Does anybody have any proven techniques to coach out errors?

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Permalink Reply by Coach Ruben Corral on October 14, 2009 at 1:02pm

At Vanguard, we keep reports on whether we think an error committed is a physical error or a mental error. There are many factors which can influence fielding misplays (bad hops, wet grass, feeling ill...etc.). However, all things being equal, here is my two cents on preparing your fielders.

Mechanical repetition is first and foremost the easiest and best way to mentally prepare your fielders. The fielders on my 13u teams are taught to get low, chest to knees, butt and glove down in order to see underneath the baseball. From backhands to forehands, they are drilled, drilled, drilled with that in mind. "Get to the ball, get low, low, low, chin and chest down, field, transfer, throw". As you begin to approach each ground ball with a mental plan, your reactions become quicker and more assertive. Do I charge or stay back? Quick runner...or slow runner? Their minds make these mental calculations on every ball hit towards them, so preparing a mental plan will help them approach each play with confidence.

I also take infield during practices using live runners to teach my fielders to perform with a sense of urgency. Turning double plays, pitchers covering 1st base and charging slow rollers are just a few of the many situations fielders will be put in over the course of a game/season/career. Baseball is a game built more on experiences rather than BLACK and WHITE because of the many situations and the chaos that a batted ball can create. By putting my players through competitive repetitions as much as possible, I can mentally prepare them for as many situations as I can make up...and hopefully create confidence along the way.

For more video and articles on fielding ground balls, visit TeachingBetterBaseball.com!

Hope this helps,

Coach Corral
TeachingBetterBaseball.Com

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Permalink Reply by Ted Burda a.k.a. The Hit Doctor on October 15, 2009 at 3:34pm

These comments are most directly applicable to yourth league baseball, but to a great degree they apply universally. The real six thousand pound gorilla that keeps any person from becoming a standout infielder is actually fear. Let me stress it this way. If it never hurt to get hit by the ball, every infielder would always be positioned classically fundamentally sound centered on the ball whenever he had sufficient time to get there. In youth ball, kids are very good at looking like they can't quite get in front of all the hot smashes. Another pin point example is how well catchers (all geared up) are at digging the ball.
Anyone, I firmly believe that the real battleground is coping successfully with fear. Here's my suggestions for winning this battle. First of all, never evade the issue. Instead expose it with consistant comments, like: "You have to get in front of the ball if you want to be an infielder", and "You can't be afraid of the ball if you want to play infield." Have a discussion with your team, telling them how the whole team is going to extoll, reward, and celebrate bravery in all its glory.
This will take the form of every single player always shouting out sincerely and forcefully, That's the way to get in front of the ball, kid!, or other suitable form of "atta-boy!" And that's just for routine plays. If anyone ever dives for any ball, the entire team needs to take off their caps and salute the sterling individual.
As long as it's done consistently, the combination of team wide oral and physical salutes, puntuated by, "if you want to play infield....." or alternately, " we've got to have/make that play", comments from you the coach, you will start to see more bravery and a heck of alot more dives. Also, if a batter shows any lack of effort regarding bravery (never the results)
have him and every other player automatically hit the deck and give you a quick two pushups in a very feverish pace.

I totally recommend when you're working on this bravery driven infielding that you do what is called "cross fire", or sometimes "massive". You have two equal lines of fielders lined up, one at short stop and the other at second base. Two coaches standing half way down the first and third base line hit balls at a frenetic pace, at the same time, third base line coach to guys at second and first base line coach to fielders at short. Position at least two five gallons buckets right in back of second base. All the fielders, field there grounder and then sprint towards second, dropping thier caught balls into the buchkets as they change lines so that they will see grounders from two different coaches bats. The corrective push ups must be fast and hard if they want to keep their place in line.

By the way, almost all missed grounders go under the glove. This is because of fear also, so you want to constantly and stridently preach at the top of your voice "NOTHING GOES UNDER!!!!....NEVER!!" If you want to you can add in the warning that if you don't see the button on their caps as they field the ball, they will be required to do ten puch ups.

Make no mistake the real tireless enemy of errors is fear and the answer is rampant inspired bravery supplied by intense positive pressure and harnessed peer pressure dynamics as well. good luck. Go get em, coaches.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Goodman on October 15, 2009 at 6:10pm

Ted my old coach use to say "I you don't have any dirt in your glove you don't have tha ball"

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Permalink Reply by The CheckSwing Clubhouse on October 15, 2009 at 4:39pm

PEPPER - I loved playing it as a kid and I love playing it now! You're teaching, the kids are getting reps, and everyone's having fun. I remember as a kid trying to see how fast and how long I could go without making an error. Hitting to the kids is fun as well - different kids throwing to different spots at different speeds all while you are trying to make contact on each throw and give each kid equal fielding chances :)

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Permalink Reply by Don Leaderach on October 15, 2009 at 4:41pm

I know ths works for hitting and it should work for fielding also. Visualization. Hav you players work on visualizing fielding plays at home and any quiet place. It can be done. It worked for me on hitting. Check out the 'Mental game of baseball'.
Hope tht helps.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Green on October 15, 2009 at 4:56pm

Dave,

As you know errors are part of the game, even at the highest level. However I've found that if a player is relaxed and focused on what he needs to do, the errors will be minimized. The easiest way to make sure a player is relaxed is if he is confident and comfortable. A player will not be relaxed if he is worried about making an error for fear of being singled out by the coach or parents.

