Fielding Drill: 1st Base Off Bag (Baseball)
Develop first baseman's ability to field ground balls after breaking from holding a runner, using proper shuffle footwork.
Instructions
Players is on 1st base, slightly in front of the bag as if they were keeping a runner on the bag Coach is at home plate with a bucket of baseballs and a bat 1 st baseman shuffles off of the bag to get into their fielding position Focus should be on making good athletic shuffles to get into position to field a groundball, not running and crossing the feet Coach waits until the player has taken 1 shuffle off of the bag and hits them a groundball 1 st baseman fields the ground ball and tosses it off to the side Coach hits the 1 st baseman groundballs until they have had 10 repetitions (players may rotate if more than one 1st baseman)
Coaching Points
- Use shuffle steps off the bag, don't cross your feet
- Stay low and athletic in your shuffles
- One shuffle then ready position - be balanced
- Read the ball off the bat quickly
- Communicate with pitcher who's covering the bag
- Practice both left and right side grounders
At a Glance
- Gloves
- bucket of baseballs
- base
- fungo bat
Quick Actions
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