So How Do You Cover First?
I guess it depends on who you ask, as to what is the best way to cover first base for the out.
Some say to put the throwing-hand foot on the base right away and wait for the throw; others say
to wait to put your foot on until you see where the throw is going.
I guess I would have to say that it depends on your skill level,
and it really depends on the condition of the field when the game is
played. In talking with the third-base coach of a professional team, he
teaches his first baseman to put the foot on the bag right away and
stretch, if the ball is off to the side, and backhand the ball, if it
is going to the opposite side.
First of all, I believe everyone should know how to backhand a
ball. The player needs to be taught that their first thought is to get
in front of the ball no matter what position they are playing, since
that is the best method. However, sometimes you cannot do that. So,
during practices, the player should be moving to field balls in front
of them but also fielding balls to their backhand. We always, during
pre-game, take short hops to the backhand to perfect the skill so they
will be confident in it when needed.
With that said, I prefer to teach the player to get to the base, be
in line with where the throw is coming from, keep both feet about eight
inches in front of that side of the base and, when the player sees
where the ball is going, slide the toe back to the closest side of the
base. The distance away depends on the player’s size and comfort level.
If coming from an area close to home, the first-base player is in front
of the inside front corner of the base. If from third base, they are
over a little closer to the center, short stop at the center,
second-base player towards the back of the base. They are at the
closest section of the base toward the throw. Sliding the toe is very
important. If they pick the toe up and place it on the base, they run
the risk of putting it too far on the base and getting it stepped on by
the runner. By sliding the toe and keeping it in contact with the
ground, the side of the bag will stop the toe—taking away the danger of
being stepped on by the runner.
The first-base player does have to have quick feet but that can be
taught the skill [but that skill can be taught]. If the throw is off
line, this allows the player at first base to move quicker and slide
the foot faster to another part of the bag. It also allows the player
to get in front of the ball, versus always backhanding the ball. Once
again, the player should be able to back hand the ball with confidence,
but it depends on the age and skill level of the players. It has to be
practiced a lot until the player has accomplished the skill.
Another reason I wanted to teach the players this method was the
condition of the field. Our field sloped downhill just past first base.
If our first-base player would set up early and try to backhand a wild
throw—especially if it was in the dirt—if missed, the ball would have
traveled too deep into the right-field corner. The ground on our field
was rarely level and there was an eight-foot difference between the
right-field fence and third base. So, as you can imagine, we needed to
teach the first-base player to get in front of the ball to keep that
from happening. It would be great if we all had
professionally-maintained fields, but that is not reality. Teach
them both ways, see which one they can do the best, analyze the field
you are playing on and choose the one that best fits the situation.
There is always more than one way to do something—especially when
dealing with the differences in the players. One may work for one and
not the other. Also, teach
them to analyze the situation so that they can make a decision on their own.
Look for Celeste's article next month.