Instinct is when anticipation meets opportunity. If you can anticipate the play before it occurs, your chance of being successful greatly increase. What exactly does this mean? Think ahead. Plays happen fast and knowing the situation ahead of time will allow you to execute the proper play.

The further up the baseball ladder you climb, the more intricate your thought process must become. For instance, you are the left fielder with a man on second base. Base hit comes to you. Your options are 1)Try and throw the runner out at home or 2)Throw the ball to to second base to keep the hitter on first. Which one do you choose? The direction the ball takes you will dictate what action you will take. So let’s say the ball is hit in the left center field gap and you cut the ball off, what are your odds of throwing the runner out at the plate? Not good. This is a situation where a little planning can be a huge help for your team. No chance at the runner at home, turn and throw to second to keep the double play in order.

As a fielder, know the situation and know where you are going with the ball before the pitch. If it’s hit to my left, to my right, straight at me, softly, etc. This goes for all positions.

One last note, every inning check the weather conditions. Know where the sun is at all times and understand which way the wind is blowing and the effect it will have on the ball. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Baseball Zone’s Memberships [1] give parents and coaches access to more information on the fundamentals of hitting, pitching and defense as well as a lot of material on practicing, training and equipment.

Baseball Zone’s Practice Planner [2] makes creating practice plans quick and easy. With over a 150 different drills to choose from, creating a well thought out plan is only a few clicks away.