3 Positions for Youth Baseball Players to Master

Most parents want to see their child play three positions, most youth baseball players want to play these positions as well. They either want to pitch, play shortstop, or play second base. However, these are not the 3 positions to master, probably to your surprise. Knowing how to play these positions is good, but do not necessarily transfer up as youth baseball players advance to different levels of competition. The three positions to master are athletic position, fielding position, and hand position.

Athletic Position
The athletic position is the base position for almost all on-field actions. It is the key to getting a great first step toward the ball. In the athletic position, the feet are shoulder width apart with the weight on the balls of the feet. Knees are slightly bent, and hands are out in front of the body.

Hand Position
Hand position is key to catching the ball. Knowing where your hands should be makes it easier to catch the ball. Many youth baseball players are unaware of how their hands should be if the ball is above or below the waist. There are also difficulties in knowing when to use a backhand or forehand. Being aware of hand position makes it easier to catch the ball and allows players to complete more plays, which will reduce the amount of runs the other team scores.

Fielding Position
Fielding position is important to learn as it combines the the first two positions. Knowing how to start and move athletically will allow youth baseball players to cover more ground. Once they cover more ground, they want to complete the play. Mastering fielding position prevents the amount of errors that are made as the player will have a strong base as well as flexibility in making the necessary adjustments to complete the play.

No matter what position a youth baseball player plays, mastering these three positions will greatly improve their defensive ability. Has your youth baseball player mastered these three positions?