Great outfield lesson, coach! And you are so right, sir, when you talk about kids looks at outfield duty as parole hearings. Outfield is not just incredibly important, but can be so much fun. I have hour long drills with my boy, Carter, and his friends called "The Willie Mays Game," in which I throw balls over their heads (to their left and right, too) and they have to make spectacular catches. Now, they all love the outfield.
I know there is always a debate between losing track of the ball if you turn your back, but would you really want to run the risk of tripping over yourself if when you change direction (and have your chest facing the infield) instead of a fast head turn and not having to exert so much unnecessary force in changing dirctions? I'm not arguing, I would just love some clarification because I grew up being taught to not back peddle/change direction with chest facing forward and that's always been a better technique for me.
***** , As soon as many youth players (usually around 12U or majors in LL) go into travel or Pony or Senior league baseball, good outfield play becomes a greater need. When your being taught advanced outfield play (to chase down shots hit in the gap or balls hit directly over your head) and I mean above LL= (Little League) into travel baseball. And especially when the baseball fields get much bigger and (some public park and recs don't have fences). The correct technique is to use the quick crossover and run to the area where you think the ball is going to be hit. Of course, you need to find the ball to see it and try to catch it but many times just getting to the ball and starting the "relay" means so much to holding baserunners to just one base. You were taught correctly and "not to back peddle", (because yes that really slows an outfielder down).
Back peddling is never a good thing. In this video it looks like a back peddle but it's suppose to be more like running towards the fence but doing a "head snap" to change directions. I didn't do a good job over exaggerating my actions. Our other videos outline this drill better.
Great outfield lesson, coach! And you are so right, sir, when you talk about kids looks at outfield duty as parole hearings. Outfield is not just incredibly important, but can be so much fun. I have hour long drills with my boy, Carter, and his friends called "The Willie Mays Game," in which I throw balls over their heads (to their left and right, too) and they have to make spectacular catches. Now, they all love the outfield.
This guy does a great job.
Great Video.
I know there is always a debate between losing track of the ball if you turn your back, but would you really want to run the risk of tripping over yourself if when you change direction (and have your chest facing the infield) instead of a fast head turn and not having to exert so much unnecessary force in changing dirctions? I'm not arguing, I would just love some clarification because I grew up being taught to not back peddle/change direction with chest facing forward and that's always been a better technique for me.
***** , As soon as many youth players (usually around 12U or majors in LL) go into travel or Pony or Senior league baseball, good outfield play becomes a greater need. When your being taught advanced outfield play (to chase down shots hit in the gap or balls hit directly over your head) and I mean above LL= (Little League) into travel baseball. And especially when the baseball fields get much bigger and (some public park and recs don't have fences). The correct technique is to use the quick crossover and run to the area where you think the ball is going to be hit. Of course, you need to find the ball to see it and try to catch it but many times just getting to the ball and starting the "relay" means so much to holding baserunners to just one base. You were taught correctly and "not to back peddle", (because yes that really slows an outfielder down).
Very nice
U actually are supposed to fade back because if u spin u will trip 😉
Awesome..
Back peddling is never a good thing. In this video it looks like a back peddle but it's suppose to be more like running towards the fence but doing a "head snap" to change directions. I didn't do a good job over exaggerating my actions. Our other videos outline this drill better.