Footwork to the Ball and the Gather

Foundation · Free lesson

about 50–60 minutes

Fielding Lesson 2: Footwork to the Ball and the Gather

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Level: Foundation (HS and up) · Time: about 50–60 minutes · Need: a glove, balls, 4–6 cones, an agility ladder if you have one, a partner

Goal: Take efficient routes to the ball and gather into a throwing position under control.
Why it matters: Great infielders look smooth because their feet do the work. The right approach angle and a rhythm gather mean you field the ball on a good hop and are already in position to throw.

1. Watch first (about 15 min total)

Video	Channel	Length	Why we chose it
[Infield Footwork \	Infielder Fielding Tips](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgwN7brd6Vw)	Antonelli Baseball	6:49	A former MLB infielder explains footwork to the ball.
Develop GREAT Infield Footwork with This Ladder Series	Figure It Out Baseball	3:10	Ladder series for quick, clean infield feet.
Making the routine infield plays	MLB Network	4:44	MLB Network on making the routine play every time.

2. Do this: drills, sets and reps

Drill	How	Sets × reps	Cue
A. Cone approach drill	Set a cone where the ball will be fielded. Approach in a slight banana route and field it with your feet set.	3 × 8 reps	“Round it, square it.”
B. Ladder footwork series	Quick feet in and out of the ladder, then field a roll at the end.	3 × 4 patterns	“Quick, light feet.”
C. Rhythm right-left-throw	Field with right-left rhythm, then shuffle or crow hop into the throw (right-handed).	3 × 8 reps	“Field, gather, throw.”
D. Slow-roller footwork	Partner rolls slow balls. Charge under control and field to the glove side of your body.	2 × 8 reps	“Under control, then go.”

3. Common mistakes and fixes

Mistake	What you see	Fix
Running straight at the ball	Bad hops, off-balance throws	Cone approach. Round it, then come through the ball.
Choppy, heavy feet	Late to the ball	Ladder series with light feet.
Fielding and stopping	No momentum into the throw	Rhythm right-left-throw.
Out of control on slow rollers	Ball bobbled or throw sails	Slow down the last two steps before fielding.

4. How to measure progress

Clean field-and-throw: Out of 20 rolls, count clean fields and throws to the chest. Goal: 16 of 20.
Time: Time from field to throw release on 5 reps. Lower it without losing accuracy.
Ladder: Patterns without a misstep. Goal: 4 of 4.
Move on to Lesson 3 when: you hit 16 of 20 in two sessions.

5. At-home version

Ladder or tape-ladder footwork in the driveway.
Wall ball with an approach: start 3 steps back and move in.
10 slow-motion right-left-field reps in front of a mirror.

Challenge: Beat your field-to-throw time while still hitting the chest every time.

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