Developing Infielders

Areas of Development

• Physical Aspects• Leadership Aspects• Mental Aspects

Baseball is …

A Game Failure …

Coached by Negative People …

Played in a Hostile Environment.

Played in a Hostile Environment.

Mental Skills

• Ability to perform a skill correctly under intense pressure (“Mental Toughness”)

• “Bear down!”--“Concentrate!”--“Get it done!”• Instead, give them something to go to!– Heads Up Baseball by Ken Ravizza– The Mental Game of Baseball by H.A. Dorfman

Distractions

• Previous error• Struck out last AB• Hitting/Fielding slump• Umpire• Newspaper/TV• Opponent dugout• Noisy crowd• Idiot fan

• Coach is on me• Will I start• Field conditions• Dad• Fielding streak• Bad exam• Girlfriend• Inconsistent pitcher

Turn Off the Noise

Live BR vs. Live Defense Drill

• Two teams• Coach at home plate with a fungo• Pitchers rotate quickly to mound from sideline• Begin with runner on 1B, no outs• Extra runners form line at home – wait 1 count• Play 9 innings before switching• Players communicate out and inning• Coach controls pressure with score/fungo

Dumb It Down “See Ball, Hit Ball.”

Dumb It Down

Dumb It Down

H.A. Dorfman’s Mental Approach to Fielding

• Anticipation and Attentiveness• Goals – Process-oriented/action/short-term• Expectations – yours, not those of others• Dedication – focused on the goals you set• Responsibility – no bad hops, no excuses• Attitude – is fielding important? (Manny vs. Ozzie)• Confidence – state of mind formed by achievement

of daily goals• Preparation – practice the way you want to play

Defensive Goals

Result Goals• Fielding % = .985• Defensive MVP of League• Set a record for

assists/putouts• Start every game at 3B

Process/Action Goals• Arrive for early work at

least four times this week• Get infielders together to

work on rundowns today• Start 20 DPs to my

backhand side• Be aware of my thought

before each pitch in scrimmage

Visualization

Routine

Take Ownership of the Field

Development Stages• Unconscious Incompetence – Player can't catch a cold and doesn't

have a clue why. (Is there sufficient talent? Is the player “teachable”?)

• Conscious Incompetence – Player still can't catch a cold, but now knows what he is doing wrong. (You're teaching and he is learning.)

• Conscious Competence - Goes out to the infield telling himself what he has to do to succeed and then executes the plan. (Teaching and discipline lead to success.)

• Unconscious Competence – Player expects every pitch will be hit to him. See the ball; catch the ball. (If you're at this level and start thinking about how to do it, you're taking a step backward. If you're at this level coming out of high school, you might skip college and go to Class A.)

Leadership

Player Makeup

Player 1 Player 2 Player 30

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Tools (Hardware)Intangibles (Software)

The Game Speeds Up

RHH Running to 1B LHH Running to 1B

Above Average 4.2 Sec 4.1 Sec.

Average 4.3 4.2

Below Average 4.4 4.3

Well Below Average 4.5 4.4

ML FB Velocity

Well Above Average 94+

Above Average 92-93

Average 89-91

Below Average 87-88

Well Below Average 86 and below

Infield Objectives• Prepare mentally• Play high level game of catch• Consistently utilize efficient movement of

upper and lower body

Pre-Contact

• Know the hitter• Know the pitch• Read location• Read the swing

Ready Position

Triangle

Triangle

Bad Triangles

Bad Triangle

Narrow Base Deep Hands

Use of the Glove

Hinge and Fold

4 Ways to Avoid a Car Accident

• Turn Right• Turn Left• Slow Down• Speed Up

Gas and Brake Pedal

4 Places to Field a Ground Ball

1

2

34

The Difference Maker

Abandon the Triangle

Abandon the Triangle

Forehand

Backhand

Ground Ball Drills

• Shorthops with partner– At him– Forehand– Backhand

• Pick-a-hop• One-hand fungo• Rounding

Grip

Hand Separation

Direction

• Throwing leg under• Headlights• Elbows up and on line• Eyes level• Stay in the legs

Direction

Posture and Arm Path

Release Angle

Extension

One-Knee Correct

One-Knee Incorrect

Shoulder Turn

Heel Over

DP Pivot Throwing

DP Pivot Throwing

DP Feeds

DP Feeds

DP Feeds

DP Feeds

Tag Plays

Relays

Other Drills

• Four Corner Catch• Z Catch• Man In the Middle• 21

Rundowns

Final Thoughts

• Fielding Percentage– Jimmy Rollins 2008 (.985)– Cal Ripken 1990 (.996)

• Creating pressure in practice is key – work the mental game

• Frequency of training • Infielders must be defensive leaders• Fungos are “side toss” … make it live

Contact Information

Chris Sperrysperry@up.edu(503) 943-7707 O(360) 906-1979 M