Monday, March 7, 2011

Fielding a Regular Ground Ball


Step 1: Stance
Both arms slightly out in front, knees slightly bent, and feet are slowly moving towards home about shoulder width apart.

Shoulder Girdle - both are slightly abducted
Shoulder Joint - slightly adducted
Elbow and Radioulnar Joints - Flexed about 40 degrees and supinated
Wrist and Hand Joints - fingers and thumb extended and slightly abducted

Muscles involved: pectoralis minor, serratus anterior, latissimus dorsi, teres major, biceps brachii, brachialis, brachioradialis, extensors , abductor policis longus


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Step 2: Prep
Bend both knees down, placing glove between the legs, BUT out in front of the body. Use the free hand to increase chances of fielding the ball cleanly.

Shoulder Girdle - Slightly depressed and slightly abducted
Shoulder Joints - diagonally adducted
Elbow and Radioulnar Joints - extended and supinated
Wrist and Hand Joints - wrist, fingers, and thumb extended, and fingers slightly abducted

Muscles involved: trapezius, pectoralis major, biceps brachii, triceps brachii, supinator, and extensors


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Step 3: Movement
After fielding the ball, line up shoulders with the target. Keep the knees bent and take a "crow-hop" towards the target and get ready to throw the ball.

Shoulder Girdle - (throwing arm) slightly adducted (non-throwing arm) slightly abducted
Shoulder Joints - internally rotated
Elbow and Radioulnar Joints - both flexed about 50 degrees
Wrist and Hand Joints - (throwing hand) wrist flexed and fingers flexed around the ball (non-throwing hand) fingers adducted (can't flex them because of glove)

Muscles involved: trapezius, serratus anterior, brachalis, biceps brachii, brachioradialis, palmaris longus, flexors,

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Step 4: Follow through
Stepping with your left foot towards the target, extend the throwing arm back to throw and the left arm pointing toward the target to increase the accuracy. Ball should be thrown over the top.


Shoulder Girdle - upward rotation
Shoulder Joints - (throwing arm) internally rotated and abducted (non-throwing arm) abducted 
Elbow and Radioulnar Joints - (throwing arm) flexed (non-throwing arm) extended
Wrist and Hand Joints - (throwing arm) wrist and thumb, 2nd, and 3rd fingers are extended, 4th and 5th finger are flexed (non-throwing arm) fingers extended and abducted

Muscles involved: serratus anterior, latissumus dorsi, teres major, subscapularis, pectoralis major, biceps brachii, bracioradialis, brachialis, triceps palmaris longus, flexors, extensors,


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Step 5: Recovery
After releasing the ball, momentum of the throw should take you towards the target.


Shoulder Girdle - (throwing arm) elevated and downward rotation (non-throwing arm) depressed and abducted
Shoulder Joints - (throwing arm) diagonally  adducted and internal rotation (non-throwing arm) internally rotated
Elbow and Radioulnar Joints - (throwing arm)  extended (non-throwing arm) flexed
Wrist and Hand Joints - (throwing arm) wrist flexed and fingers extended (non-throwing arm) wrist slightly adducted

Muscles involved: trapezius, rhomboids,pectoralis major, subscapularis, triceps brachii, biceps brachi, brachioradialis, brachialis,palmaris longus, flexors, extensors




Drill: A drill for fielding regular ground balls is to constantly take ground balls from a coach, and throwing it into a net that is in between the player fielding and 1st base. The reason for the net is so the player can simulate the throw without having to exert an extreme amount of force to reach first base. An illustration of the drill is below.



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