Proper Glove Work Means

Most of us have heard and repeated the phrase "physical errors are part of the game, but let's eliminate the mental errors."

Sometimes it is hard to assign the mental or physical component to errors, especially failure to cover the ball. Some of the time, this error is a mental mistake, as the opportunity for physical performance was there, as was ability of the player to perform this simple skill.

Occasionally failure to cover the ball is a true physical error, i.e., the ball was outside the base of support, or covering would eliminate the ability for a timely followup play. Either way, the failure to cover the ball, the ball on the ground, the runner safe, the extension of the inning, the ball dropped on the tag...is often the difference in the game.

Basic glove positioning to field a ground ball finds the glove in an open position, with the forearm rotated to project a landing strip for the oncoming ball. Free hand positioning would include the flexion at the elbow and wrist with the hand positioned above the heel of the glove. This free hand position allows the player to deflect any bad hops off the palm of the hand, keep the ball in front, and avoid a ball in the face. It also places the throwing hand in position to cover the ball immediately after it is received in the glove.

Some players fail to position the arm in a location near the glove. Rather, they commit the common error of having the throwing hand away from the glove, and, upon receipt of the ball, flip the ball from the glove into the throwing hand. Multiple problems arise with this technique. The ball is often dropped to the ground out of the glove following the successful catch.