Outfield Footwork

I like to see my players make the catch as the glove foot lands, step, hop, throw.
This tends to be there natural movement as they circle around and line up to make the throw on the move. It also gives them the forward momentum needed to make the throw from a standing still position.

I also like the momentum to be built. With the teaching of the catch as throwing foot lands we are stepping into that throwing foot too, as you say you are. I wonder what kind of time differences there would be? I do believe that a little more momentum is built up your way as compared to mine.

You have to have your outfielders field the ball so as contact is made with the glove, the the glove foot is on the ground. We should be moving towards where the throw is to be made, stepping through with the throwing foot and release. Quicker you get the ball in the air the better.

TexHS,

Is "Stepping through" where your kids crow hop?

BTW, The Skill groups you sent really got our staff working on identifying skills WE need to teach better. Thanks again.

I depends on how the catch is made. Ideally we want to catch it at its highest point and as were moving in so we can use this momentum on our throw. Glove foot landing on the catch stepping through with the throwing foot and then plantig the glove foot on the throw. Sometimes this is not possible because we have had to run a ball down either glove side or back hand side. Then we teach several different ways to get back on line for the throw.

i think catching with the glove foot forward, landing at time of the catch, is the best way. finished with a step through, or low crow hop. too big of a crow hop waste time, and converts the enrgy to up and down instead of forward. do you teach step in front or behind with the throwing side foot. (on the crow hop)(what about footwork with the infielders... in front or behind)

Mittman,

That makes good sense with the crow hop creating up movement instead of forward movement.

I teach step in front/step behind depending on where the catch is made in regards to throwing target.Catch to Leftside step in front. Rightside step behind..... But then again, I'm learning more each day here.

The word "crow hop" we don't use. Instead we talk about driving to the target with the throwing leg. If they have prepared with the ball in the air, and have gotten behind the ball, while moving into their throw with glove leg on the ground while making contact, the throwing leg should be driven low at their target stepping through, not hopping or getting up in the air.

I disagree with too much crow hop is too much up and down. If I don't take a big crow-hop than I end up overstriding (also bad for pitchers) and throw with my front side, and result in throwing slower and inaccurate (like pitchers). The higher crow-hop helps me stay balanced, and helps use my whole body to throw harder and more accurate, it also helps me get more on top of the ball and more overhand, and my throws are in a straight line almost parallel to the ground. Then again that's just me, and everyone is different. Shorter crow hops will work some and won't work for others.

"Attitude is a little thing that makes a BIG difference"

Something to think about - we teach to sprint to the ball, then, stay 2 steps beyone the ball with "happy feet." In this scenerio, it seems you are talking about a fly ball in an area where the fielder is facing the throw. Yes, then the fielder steps forward and the glove hand foot hits as the catch is made. We use the term crow-hop but we have generated serious momentum from that burst of speed as we catch the ball. Oh, another thought - the glove must be on the throwing side and above the eye. This enables the outfield to "collect their body on that crow hop and throw.

Something else that I have noticed in my brief times as a coach (19 years). It seems that on this "crow-hop" some players throw their foot behind the glove leg and some throw it in front. I believe this is steping through as some of you have called it. It is very difficult for players to change from their natural way of doing this. Any thoughts on this?

"There comes a time when you have to stop dreaming of the man you want to be and start being the man you have become." Bruce Springsteen

Underground,
I believe you will find that throwing runners out, or making big plays from the outfield that win you games, can come down to bang-bang plays. When you talk about the higher crow hop, you are spending time in the air, when in actuality, the quicker you get the ball from the glove and on its way, the faster it is. Take a stop watch and time them from the outfielder catching the ball to the catch from a cut-off man, and I think you will see it is much faster. We want the ball in the air as quick as we can get it. Try it in workouts.

Gee I don't know. I seem to throw much harder when I collect myself together in the crowhop, and anthing faster feels like to much of a rush and my throws go all over the place. I'll try things whenever practice starts.

"Attitude is a little thing that makes a BIG difference"