Mike Candrea and Amanda Freed from Team USA worked with SportsSkool to create an instructional video on fielding fly balls to the outfield. Coach Candrea demonstrates the basic mechanics of outfield play: the stance, the approach, securing the catch, transitioning to the throw, getting a good angle, and fielding the ball off the fence.
Key Principals:
The two most important elements of a good outfielder is: 1) react quickly off the batted ball, and 2) get a good path or angle to the ball.
Stance: Unlike an infielder, an outfielder needs to be in a good athletic sprinting ready position. The stance is a little more upright than an infielder with their shoulders square to home plate, but like the infielder, you are on the balls of the feet with the feet are slightly staggered and facing forward to the pitcher so you can quickly move to the left or right.
The Approach: Using a drop step allows the fielder to quickly turn their hips and shoulders to sprint to where the ball is hit. When sprinting to the ball, run like a sprinter with both hands going from hips to shoulders. Do not run with one arm and the other arm up to catch the ball, this will slow the outfielder down.
Securing the Catch: When catching the fly, get behind the ball so that you can move through the ball as you catch it so that the fielder can use their legs to get a strong throw to the target. Catch the ball on your throwing hand side of your body so that you do not block your view of the ball, catch the ball with two hands to quickly transition into the throwing position.
Transition to the Throw: Catch the ball with your body slightly turned toward your throwing hand. This allows for a quick transition into the curl hop and throw as well as allowing the fielder to change their viewing angle if the ball is in the sun.
Getting the Good Angle: The further the ball is away from you, the deeper the angle the outfielder must take. The closer the ball is to you, the shallower the angle. The toughest one is the ball hit directly over the fielder's head. The key is to start back one way, not taking your eye off the ball, and then turn your hips the toward the other direction if you need to make an adjustment.
Fielding Off the Fence: When fielding a ball near the fence, reach out with either your glove or throwing hand to locate the fence (do not look at the fence). Get back to the fence as quickly as possible. The fielder can always come forward to make the catch. When fielding a ground ball off the fence, the fielder gathers over the ball (like fielding a bunt), scoops the ball with both hands, and then takes a quick step to clear themselves from the fence to throw.
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