Hitting gets the glory, but fielding wins games — and the fundamentals of catching, scooping grounders and making clean throws are very learnable for the rec-league player. The guide: why fielding matters, the fundamentals of ground balls, fly balls and throws and the practice-and-positioning notes.

The Fielding-Fundamentals Case

Why fielding fundamentals matter: the the-fielding-wins-games (the fielding winning-games (defense) from the rec-league-softball chapter — the the-fielding; the the-wins-games; the the-defense-matters), the the-hitting-gets-glory-fielding-wins (the hitting-glory but fielding-wins — the the-glory-vs-wins; the the-underrated-fielding), the the-fundamentals-are-learnable (the fielding-fundamentals being learnable — the the-learnable; the the-fundamentals; the the-teachable), the the-basics-first (the master-the-basics (catching, grounders, throws) — the the-basics; the the-fundamentals-first), the the-confidence-in-the-field (the good-fielding building field-confidence — the the-confidence; the the-in-the-field), and the reframe (the softball-fielding as learnable-fundamentals that win-games — the master-the-basics; the the-fielding-wins).

The Ground-Balls-Fly-Balls-and-Throws Breakdown

The fielding fundamentals: the the-ready-position (the athletic ready-position (low, ready) — the the-ready-position; the the-athletic-stance; the the-be-ready), the the-ground-balls (the ground-balls: get-low, glove-down, field-out-front, watch-it-in — the the-grounders; the the-glove-down; the the-field-out-front; the the-watch-it-in), the the-charge-the-ball (the charge-the-ball (dont-wait) — the the-charge; the the-attack-the-ball), the the-fly-balls (the fly-balls: get-under-it, two-hands, watch-it-into-the-glove — the the-fly-balls; the the-get-under; the the-two-hands), the the-throwing-mechanics (the good throwing-mechanics from the softball-throwing chapter — the the-throwing; the the-mechanics; the the-clean-throws), the the-catch-and-throw-transition (the quick catch-to-throw transition — the the-transition; the the-quick-release), the the-use-two-hands (the two-hands (secure-the-catch) — the the-two-hands; the the-secure), and the the-communication (the communicate (call-the-ball) — the the-communication; the the-call-it).

The Practice-and-Positioning Notes

Practice and positioning: the the-practice-grounders-and-flies (the practice fielding-grounders-and-fly-balls — the the-practice; the the-reps; the the-drill-it), the the-throwing-practice (the throwing-practice from the softball-throwing chapter — the the-throwing-practice; the the-drill-throws), the the-solo-and-partner-drills (the solo-and-partner fielding-drills — the the-drills; the the-solo-and-partner), the the-know-your-position (the know-your-position-and-responsibilities — the the-position; the the-responsibilities), the the-positioning-and-anticipation (the positioning-and-anticipating-the-play — the the-positioning; the the-anticipation), the the-back-up-and-communicate (the back-up-teammates-and-communicate — the the-back-up; the the-communicate), the the-rec-league-fun (the enjoy-the-rec-league from the rec-league-softball chapter — the the-fun; the the-rec-league), and the frame (softball fielding through the fielding-fundamentals-case, the ground-balls-fly-balls-and-throws and practice-and-positioning — the ready-position, grounders, flies and throws practiced-and-positioned that win-games; the fielding, fundamentals-mastered). Hitting gets the glory, but fielding wins games — and the fundamentals are very learnable. Master them: start in an athletic ready position, field ground balls low with your glove down and out front (charge the ball, watch it in), catch fly balls by getting under them with two hands, and make clean throws with good mechanics and a quick transition. Communicate (call the ball). Then practice grounders, flies and throws with solo-and-partner drills, know your position, and anticipate the play: softball fielding, fundamentals mastered.

Hitting gets the glory, but fielding wins games — and the fundamentals of catching, scooping grounders and making clean throws are very learnable. Master them: start in an athletic ready position; field ground balls by getting low with your glove down and out front (charge the ball, watch it into the glove); catch fly balls by getting under them with two hands; and make clean throws with good mechanics and a quick catch-to-throw transition. Use two hands to secure catches and communicate (call the ball). Then practice grounders, flies and throws with solo-and-partner drills, and learn your position: fielding, fundamentals mastered.