: Strategies: Defense

Positioning
Once your players know where the basic positions are located, you can teach them defensive positioning.
This involves a number of factors:

1. The batters’ hitting side
2. How fast the pitcher is throwing the ball.
3. Where on the plate the pitcher is throwing.

Putting all these factors together determine exactly where on the field they position themselves.
Some examples:

1. If your pitcher is above average speed, then the average batter will tend to be late swinging the bat and push the ball. Right handed batters will hit to right field and vice versa. Your players will want to shade to the right of their normal position.
2. Most younger players ‘pull’ the ball, so if your pitcher is just average speed, the players will want to be farther left.
3. The farther inside the pitcher throws the ball the more likely the batter will ‘pull’ the ball.
4. If the batter is a ‘power hitter’ you will want to move the infield and outfield a little farther back in their position to give them more time to field the ball. With weak hitters, the infield should play in, especially the 3^rd baseman.
5. In bunt situations (1 or less outs and runner on 1^st or 2^nd) be sure the catcher and pitcher are prepared to field the ball. Also, the 3^rd baseman will play much further in toward home plate.
6. In do or die situations where you must get the next out, have the infield play well in to pressure the batter and make their throws shorter.