of the glove and to the pitcher as soon as possible so they can catch it and tag first base ensuring the runner is out.
Follow these quick tips and you will find playing first base much easier.
Jul
10
Playing First Base – Holding Runners
Posted by: | CommentsHolding runners at first base
- Holding runners on is part of the game.
- The first baseman should stand with their knees bent and watching the pitcher. The right foot should be place on the inside edge of the base.
- He should be alert to a pickoff move at any time.
- Once the pitcher moves toward the plate, the first baseman must move off the bag directly into the field of play, slightly inside the first base line.
- He should get in a position to receive the baseball should it be hit down to first base.
May
25
Playing First Base – Throwing
Posted by: | CommentsThrowing from first base
- While first baseman don’t make all the throws other fielders make it’s important for them to work on those most important to their position.
- A good first baseman will be able to throw to the shortstop to start a double play. He should be able to complete the underhand toss to the pitcher covering first base. He should be able to make a hard and accurate throw to third base when a runner tries to go from second to third on a ground out. It’s also important for the first baseman to be able to throw the ball to home when a runner is trying to score from third.
- Remember the only way to get good at this is to practice so first baseman must work on these throws during practice to ensure they can complete them in a game situation.
May
16
Playing First Base – Footwork and Catching the Ball
Posted by: | CommentsFundamentals of playing first base
- Footwork and receiving the throw
- First baseman should move to the base as soon as the ball is put in play.
- He should then face the fielder making the throw over to first.
- He should have his knees slightly bent with his heels touching the edge of the base closest to the field.
- He is now waiting for the throw from the fielder.
- As the ball comes toward the base the player should wait until the last possible moment before stretching out towards the ball.
- You don’t want to start the stretch too early as that will not allow you to adjust to an errant throw.
- Should the throw be off target it’s the first baseman’s responsibility to move off the base and catch the ball to avoid an overthrow and advancement of the runner.
- Remember, the first baseman will have to leave the base on errant throws. Keep in mind the top priority is to catch the baseball.
- Inexperienced first baseman will keep their feet on the base way too long and allow an errant throw to get away from them allowing the runners to advance.
- First baseman must know where the throw is going before stretching out to catch the baseball.
- The player should stretch out with the leg on the glove side hand. Right handed first baseman stretch out with the left foot and a left handed first baseman stretches with the right foot.
- There are times when throws will come to the outside of first base and the player will be forced to field the ball on the foul side of the base.
- The player must realize in this situation the runner is coming hard down the line and he should not try to reach across the base line to field the ball or there could be a violent collision.
- The player will move across the base to the foul side and receive the baseball from that position. Should it be impossible to get the foot back on the base the first baseman should quickly put the glove out in front of the base runner to get him to run into the tag.
Our next post will cover throwing the baseball from first base.
Until then, play hard and enjoy this great game.
