Three Keys to Becoming a Better Infielder

Being an infielder is not an easy task, and ground balls of any kind can become the devil quickly. Effortless fielding is an unquestioned misnomer, as "making it look easy", in actuality, is remarkably difficult. Unlike learning to ride a bike, a skill that seemingly one never forgets, infielders can suffer from lapses and technique problems. Much like hitters who experience slumps, infielders can and will get into ruts that drive coaches, teammates, and the infielder himself mad.

So, whether you want to improve your basic skill or get out of a troublesome, error-filled situation, consider these three basic elements. Each is critical to an infielder's success, and none should ever be taken lightly.

1. Relax before the pitch: Too many infielders, especially those on the younger levels whose coaches want them to do this, are broken down into the fielding position as the ball is in flight from the pitcher to the batter. Squatted down to the ground with their gloves extended, these infielders have essentially rendered themselves motionless and have limited their reaction time significantly. Sure they look pretty, but what is the price you pay for such "beauty"? Are you really prepared to do the job an infielder must do?

Rather than locking yourself up, stand in a balanced, relaxed position that keeps your body weight toward the hitter, your arms and legs pliable, and your glove in a calm yet open position. As the pitcher releases the ball, take a quick hop step so your body is moving slightly when the ball reaches the hitting zone. Recalling the idea that things in motion tend to stay in motion, this momentum will allow you to react quickly and efficiently Like a guard in basketball or a linebacker in football, an infielder should have a basic ready position that comes before the actual tracking and fielding of the ball. Stay relaxed and in motion. This will keep you mentally and physically ready.

2. Know your feet: Great infielders don't just have exceptional hands, but rather they have amazing feet. You may have pillow-like hands, but if your feet fail then you'll make far too many errors. Your feet hold the key to getting your hands in the right place to make the play defensively. Working hard on getting your body in the best fielding position gives your hands the chance to do the job upon which you are judged. People see infielders make mistakes and they claim that they have "hands of stone". While that could be true in some cases, more often than not that player's feet lagged behind and did not get his body in the best place to perform. Doing footwork drills and paying attention to the angles you use when approaching a groundball are as important as doing glove work. Remember your feet!

3. Reach down and out: Watch a young infielder approach a ball and inevitably you'll see him set to catch it somewhere between his knees, which is a position that, as the game quickens, becomes a nightmare. Suffering from "alligator arms"-ones that seem to be only a few inches from your body--makes for a bad infielder. When your arms and hands get back between your knees, you will lose your range of motion left and right, and you will fail to see the ball entirely into the glove; in essence, you create a blind spot. Instead of this, focus on reaching down and out toward the ball. While keeping the elbows slightly flexed, extend the arms and hands out to the ball and down to the dirt. Doing so not only allows you to see your hands and thus the baseball into the glove, but it also forces your upper body to get low. Remind yourself to trust your hands and let them get out there and do the work.

In the end, relax before you have to spring into action, care about what your feet are doing, and reach to the ball. While an endless set of skills exists beyond these when training any infielder, these three are a perfect place to start, or a great place to revisit if you are struggling.