fielding mechanics

Question
Whats proper technique for fielding groundballs?  From set up to the throw.  Trying to coach little leaguers. Anyhelp would be appreciated.

Answer
Sorry for the delay in answering you--I've been offline for a while.  If you are coaching little leaguers, just keep it very simple.  You can start by making them all stand on a line, and you stand about fifty feet away with the ball.  They are all ready to field.  You say okay, "Ready?"  And you pump your arm and look at the sky...but don't throw it.

Did they all turn and start running back?  They should.  Play a game and see who is making the mistake.  When the ball is in the air, EVERYBODY go BACK back back!

Then, just when you have them all ready to run back, you throw them a grounder.  Now, they should all be running forward "charging" at the ball.

So now you have a game.  You can make an elimination thing out of it if you want.  

Ball in the air, BACK BACK BACK!

Ball on the ground, CHARRRRGE!

That is the most important thing for outfielders, especially.  As far as the pickup, the basics for grounders are as follows:

Keep your eye on the ball, ALWAYS.  See that rolling ball as it goes into your glove.

KEEP your BUTT down and be quick to get around the ball.  "You play the ball, don't let the ball play you."  In other words, have a plan of how where you are going to pick up the grounder.  Don't just watch it and chase it.

Use both hands.  The ball might pop out of your glove but you can still grab it and throw it.  One way to practice this is without gloves using a bouncy tennis ball.

Keep the glove down in the dirt or the grass.  Too many kids pick up their glove and the ball goes right through their legs.

Fielding grounders is not usually pretty.  Teach them to be like hockey goalies and stop that ball using your legs, your chest, your other leg, your foot--just stay in front of it and "knock it down."  Then you throw it.  Doesn't matter how you stopped it from rolling.  If you stopped it, you stopped it.  Important technique: droping to one knee to block a choppy grounder--especially important for outfielders.

Try to teach them to have relaxed, "soft" hands.  As they field, teach them to be cool about receiving the ball.  Smooth, cool, and relaxed makes for less richochets and bobbles.  A ball is more likely to stop at a soft spot, and more likely to bounce away from a hard spot or hand, or glove.

If at all possible (I don't know how old the kids you are coaching are,) but consider athletic supporters and cups.  it can add a lot of confidence to stopping a ball--especially the ones hit right at the kid.

Good luck.