Baseball/Softball: Focus Past First Base On an Infield Hit

Baseball/Softball: Focus Past First Base On an Infield Hit

Dick Moss, Editor, PE Update.com

When running to first base on an infield hit, many baserunners make the mistake of focusing their eyes on the base itself.

As a result, they often slow before reaching the base — because of the very human tendency to ease up just as they feel they've reached their destination.

Another side-effect of watching the base is that players lower their head as they approach it, causing the torso to bend forward for a less-than-optimal sprinting position and a greater risk of running off the line.

Solution
    You can cure these problems by instructing your players to focus on the grass about 10 yards beyond the base. This keeps their head up, makes their running line straight, and encourages full-speed effort right through the bag.

References:
1. Rod Delmonico, Hit and Run Baseball, Human Kinetics Publishers, 1992.
2. David Dreier, Baseball: How it Works (The Science of Sports) - Sports Illustrated Kids - Capstone Press, 2010.


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