Catching Fly Balls

Although we commonly think of catching fly balls as an outfield skill, infielders use these same skills sometimes. The first part of successfully catching a fly ball is to see the ball off the bat as the batter hits it. Judge the angle of the hit, and react to how deep it is.

After you decide to catch the ball, communicate your intention to your teammates. With enough volume so that everyone near the ball can hear you, call the ball with short and clear words at least three times. For example, shout, “Mine, mine, mine!”

Anticipate where the ball will fall and move under it, establishing a balanced athletic position with your nonthrowing-side foot slightly in front of the other. It is important to be able to move laterally as well as forward and back at the last second in order to adjust to make the catch.

Track the path of the ball with your eyes, and finally raise your glove in time to catch the ball above the throwing-hand shoulder. Make sure the glove is high enough above your shoulder to cushion the ball as it lands. To help soften the collision of the ball with the glove, bring your glove hand in toward your body as the ball hits it. This is called giving with the ball. Cover the ball in the glove with your throwing hand to prevent the ball from popping out.

Only after catching the ball should you worry about throwing it. If you have ever seen someone drop a ball because she was trying to throw it too quickly, you know what I mean.

There are certainly many different ways to catch a fly ball, and often the most fundamentally sound technique isn’t the one required to get the job done. In fact, some of the most memorable moments in a game occur when a player must make a diving catch or take a home run away by climbing the fence to pull the ball back in. Watching professional baseball players may give you the impression that making a spectacular catch is more routine than making the typical two-hand catch. The reality is making a great play takes a lot of practice as well as a great deal of athleticism. To make that game-saving catch, you must practice these skills repeatedly. You never know when you might have the opportunity to use them.

One-Hand Catch A simple one-hand catch can either be a necessity or an act of laziness that can lose a game. When making a catch on the run, using one hand is preferred since it gives you a longer reach as you extend yourself for the ball. As you run to intercept the ball, continue pumping your arms for maximum speed. Extend your glove arm to meet the ball, and cushion the blow by giving with the ball as it lands in the glove. Secure the ball in the glove with the throwing hand. Establish a proper throwing base by lowering your center of gravity, shortening your steps, and slowing down to change direction.

Basket Catch One form of the one-hand catch is the basket catch because the ball falls into the glove as an apple would fall into a basket. The basket catch is typically used for fly balls that are in front of the player. To make the basket catch, run in to meet the ball, open the glove with the palm up, and point the fingers toward the sky. If your timing is right, the ball will land in the webbing of the glove. Again cushion the landing. The basket catch can be a difficult play, but it may be necessary if you misjudge a fly ball and need to sprint quickly to make the play.

Once in a while, you may have to slide on one knee while making a basket catch. Tuck one foot underneath the knee of the extended leg, similar to sliding into a base, and reach out with the glove hand to make the play. Sliding allows you to get lower to the ground so you can catch the ball just before it hits the grass.

Diving Catch A great diving catch is a memorable play, but it is a very difficult play and should be practiced often. Whether diving to the side, to the front, or behind you, it is important to be running at full speed just before the catch. After you realize that you won’t get to the ball unless you dive for it, lower your center of gravity by bending at the knees, reach out with both arms toward the ball, and watch the ball all the way into your glove. To help prevent injury, land on your abdomen and keep your chin up so it doesn’t smack into the ground. Keep the glove off the ground if possible. The ball might be knocked out of the glove if the glove hits the ground after the ball is caught.

Backhand Catch When running down a ball that is away from your glove side, a backhand catch may be necessary. While sprinting to intercept the ball, extend the glove arm across your body, opening the pocket by rotating your forearm and wrist so that it faces the oncoming ball. Carefully watch the ball all the way into the glove, then squeeze tightly once the ball is safely in the glove.