Softball: Fielding

In my last blog post I will be talking about Fielding. My whole life I have played softball and i still can't shake the fear of a ground ball. The fear of going up to scoop the ball with my glove and it hitting a bump in the grass or dirt and smacking me square in the face. You'd think after how many times Iv'e been hit I wouldn't be that afraid anymore, but no the fear is still there. Some things to keep in mind when fielding grounders is to stay balanced with your dominant foot in front of the other and have your catching hand ready to cover the ball in your glove once you caught it. It's important to have your hand over the ball once you catch it because you keep it from coming out of your glove ( preventing it from hitting your face ), and since your hand is already on the ball, you can make a throw.

Another thing about fielding it good throws. As I explained in my last post (Throwing) it is really important to know how to throw a softball and get it to its destination. And with getting the ball where it needs to be, you have to be able to catch the ball and throw it to the next play is.

Also in fielding is Pop-fly's. Unlike Grounders Pop-fly's are one of my favorite things in softball. Pop-Fly's you have to be able to estimate where the ball is gonna land, make sure your using two hands to cover the ball so you don't drop it. With Pop- Fly's you don't have to worry about it hitting a bump in the ground and it ending up in your face. But there is the chance of you being blinded by the sun, not being able to see and having the ball end up smacking you right in the face.

"The majority of errors made by outfielders occur on ground balls...the arms are away from the body and give that little on impact. Both hands are used for the catch" ( Veroni 117-118).

Grounders and Pop-fly's are two of the main things in playing softball when fielding. Just keep in mind when you're playing, to keep balance with your front foot further in front than your back foot, use two hands when catching the ball and lastly having good throws.

What do you think is more scary? Grounders or Pop- Fly's?

Book: 

Coaching Fastpitch/softball successfully

Kathy Veroni / Roanna Brazier