| Fielding is an area of the game of baseball that is too often treated as secondary in importance, but this simply should not be so. Home runs are held above all else, and the power hitter is given accolades and respect, often regardless of his fielding ability. The fact of the matter is that every single out your team records is a run that the other team cannot score, and the coach who ignores this fact does so at his own peril.
Now, I’m not suggesting that you ignore hitting. What I am suggesting is that you place similar emphasis on and - possibly as important in the eyes of your team - give similar praise to those who excel at defense.
A great way to do this is with the blue ball. During the game, keep an eye on the payers wo really stand out defensively. After the game (or at your next practice, whenever it is that you recap the latest contest and recognize outstanding effort), present one player with the blue ball.
The blue ball is exactly what it sounds like - a regular, run of the mill baseball spray painted blue. Make a production out of giving it, and let that player be the one to start in-between inning warmups by throwing the ball around the horn.
After each game, select a new recipient, and have them keep the blue ball until the following game, and so on.
Cost to you? Two bucks for some spray paint, one or two old baseballs over the course of a seson. Benefit to your team? Improved pride and therefore, performance, on defense. | |
