RIJO ATHLETICS FIELDING
Introduction and Philosophy
Our fielding philosophy here and Rijo Athletics Baseball & Softball is very similar to what we do with hitting. You should always feel comfortable and confident in what you are doing first. We don’t clone you to have to do certain things certain ways. There is more than one way to field a ground ball! What we do is try to put you into the best positions possible to be able to field the ball correctly. To be the best fielder you can be, you need to have the quickest hands and feet possible, which will, in turn, enable you to be more athletic and more of a “stand out” on the field. You must also create some leadership qualities in being vocal and knowing and communicating what to do before it happens. These attributes in a player are always looked at and graded by professional scouts and college recruiters.
During our infield instruction we teach:
Setup
Approach
Fielding position
Backhands
Slow Rollers
Double Plays
Turning 2
Relays
Drills
Some drills that will be preformed are as follows:
Deflection drills (transfers): flat glove, regular glove
Setup and fielding position drill: with right, left setup
Approach drill: cone and hurdle – “get around it”
Quick feet: S & A - cross over.
For the outfield:
Some of the outfield drills that will be covered during our lessons are as follows:
Position Responsibilities
Priorities in the outfield on fly balls
Communication with infielders and other outfielders
Responsibilities on run-down plays
Responsibilities on pick-off plays
Responsibilities on bunts
Backing up bases (on every play)
Outfield Play:
In determining how to play the hitter, consider:
Field conditions (length of grass, wet grounds, etc.)
Position of the fences (shorter the fences, shorter you can play)
The sun, field and the wind factor
Type of pitcher (overpowering the hitters? Or are they pulling everything?)
Ability of adjacent outfielders and own ability to cover ground
Speed of infielders
Game situation
Movement by the count
Before the pitch is thrown, the outfielder must ask himself:
What do I do if the ball is hit to me? To another outfielder? To an infielder?
Where do I throw the ball when I get it?
Who is the cutoff man?
What are my back-up responsibilities?
What is the batter’s speed, power, etc.?
Is it a situation to gamble on a catch?
Am I playing properly (position wise)?
CAMPS AND ACADEMIES:
If the camp dates listed do not meet your needs, individual instruction if offered year-round. Please call for pricing and available dates.
CALL (425) 486-4878 FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER.