Frame of Mind
When you are ready to step into the batter's box, be confident! You should feel balanced and relaxed. As you step into the batters box, do it with a sense of determination and focus. Set yourself by digging in with your back foot to gain good footing and balance. Demonstrate to the pitcher that you are ready to play.

Depth in Box
To set your feet at the proper depth each time, place your right toe on the back corner of the plate, then your left toe behind your right heel. Finally, step back with your right foot to establish a proper distance and depth (for left-handed batters, do the opposite). How far back you stand in the box is a matter of personal preference. Standing deeper allows more time for pitchers who pitch fast, but it may be tougher to hit a breaking ball type of pitch that sinks out in front.

Batting Stance
The type of stance you use is up to you. Many successful batters have very different stances. However, a balanced stance with your feet square to the plate provides you the best position to properly uncork a good swing. Allow enough room to take a good 6-8 inch step toward the pitcher as you begin swing.

The Glove
Finding a glove that best suits your needs is mostly based on how it feels to you. A glove that is flexible usually has soft leather and is easier to squeeze. Condition your glove with glove oil to make it more pliable and ready for action. Gloves with a deep pocket make it tough to turn a double play because the ball gets lost in the pocket. Second basemen usually have the smallest gloves of all the fielders while shortstops will have slightly bigger gloves than second basemen. A good baseball glove mainly has to feel right to you.

• When scooping balls out of the dirt, try to keep your glove down.
• If you see the ball bounce, raise your glove with the ball
• Provide cushion when scooping the ball so that it doesn't pop out.
• If you are a first baseman, always expect a bad throw so you'll be ready for it.
• Properly positioning prior to the pitcher throwing a pitch - position yourself as far back from the batter as you feel comfortable, but take into consideration how fast the batter will run to first base.
• If you are playing third base when a double play situation arises, and a ground ball is hit toward the third base side, try to wait for the ball to get close enough to you before starting your movement towards second base.
• If a runner on second is looking to steal third, make sure that you keep an eye on him. If he attempts to steal third, wait as long as you can to see if the batter at home plate hits the ball.
• If a runner is rounding third base and heading home, and a ball is hit to the outfield, try to position yourself about 15 feet in from the baseline.

• Work on throwing some long tosses to make your arm stronger.
• Getting on top of the ball, versus to the side, will help straighten your throws.
• Do not let your arm drop to the side if you are throwing over the top.
• Try to hold the ball across the seam.

Fundamentals
All baseball players need to learn how to properly run the bases. Each player differs in their ability to run, some run fast while others run a bit slower. However, good baserunning has a lot to do with knowing when to run and when not to run.

The 3 key rules of effective baserunning are:

• Check the coach for a signal - know the signal before you leave the base.
• Check for where the fielders are playing.
• Before you leave the base, know where the baseball is at all times.

First Step
Getting a good jump out of the batter's box after hitting is the first step to good baserunning. A right handed hitter should step with his right foot toward first base after hitting the ball. A left handed hitter should cross-over with his left foot by opening up his right after hitting the ball.

Quick Look
On the 3rd or 4th step, the batter should take a quick look to see if the ball is on the infield. If so, the runner should plan to run through first base. If the ball has gone to the outfield, the runner should plan to make a turn at first base toward second base. The runner should not watch the ball after the quick look, instead focus on running hard to first base.

Straight Line
Run in a straight line toward first base. Runners need to stay within the restraining box that begins about halfway up the first baseline. You can be called out if you are hit with a ball while outside the restraining line.

• Do not leap for first base - run through first base.
• Attempt to touch the front of the base.
• Touch first base every time.
• Run full speed through first base.

Rounding First
After taking a quick look, if the ball has gone into the outfield, plan to round first base. Begin a bending turn about halfway to first base. Touch the inside corner of the bag with the outside of the right foot. If reaching second base is not possible, keep an eye on the ball while returning to first base.

Running from First to Second

Taking Signs
If baserunning signals are used, be sure to 'take' a sign while standing on first base. Focus on what needs to happen before the ball is pitched. Guard against becoming distracted by other players, fans, etc.

Getting Back
Be responsible for jumping back to first base if the batter doesn't hit the ball and catcher attempts to throw to first base. It is possible the catcher may make a bad throw allowing you to advance to second base.

Popups
If the batter hits a popup or flyball, move toward second base depending upon where the ball is hit. Go about 1/4 of the way to second if the ball is hit in the air to right field, 1/3 of the way if the ball is hit to center, and about 1/2 way if the ball is hit to left field. If there are less than 2 outs and a line drive is hit, freeze on first base until it is known that the ball has been hit to outfield. This will help prevent a double play.

Quick Release
This is a great drill for players in T-ball through 14U for developing good hands and a quick release.

1. Have players line up across from a partner about 20 feet apart, either standing up or on one knee.
2. Have them make good throws back and forth as many times an they can while the coach counts down from 30 to zero.
3. The player who does not have the ball at zero wins.
4. Kids will need to catch and release the ball quickly.

Glove Extension
Proper fielding calls for the glove to be extended out in front of the player. Younger players often hold the glove directly below them when awaiting a ground ball. This drill helps promote the required glove extension.

1. Lay a bat on the ground perpendicular to a line of 4-5 players.
2. The first player in line is 6 feet from the bat in a ready position.
3. The coach is 10 feet from the players.
4. The coach calls 'ready' and rolls a ball toward the bat.
5. The first player in line runs up and gets in a proper fielding position directly behind the bat without touching it. To prevent the ball from rolling into the bat, the player must have his glove extended in front of the bat toward the coach.
6. When the player fields the ball, he sprints to the coach and places it at the feet of the coach and takes his place at the end of the line.

Lateral Movement
Use this drill to improve lateral movement for handling ground balls and line drives. The drill station group competes to see who can keep the most balls from hitting a fence behind them.

1. Find a fence about 20 feet wide and 6 feet high.
2. One at a time, fielders stand in front of the fence while a batter stands about 40 feet away. The batter can be a coach or other player.
3. The batter hits 10 balls to different spots within the fence area (grounders, line drives).
4. The fielder must stop the balls from hitting the fence.
5. Each fielder is hit 10 balls and the fielder who stops the most wins.

Quick Throws
A great fielding drill is to time players fielding a ground ball and throwing to first base. Have the players start at a specified position on the infield (a good spot is the edge of the outfield grass or near shortstop position) The coach is positioned near the pitcher's mound and rolls a ball directly at the fielder. The fielder charges the ball, fields it and throws to first base. As the coach releases the ball, he starts a stopwatch. The coach stops the stopwatch when the throw is caught by the first baseman.

There is no time announced if the first baseman can't catch the ball. It is very obvious that not charging, fielding the ball in front, using alligator hands, etc. add a lot of time. The players will compete with each other, but they will also compete against themselves to get a better time. The ball is rolled, so it is easy to field, and players that are not the best fielders are usually not discouraged.