Fundamentals

This is how we play catch, take a throw, and stay in the game. Safety first. If something in the elbow or shoulder changes, we stop.

01

Arm care and throwing safety

Warm the arm. Do not “save the bullets for the game” by skipping catch. A cold arm is how kids get hurt.

Play catch to a chest target. Four-seam grip: index and middle finger on top of the horseshoe, thumb under.
Start close. Move back only when the throw is on line and easy.
Stop if the elbow or shoulder feels different — sharp, dead, or “not yours.” Tell a coach the same day.
No long toss into pain. Pain is not toughness. Pain is the arm asking you to stop.

02

Grip and throw

Four-seam to a target. See the chest. Hit the chest.
Feet under you. Front shoulder at the target. Step and throw.
Finish. The back foot comes through. Do not stop on the back leg and push.

03

Receiving the baseball

Two hands when you can. Glove plus throwing hand.
High hop: fingers to the sky. The ball comes to your chest.
Short hop: give. Soft hands. Do not stab.
Catch, then transfer. Look the ball into the glove.

04

Ready position

Knees soft. Glove out front, not on your knee.
Move first, then glove. Your feet beat the ball to the spot.
Every pitch: ready. Not after contact. With the pitch.

05

Sliding safety

Feet-first is the default. Hands off the ground. We do not take out fielders.

Slide feet-first. Pick a bag. Go to it.
Hands off the dirt. You slide on your back hip, not your palms.
Never take out a fielder with the forearm. The bag is the target. The person is not.
Helmet on when you run. Always.

06

Communication

“Mine.” You want the ball. Say it loud.
“Take it.” You are not catching it. Someone else is.
Echo. If shortstop says “mine,” second base says “take it.”
First name plus “ball” on a fly: “Sofia, ball.”

07

Backing up

Every throw has a backup. Overthrows lose games.

If the ball is thrown, someone is behind that throw.
Right field backs up first. Pitcher backs up third or home on extra-base hits. Catcher trails.
You cannot back up from the same spot you fielded. Move.

08

Equipment

Helmet on deck and running. On. Not in your hand.
Catcher’s gear fits. If it rattles or the mask sits on your forehead, tell a coach before the inning.
No jewelry. Rings, necklaces, dangling earrings — off.
Report pain early. Same day. Not after the tournament.