I teach my players that errors can and will happen, but the difference maker is the player who knows how to put the error behind them. To "flush" the mistake and get back to what they need to do. Most players are upset at themselves when they make an error, there is no need to be chastised by the coach.

I simply pull the player aside when they get to the dugout and ask them if they know what they did wrong. If they do, have them explain to you and what they will do differently. If they don't know keep it positive and give them a couple reminders like keeping their hands in front or watching the ball into the mitt or moving towards the ball, or whatever it was they forgot to do resulting in the error. Like the other coaches said repetition in practice will build confidence, but in a game it's about executing on that repetition and being confident.

My two cents.

Coach Mike

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Permalink Reply by Mike Masciangelo on October 15, 2009 at 5:17pm

All these suggestions are great, let me add one to help players relax and refocus. Defensively, I have the player after the error, pick up a rock or piece of dirt. Count to ten, analyze the problem, how can they fix their mistake and take a deep breathe and throw the rock away from the field as to get rid of the mistake.

Offensively is similar, if it is mid-at-bat, have them ask for time, take 10 seconds and take a deep breathe, perhaps a few and when exhaling blow the problem out of their system. Both of these are effective because it provides somewhat of a visual to get rid of the problem and move on.

Use it, it works for the player that has a hard time seperating the mistakes.

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Permalink Reply by John Darlington on October 15, 2009 at 5:52pm

How old are they?

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Permalink Reply by Ted Burda a.k.a. The Hit Doctor on October 15, 2009 at 7:45pm

Mike I hear ya talkin brother!

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Permalink Reply by Judd Thompson on October 15, 2009 at 7:51pm

One of the most successful things I have done over the years is ask my Little League players to go home and watch pro baseball games. Watch the position they play and try to "copy" the pro. If you watch the top defensive players they always have the mechnaics right. I have the kids practice the mechancis in the living room. The DVR is a great teaching tool they can watch the fundemental play over and over again. Also video taping the kids and sending the tape home will help them visualize the proper mechanics. Nothing beats rep after rep .

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Permalink Reply by John Darlington on October 15, 2009 at 8:07pm

I like your idea Judd. There's a difference between "looking" at the tv and actually "watching" it. I have a 16 year old son who's high school teammates still don't round bags correctly ie: run straight to first when a ball is hit to the outfield and I just wonder what exactly they're watching when they watch an MLB baseball came on tv or SportsCenter. Do you not see that they don't do that? Why can they immitate someone's strange batting stance or swing but they can't immitate the basics that should have been taught to them 5 years ago???

All you have to do is catch an evening episode of SportsCenter and immitate what those guys are doing right to become a better ballplayer. That MLB Network is pretty impressive too, I think the quick lesson episodes are called "Diamond Tips" or something, not sure about the "tips" thing but anyway, they often have famous ball players on there giving tips on their indoor made-for-tv infield where they break down what these great players were thinking or doing back in the day that made them great. Just this week they had Ricky Henderson explaining how he stole 3rd. He said he never payed attention to the 2nd baseman or Shortstop was or what they were doing, all he did was focus on the pitcher because he had the ball, and he knew (get this) at 7 steps off he could get back. Then, he watched the pitchers ELBOWS of all things, because he said a pitcher has to turn his elbows in a certain direction if he's going to pick. All this time we're watching feet, head, etc, and Ricky Henderson is watching ELBOWS? Hmmm...talk about a secret revealed! He also said once he took off he just counted the steps before he slid because he knew based on repetition how many steps it was that, if he slid, his momentum would get him there. His step count obviously was different when stealing 2nd vs. 3rd, but he had a number in his head (I think he said 8 for 2nd and 7 or 6 for 3rd.) Lastly, he said his famous head first slide came about out of need to preserve his legs/hips from the beating as he stole so much that the raspberries on his legs got to be too bad. Imagine that. Nice problem to have.

Anyhow, Judd, I think you are dead on there.

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Permalink Reply by Dave Vaccaro on October 15, 2009 at 8:03pm

Hi Dave,

You have received a lot of good info here from a physical standpoint. I wrote an article a while ago that may help you from a mental point of view. The link is below:

http://www.hitmore.net/files/Knowing_is_Not_Enough.mht

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