Baseball Coaching Tips: Watch the Glove - 365 Days to Better Baseball

Saturday Secrets to Great Baseball Coaching

Baseball Coaching Tips - Glove Position

I often state that youth baseball coaches do not have to be experts in order to help youth ball players and people should not expect them to be, either, but there are some basic baseball coaching tips that make them look like experts. It can be difficult for untrained coaches to see exactly what players are doing wrong. Good baseball coaching tips help players and requires coaches to concentrate on one thing, instead of the whole picture. On defense, the thing that coaches can focus on is the fielder's glove.

Key Baseball Coaching Tips - Glove Position onGround Balls

Good fielding fundamentals suggest that it is easier to raise the glove than to lower it, so coaches should be sure players' gloves begins below the height of the hop on ground balls. This move often begins in ready position where the glove should begin low and never raise when approaching ground balls. Much of that is dependent on players keeping their head low and the ability to run quickly on the balls of their feet.

Key Baseball Coaching Tips - Glove Position on Thrown balls

This principal of beginning the glove low, knowing it is easier to raise the baseball glove, applies for line drive throws also. Coaches should watch that players do not give high targets when they set their target for the thrown ball.

Key Baseball Coaching Tips - Position by Position Glove Position

Each Position has its own key glove position starting spot and if coaches keep an eye on the glove at each position is can help their team's defense, as well as help to win more games.

Key glove position at each baseball position

Catcher catchers should give low targets to pitchers while definitely not covering their eyes with the glove. First base Nowhere is it more important than at first base to set a lower half body target with the glove hand beginning sideways, especially on short distance throws. Middle Infield On double play balls, the fingers should be pointing up with both the glove and bare hand, as the knees are slightly bent. Third base No position requires the glove to begin very low in ready position as the hot corner position. Outfield Coaches should inform players that any ball that can be caught with the fingers up should be. Once again, if youth baseball coaches simply watch the glove position before each catch, they can help players' defensive play.