5 Things You Need to Know About Fielding a Baseball

1. Fielding Stance

Fielding begins with confidence, and that confidence starts with the proper stance. Bend your knees and move your feet slightly wider than shoulders' width apart. You should be alert and on the balls of your feet. Unless necessary, do not field the baseball with the weight on your heels. Finally, distribute your weight evenly to both feet, enabling you to move in either direction.

2. Stay Down and Concentrate

One of the most common mistakes in fielding the baseball is rising too quickly out of the proper stance. Players do this because there are eager go throw out a runner or anxious that they may not be able to reach the ball. Concentrate on the ball. Go get it--do not wait for the baseball to come to you. As you are moving towards the baseball, keep your knees bent and lower the glove towards the location of the baseball. Do not rise up until the baseball is safely in your possession.

3. Anticipation

When fielding a baseball a player can anticipate where a baseball is going before it is hit. Knowing who is batting and what their tendencies are enables the fielder to get a head start. Also, be cognizant of what type of pitch the pitcher is planning to throw. This helps to anticipate the baseball direction off the bat. For instance, if the pitch is on the outside of the plate, the hitter is more likely to hit the baseball down the first or third base lines.

4. Practice Till You Forget

The only way you are going to get better at fielding the baseball is through practice. Have someone hit you ground balls and flyballs until the act of fielding becomes second nature. A good fielder never has to think about the mechanics; they have practiced it so much their bodies just react from muscle memory.

5. Fits Like a Glove

Without a proper glove, fielding is so much harder. There are gloves for different positions, ages, and hand sizes. Finding the right glove may take some time but it will pay off in the end. In addition, a person must properly break in and treat a glove. Use glove oil or shaving cream and putting a baseball securely inside the glove and tying it shut when you are not using it loosens the leather and establishes the correct shape.