1st base footwork

Question
Hello,
In softball, the player starts about 5 feet in front of 1st base and about 5 feet inside the 1st base line.  When the ball is hit, should the player turn towards the baseline to find the bag and set-up for the play or turn to the inside to see the ball and then find the bag and then set-up for the play?

You may need to pretend to walk through this scenerio to fully understand.  It seems very difficult to turn towards the field of play and then find the bag behind you, but does it matter if you slighly turn your back on the ball in play until you find the bag?

Thanks,
Bart

Answer
FIRST BASEMAN DRILLS

FINDING THE BASE
Purpose: To improve the player's ability to find the bag and set themselves for the throw.
Equipment: A base, glove, softballs and a cone
Procedure:

Have the player take 4-5 steps from the bag and use a cone to mark that position so she knows where to start every time.
The player will pivot towards the infield and run back to the base.
The player will look at the bag when she pivots then she looks in the direction from where the ball is coming from.
She look at the base just before she just there if necessary.
She can either set both feet to the inside of the bag with throwing foot remaining in contact with the bag or set both on foot on each corner and shuffle to adjust to the throw.
Once she finds the bag, she readies her self to receive the throw.
This drill should be performed for a prescribed period of time or a designated number of repetitions .
Coaching Points:
Emphasize turning and running hard back to the base.
Emphasize finding the bag as quickly as possible.
Emphasize looking for the throw as she is running back to the bag.
GLOVE POSITION AND STRETCHING
Purpose: To improves the players ability to stretch at the correct time and get the player to catch the ball with the proper glove position.
Equipment: A base, softballs and a glove
Procedure:

Have the player start in her ready position at the proper stop on the field.
The coach will say :go: and the player will pivot and run back to the bag and will stretch and catch the ball with the proper mechanics.
The player will stretch for the ball when she is about to receive the ball.
The player will point the fingers of her glove up when the ball is above the waist and the fingers down when the ball is below the waist.
This drill should be performed for a prescribed period of time or a designated number of repetitions.
Coaching Points:
Emphasize the proper catching techniques.
Emphasize not stretching too soon.
Emphasize the proper footwork back to the bag.
FINDING THE BASE
Purpose: To improve the player's ability to find the bag and set themselves for the throw.
Equipment: A base, glove, softballs and a cone
Procedure:

Have the player take 4-5 steps from the bag and use a cone to mark that position so she knows where to start every time.
The player will pivot towards the infield and run back to the base.
The player will look at the bag when she pivots then she looks in the direction from where the ball is coming from.
She look at the base just before she just there if necessary.
She can either set both feet to the inside of the bag with throwing foot remaining in contact with the bag or set both on foot on each corner and shuffle to adjust to the throw.
Once she finds the bag, she readies her self to receive the throw.
This drill should be performed for a prescribed period of time or a designated number of repetitions .
Coaching Points:
Emphasize turning and running hard back to the base.
Emphasize finding the bag as quickly as possible.
Emphasize looking for the throw as she is running back to the bag