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3 replies

Defensive Problems

T tarheelcoachMember
I have a team that has the ability to win the division, but we have one problem - my IFers when it comes to game time lay back on ground balls, which of course causes them to make more errors than they should. It's basically one of my SS's and my 3B.
We have drilled this in practice to death, but when it comes to gametime they go back to their bad habits.
One thing I thought of is to teach these two to 'creep'. I usually don't teach this, I go with the tennis stance, but for these two, it might solve the problem.

Anyone have any ideas? I'm to the point of moving them to other positions (one to C, the other to RF), and bringing in someone else to play the spots.
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W Will1,000+ posts
Get a bucket of balls and a fungo hit them balls with the directive to go to it(the ball)and through it. keep it up till their tongues are hanging out and you are satisfied.

I'm to the point of moving them to other positions (one to C, the other to RF), and bringing in someone else to play the spots.


if they dont do it in a game a good position change would be the bench. (got to play with their head a little) old trick I learned over the years. Cant let them know if they screw up the reward is playing somewhere else.
C Coachric1,000+ posts
Teaching to Creap is one option, but I have always taught to keep their feet moving, and I learned this from a great many college coaches. A flat footed start is a disadvantage for an infielder. The ball is usually coming at them fast and with their feet moving, their momentum will carry them thru the ball much more fluidly. Try it and see what works for you. Then as Will said, get those tongues wagging, and do some drills also, with hand trainers and slow rollers.
You can teach them to move right to left on approach and thru the ball, especially ss and 3b. Good luck.
orioles42orioles42100+ posts
Coach,

Are you sure they are in the right position as far as SS and 3rd base??? I am sure you have thought of this already or they would not be where they are at.

Anyway, footwork for infielders is so important and never really stressed or worked on. We just fungoe groundballs (which we need to do). But, I would have them both invest in a jump rope. I would do 500 a day, takes about 10 minutes maybe, and will make a tremendous difference in how they move on their feet. This will help them in the long run; especially if they want to stay infielders as they move up in levels.

O42

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